Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1840-06-11
HonnlsLr MURDER ,ssyRIA.-some weeks

rIoRRiBLE MURDER INSYRIA.-S0me weeks
ago we received the announcement of the
murder of Christian missionary and his SER
want at Damascus, but the details were so
horrible that RETAINED from giving publ
city to them, and hoped they could only have
been the invention of disordered imagina-
ton lnventing tale too frightful to be believ-
ed. However, the following letter proves
that the tale was too true.-ILondon paper.
"Ihe authors of the assassination of the
rev. Father Thomas have at last been dis
covered through the revelations made by the
barber and the servant of the merchant Ayar.
Out of the nine that were accused, seven have
avowed the crime. They all said that thew
were incapable of committing murder. hut
that they had acted up to the precepts of their
religion, In which it is prescribed to make
their Easter leavened bread with Christian
blood.
according to what has been revealed. the
Rev. Father was allured to the house of the
merchant Avari, where seven of the principal
Jewish merchants of the city were conpreaa-
ted, together with two of the principal Rabbi.
Moussee Abri Alufu and Mousse Selinull.
.Ihe servant of the merchant Avari went
to fetch the barber, who was to perform the
office of sacrifcer. However, it appeared
that the latter confined himself to hold his
victim by the beard, whilst Avari cut his
.nroaI' assisted 6y Aaron Avari, his brother;
the servant OF the latter was seated on the
body OF the martyr to keep him motionless.
The others lent their assistance to the borri.
Bile sacrifice. AS soon as the victim had ex-
pred ne was suspended by the feet in order
that his blood might be collected with ease.
Inc body was afterwards cut to pieces. the
head and bones scaled, and the clothes torn
TO gibDets; after which the remaining portion
OF the martyr was thrown into sewers of the
city, where part was found owing to the
confession of some of the accused.
damascus and every city in Syria are fill
led with indignation. The Mussnlmans are.
If anything, more enraged about such atroci-
ties than the Christians, and all the authority
OF the Scheriff Pacha, and the prudent inter
vention of the French Consul were reouisite
In order to prevent the determination of the
entire Jewish race of Damascus, which the
population lmagines had accomplished, or
been cognlzant of, this terrible drama. The
discovery of the murder of Father Thomas
had attracted public attention to the disappear
ance, atanterior periods, of several Christians.
as well at Damascus as in the other towns Of
Syria, where Jews are in abundance-disap.
pearances to which are always attached some
mystery, and the idea that it has been the re-
suit OF the same crime adds to the thirst for
vengeance from the inhabitants. What will
1t be when they learn that not far from them,
at Rhodes, the very same crime has just been
committed, and in the same week!
"P. S.-The Damascus Post, which has
Just arrived, states that the moment when Da-
vld Avarl was going to be executed, NJ Ratti
Meuton obtained a respite, in the hopes still
that some revelations might be made by the
culPrits. In fact, fresh confessions were the
means of the body of the Rev. Father Thomas
being discovered. Some Of the culprits have
turned Turkish menials, after having been
tried, in order to escape punishment