Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1874-08-20


volving direct State affairs, his decision
is final. He was both Judge and jury
-law-g iver, expounder and executor.
From his decision there was no appeal.
Should've prove corrupt, of course there
were higher powers to which he was
amenable-and woe to the officer of
Turkish corruption l had heard of
the wisdom of these of old Moslem JUS
tees, and as two of the cases which
would be brought forward on the pres
emit occasion had been explained to me,
/ had curiosity to see how they would
be disposed Of.
1t was near the middle of the forenoon
when 1 gained favorable seat in an
open court of the market place, where
the judgments were to be rendered.
Most of the space was covered by an
awning of cotton cloth, and the arrange
ment for orderwas perfect. The Mollah
was a man of full threescofe and ten,
tall and handsome his flowing beard
white as snow, and his eyes bright as
clear stars.
The first case was the disputed pos
session of a slave. The plaintiff was an
elderly man, named Mrstapha, by
profession jewel merchant. The de-
| PENDANT was a youthful peasant, named
Galbec. The slave was a Circassian
girl, and quite pretty, and at present in
custody of the peasant Galbec, who
claimed to be her owner.
"The girl is mine" said the jewel
merchant earnestly 81 bought her ten
years ago when mere child, and have
reared her and provided for her until
within year past.
"The girl is NINE" said the peasant,
stout, well-looking young fellow of
not more than FIVE and twenty. 81
! bought her of her own father for my
wife three years ago. Listen not to
that old man. He would deceive you.
Let Judgment be rendered for me who
am the girls lawful owner and true
husband"
Ben-Ahmed then appealed to the
girl herself, and asked her to which OF
these two men she belonged.
"Galbec is my husband" she said.
"He has owned me for three years. l
have attended to Galbec's hocks, and
helped him to harvest his corn and
grapes"
"What did you do before you lived
with him?"
ct lived With my parents in Okop.
"Were they peasants +? F."
"They were"
There were no witnesses to be called.
The parties were strangers in the place,
and their own testimony was avail
able. Galbec evidently loved the girl,
and it was natural that she should pre-
fer him for her master. Yet the old
| level merchant seemed honest, and was
earnest in his claim.
| ct must take time to consider upon
this said the Mollah. And he made
the girl sit near him, while the two
claimants stepped back.
The next case was a disputed pos
session of a saddle. A middle-aged
Armenian, named Saladeen, laid claim
to a saddle that was In possession OF a
mountain guide named About Muzzafar.
The saddle, which had been held by an
officer during the morning, was pro-
duced in court. 1t was very valuable
one, made of the finest leather, and
deliberately ornamented.
| "The saddle is mine, said Saladeen.
81 bought it of Jew at Nigdeh for
three hundred piasters. This villain
stole it while / slept by the roadside on
the other side of the mountain"
"Believe him not" said About Muz-
zafar. "The saddle is mine. My
brother in Konich made it for me. This
fellow saw it, and wished to buy it, but
when I refused to sell it he tried to take
it from me by force. 1 overcame him,
and he was angry and swore vengeance ;
and he has resorted to this trial in hopes
of obtaining it.
In this case, as in the other, there
very earnest, and both maintained an
honest exterior.
The old Mollah took the saddle and
examined it.
"It is valuable saddle" said he, as
he passed his hand over the plain sur
face. "I am at loss which one of
you to believe"
"Me, me-" cried About, sit is
mine"
"Justice," exclaimed Saladeen, "I
only ask justice"
"Ahl" muttered the Mollah, pass
ing his finger over the embossed leather
near the bow of the saddle. "What
have we here? Give me knife"
The attendant tshawooska handed up
knife, and the Judge proceeded to rip
open a seam in the saddle bow, and
with an exclamation of surprise he took
therefrom four pieces of gold.
"Aha! And you make this your
treasury, my good About Muzzafar.
eyes, most excellent judge" replied
About, with low bow. I hid it there
so that might not be robbed of it,
"Saladeen, said the Mollah, turning
to the elderly claimant, "what have
you to say to this ? Did your saddle
have money concealed In it,"
"No, sir, not that / kaow of, the
man replied, with a crestfallen ex-
preston. "The Jew of whom 1 bought
it might have had money concealed in
it, but did not know it"
every well" pronounced Ben
Ahmed, rising to his feet. Saladeen,
the saddle is yours. As for you, About
Muzzafar, you shall pay to Saladeen
ten piasters for the trouble to which
you have put him, and this evening you
shall receive one hundred lashes of the
bastinado. 1 caused the gold to be
sewed up in the saddle this morning"