New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1859-01-04
The JAZZ Tragedy.
!. LET1Ea FRoa Coz. LAFAYETTE.

heselIowing letter was received At the Naval De-
partmcnt few days ago
FLAG-sHrP WABASH, BEIaUT, SYRIA.
Sir i have the honor 70 report that the Wabash
arrived at this place on the 26th Of October On the
passage from Constsntinople, communicated With
the American representatives and Turkish authorities
at the islands Of Rhodes and Cyprus interchangipg
with them national salnfes.
Impressed by your instructions Of the 10th OF May
last Of the necessity OF the early service Of the squad
ron the coast have permitted no delay OF the out
ward passage. Until nv arrival here, I was led to
believe that the criminals who murdered Mr.. Stein
beck, and committed the atrocious ousrages At the
house Of Mr.. Dickson near Jaa, had been convicted
and that the Turkish authorities declined TO execute
Justice in the case which is not 3d. -Four persons are
now in prison at this place who have been examined
by the Court of Council, and who, BY the confession
and other evidence Of two of their number, are all
guilty of participation 10 the sontrages committed
at Dickson.s house, while they all declare that their
fifth companion, who has not yet been arrested, COM
.mitted the murder Of Steinbeck.
Upon their evidence and confession, the Cont yer
bay declared the guilt OF the four prisoners. yet u
is dsnclined to proceed further until the 9th crimi
nal shall be arrested and brought to trial When, in
the course Of a prolonged interview had with ne
Pacha the day of my arrival, insisted that the
case far these criminals were concerned, should
be pressed to close be declared it to be contrary 70
usage if not to the law Of Turkey to proceed to the
correction or punishment of these until the fifth
should be arrested that according to their evidence,
the criminal still at large is the principal murderer
and that their testimony is necessary to convict him
when he shall be taken. The Pacha gave me to IN.
derstand that the Court Of Council Is Court of In
qury; that evidence is taken before it and opin-
ion made up in the premises which, with all the tes
timony in the case after being taken In Arabic and
in Turkish, is transmitted to the Sultan, who pro-
nounces the sentence. then urged that the opinion
of the Court their verdict, in the of these
four criminals, might be made up and recorded here
without delay SO as TO be transmitted at once to Con-
stantinope, thereby to alay the uneasiness ia the
dcnfth o vryoI1
of his own c0untrymen residing in Syria that their
escape should not be supposed to be possible, and
thereby give encouragement to similar acts Of out
rage: ,.ss5,.f !,
promised that he would direct it to be undertaken
Immediately but when this opinion and accompany.
ing papers shonld be sent to the Sultan, be should
solemnly protest against the proceeding until the fifth
criminal shall be aken contrary to the usages and
laws Of his country in such cases. responded that
he had of course clear right to protest that my
desire was as these men were evidently guilty. their
punishment should be and speedy that it this
cause was not to go to Constantinople until the fifth
criminal was arrested, it might never 60 there at all
| and these guilty men escape from justice that
could not consent to have their trial stopped here
der the usages or techncalties OF Turkish law, de
pendent upon contingency uncertain. The court
was convened the following day. and all the writers
attached to it we're called into requsition to record
and translate the documents, etc. preparatory to tx
summing up Of this matter in the form of a Ind
ing,' for the supreme authority at Constantinope
For week watched their movements closely, ant
aided by an efficient Consul ]. A. johnson, Esq., witt
is also q member of the Council, succeeded in Oh
tanning the papers, etc: They will be sent to tn
SHltan forthwith, and trust his Excellency, MI
Williams, our Minister to Constantinople, viii ez
perence little delay in obtaining early actio
in the case.
The visit Of the Wabash to this coast at this tim
seems to have had good effect already in other II
aspects. Many of the principal men of the native an
lawless tribes who inhabt the mountains Of the int
rior, hearing our guns when firing salutes, and al
prised too, of the principal object of our VISIT hay
9 come down with their retinues and visited the shi
t They have evidently returned with impressions TIL
the rights of American citizens who reside in the
;. districts cannot be disrespected with mpunity.
cannot speak in too high praise Of our Consul
Beirut for his energy and decision in the prosecute
+ of his duties here.
n The Macedonian was at Smyrna week ago. I dai
expect her this coast and shall direct Capt LIE,
to continue here and the coast as long as his pr
:. visions will allow. 5
) The Wabash will proceed along the coast to Syri
!. Palestine and Egypt
Ihave the henor to be, -. b.. ~ 5s5i 3 +.
o Very respectfully, your obdt serv't,
e tss'l =. A. LAVALETTE, Flag Officer