Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-05-01
THE GAZETTE.
MORNING. MAY l, 1860.
A TURKISH TRAGEDY.

18th, SAYS: The trial of young woman
for the murder of her mother, has caused
profound sensation in this city Near
the Arsenal resided a yousbachi captain
and his wife, Fatma Hanoun. As the couple
had no other resources than the pay ana "a
lions of the husband they lived IN very MOD
est manner in a small house; and, not long
since, were even obliged to sell black slave,
the sole servant they possessed Inc WIFE,
who was ONLY seventeen years OF age ana very
pretty. had all the passion torJ ewelry and
splendid dresses which distinguishes Turk
ish women: and the dream of her life was
TO obtain such things She had an aged
mother, who had been obliged to accept the
place of housekeeper in the family OF rich
pacha; and the old woman, whenever an OPP
portunity offered, visited her daughter, and
carried her small presents of sweetmeats.-
One day, the pacha resolved on giving
grand banquet, and in order to enhance the
spendor of it, asked his friends, as is usual
in Turkey, to lend him portions of their
plate, and even articles ofjewelry.
When the feast was over, all things Dor
rowed were given to the old housekeeper,
named Aiche to restore to the owners; and she
set out with them, but being rather tatlgued,
she called on her daughter. Fatma, with
eager curiosity, questioned her about the
banquet, and the old woman, to please her,
spread out the things she was carrying
brooches, rings, golden rarfs AN article IN
the form of an egg-cup, destined to support
coffee cups, and other vauables. When
the Young woman had admired these objects
sufficiently, the mother packed them up,
and asked where she could deposit them Tor
safety until the next day, and Eatma locked
them up in box. The mother then produ-
ced a quantity of sweetmeats and fragments
of the feast, and proceeded to assist her
daughter in spreading them out for her hus-
bands supper.
Whilst they were so engaged the cry of the
muezzin for evening prayer was heard, and
Fatma said to her mother, "Offer up your
PRAYER, whilst | continue my task" The
old woman knelt down and prayed. When
she had done, Fatma exclaimed, 81 want
some charcoal, but the wind is SO high in the
place where it is kept, that 1t will blow out
my lamp" Give me the lamp" said the
mother land l will light you" The two
women went to the charcoal shed, the old
woman carrying the lamp; but, on arriving
there. Fatma blew out the light, and passing
round her mother neck a rope with moose
which she had prepared; pulled it tight
The old woman resisted good deal, but
was at length strangled. The husband
shortly after returned home, and Fatma
made him feast on the things which her
mother had brought. Then she produced
the box in which were all the articles of
value deposited by the old woman, and said,
Thank Allah! we were poor, but now we
are rich" The man, astonlshed, asked
where 50 great treasure came from, and
Fatna, with extraordinary calm, stated that
she had obtained it by numbering her moth
er, and she related all the circumstances of
the crime eve must sell the things at
once" said the woman, Sin order to have
money" NO" said the husband, elf l
offer them for sale I shall be arrested. We
had better wait until tomorrow, when we
will embark for foreign country"
The woman had no objection, and short
l. after, the man went out on pretence OF
buying tobacco, but he proceeded to the
mouktar, (mayor) and the imam (priest) OF
his district, and related what had occurred
Both these persons declared that they could
not believe him, and expressed the opinion
that he only made his extraordinary state
ment to injure his wife. But" answered
he ''come with me and you will see. The
man then took them to his house, but did
not let his wife see them. He then placed
them in position in which they could hear.
and said to his wife, ''What you told me just
now is so extraordinary that it seems to me
d dream Repeat it, The woman detailed
once again the circumstances of the murder.
Are you convinced now" cried the man to
the priest and mayor, when she had done
Ibid tell you what was untrue? You hear
that she was guilty-arrest her!' The wo-
man was then taken into custody. She has
Just been brought to trial for the crime, and,
being unable to deny her guilt, has been SEN
fenced to death. But, as she is encente,
her execution has been postponed for the
present.