The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-05-28 00:00:00

NO. 5.-LETTER FROM MR. ERSKINE TO THE EARL OF

CLARENDON.— Received May iM O.

With this letter dated Athens, May 8, 1870, Mr.
Erskine trammits the following copy of a journal
kept by the late Mr. Herbert, from the day of his cap-
ture until the morning of that on which he was mur-
dered. He states that it was placed in his hands on the
morning of the 7th of May by Mr. Consul Merlin, who
had rdceived it from the wife t,f the courier Alexander,
and who stated that she found it in a basket containing
old newspapers. Mr. En•kine adds that he had re-
quested M. Valaority to have the woman summoned
before the proper authorities, in order that ehe may ex•
plain haw and when this document came into her pos-
session, and why she did not produce it before. The
original has been forwarded to the Earl of Carnarvon.

Enclosure in No. 5.

" Monday, April 11.-5.30 for Marathon. Returning
through Raphini, 4.30 met Arvauatakis, Ladles re-
leased 6.30. Wandered all night over rentelicns. Devil's
supper—three lambs and wild singing. Arrived on a
northern spur of Pentelicus about 4.5 a.m.
" Tuesday.—Quiet all day. Trmms passed in sight twice.
Started at runt,su failed to meet the guide for Muncaater
marched with occsainnal halts as on preceding night) across
the plain to the west. Principal halt for two hours or more
in the rain, very cold under trees. Got on a spur of Parties
to spend—
" Wednesday —About 12 Muncaster left with a shepherd,
and after a wet day In the wood we moved a little south to a
hut where we had a good fire, and in the evening Boyle ser-
vant came with letters and supplies.
•• Thursday —Remaine.l in our hut looking over the plain
to Athens and Pirmus. In the evening Dionysio came with
sum:die/tin irmissaries of Government, who treated all night
with the .aptain.
Friday.—After departure of Dionysio we rode through
the Pass of Decelela (Hoe view of Tatovi, bye guardhouse
to the north. Came upon a detachment of twenty soldiers ;
officer came and fraternized with us Afterwards marched
four or five hours on foot toe Wallach village above Oropos
and comfortably lodged.
" Saturday. Remained quiet. Visited Acropolis of
(,pos. Received letters by emissaries in the evening. No
news. . . .

-'Sunday—Went with brigands to mass in the village.
Called on Demarch, and remained in our quarters
" Monday.—Wet and mberable as usual. No move
Dionysio and (lieissner came at night with letters and pro-
vision& Things remain unchanged.
" Tuesday.—March about noon an hour up to Oropos.
Lodged in a good house, and heard from Noel that he wee
coming to see us : also beard that Colonel Theagnis would
come from Athens next morning.
" Wednesday —Noel appeared very early, having slept
at the Scala, it being too wet to come up. Then arrived
Colonel TbeseCuis with instructions Iron) Athens. Terms
rejected by brigands as usual. The colonel announced ter-
mination of armistice, which A. considers breach of faith.
We wrote to Athens accordingly.
Thursday.—Noel left. Letters from Athens nil.
Captain determined to cross over in spite of yesterday's
warning."
No. B.—LETTER Fizon Mn. ERSKINE TO THE EARL Or
CLARRA DON . --(EACeiT ed May 20.)
This letter is dated Athens, May 11, 1070. Mr.
Erskine says he was informed by M. Valaority that the
trial of the prisoners would be held in about a fortnight
or three week,. If convicted they would be executed
with the least delay allowed by law, and he had been
told that eighteen other condemned murderers and
brigands would be executed at the some time in dif-
ferent parts of the country. The trial of the other per-
sons implicated in the affair would be proceeded with
in a more leisurely manner- --tximining Judges being
on a tour in the neighbouring provinces collecting evi-
dence and arresting persons supposed to have been in
league with the brigands.

No. 7.—LETTER FROM ER. ERSKINE TO TOE EARL OF
CLARENDON.— lteceived May 20.)

-
In this letter, dated Athens, May 12, 1870, Mr.
Erskine says that, on the receipt of Lord Clarendon's
telegram of the fith inst., he addrewed a note to M.
Valoority requesting that he or Mr. Watson might be
all wed to be present at the examination of prisonera or
others concerned in the late act of brigandage, with
the right of crose-examining them, Rhould they think
fit to do so. Mr. Erskine stated that at the same time
he consulted M. Domaschino, the legal adviser
of the Legation. WI to the possibility of this demand
being conceded by the Government, He said that,
strictly speaking. the Code of Criminal Procedure.
which was compiled by M. Maurer on the accession of
King Otho, did not absolutely recognize such a right
even in the CIVe of interested parties; but that some
latitude was left to the examining Judge, and that if
Mr. Erskine were examined by the Procurenr du Roi
as a aituesm on some point of the case, the Judge might
subsequently, at his discretion, allow him to be present
at any of the preliminary proceedings.
Her Majesty's Ambassador at Constantinople having
inquired, by desire of Lord Clarendon, whether Mn
Erskine wished for the assistance of a lawyer from
Constantinople, he had replied that a clever lawyer

who could speak Greek would be most accent:ole. If
one was sent he would place the matter entirely in his
hands, and act by his advice; but if no petson exactly
suitable couhl be found, he should he quite satisfied to
be golds(' mainly by M. Damaschino, an lonian by
birth, who had received an excellent legal education at
P iris, and who was Professor of French Law at the
Foiversity uf Athens.

—•
Mr. Erskine encloses M. Va'a,rity's answer to his
note of May 9, which is dated Athens. 12th of May,
1870, and in which he states that he had lost no time
in communicating with the Minister of Justice, from
whom he had received the following reply :
Ann terms de la lal, l'instruction crlroluelle est omen-
tlellement secMle, et elle a lieu en !whence de la persons.)
interruger, dcc Juge lustruc'eur, et du Greekr, al' exclusion
do tonte antis penmen°. Cette elite rot tenement absolne
quo is lot no pennet n 1 a to partie dyne d'aseleter sax
operations de l'instructlon. Ls presence Willi autretemoin
test quo par exception autorlsCe, clans to CDS seulement oil il
s'aglratt de confronter ce tennue aus entre Arta 72 126, et
303 du Code 11' Instruction Crlinnielle). Mon coliorne an
Dipartement de la Justice en concise avec regret quo
lee ternies de la lot a'opposeut 1 cc quo, conformernent ace
Instructions quo you. ayes rrçtns de Lord Clarendon, vow,
ou M. Watson virus essietlex A l'lnterrogatolre des detenue on
dee mitres undisld,s, gili ea tronvent inodifpies delis to crime
atroce du manure des trots Aiglats prils d'Oropos."

NO. B.—LETTEI FROM IR. EItsRINE TO THE EARL OF

CLARENI.N.
Mr. Er,linf, in this letti-r writes, under date of
Athene, May 12, that althouilh intelligence bad been
received daily of the destruction • 1 notorious brigands
in various p tits of the country. no trace had been dis-
covered of Takos or his band since the 23rd ultimo.