Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-12-01
LAW AND TORTURE IN EGYPT.

Two incidents illustrating native
legal procedure in Egypt are given
by correspondents of the English
newspapers at Alexandria. The cor
respondent of the Daily Telegraph
says: at is only few days since
had reason to protest against the
torture which was being practiced
here by the Egyptian courts martial
in order to extort evidence or CON
LESSONS. l regret to say that despite
the presence of the English in Alex
andria, these deplorable incidents
still continue. Recently at the Gov
ernor's house screams were heard by
an English officer, who was transact
ing some business in one of the rooms
there. He entered an adjoining
department and found an old man
under the thumbscrew, writhing in
agony. A young Egyptian officer
smiled his welcome to the English
man, and in order to show his zeal.
called up the prisoner. who came to
him believing he was about to be re-
Geved from his awful agony. I'm
happily, he was profoundly mistaken,
for the Egyptian official at once
laid hold of his beard, shook him bru-
tally, seizrd his manned hands and
viciously gave the thumbscrew some
further turns. My informant left
the place feeling sick with disgust.
and not only he, but every one who
knows of this incident feels that
while English influence is predomi-
nant here these revolving practices
ought to be stopped"
The other incident is narrated by
correspondent Of the Morning Adrer-
tiser. He says that while driving
through the city he accidently ran
down an Arab. A crowd assembled
and an Arab seized the horses head.
Some soldiers arrived and the Arab
was arrested and taken for trial be
fore an Egyptian military court, pre-
sided over by Osman Pasha, former
ly Minister of War, with eight colo
nels and some captains. The poor
wretch, under the custody of British
soldiers, was handcuffed and brought
into the room. As soon as he saw
her he fell upon his knees and ex-
tended his manacled arms beseech-
ingly, while the tears rolled down
upon the ugly black face. whose
cOarser lines We're almost softened by
the agony of supplication. The
charge was then read. To our sur
prise we found that the soldiers had
reported that we were seized and
dragged from our carriages. The
prisoner heard the charge with OBJ
vious horror. Whoever may have
taken us from our carriage. this
much was certain that this man had
not done so. The court had coffee
three times and cigarettes nd lib.
during the time the trial was going
on. The testimony was taken in
languid sort of way. Finally it was
over, and the court came with the
witnesses into an adjoining room,
where more coffee and cigarettes We're
had Then they asked if l would be
satisfied to have the man shot. One
could not ask more and we did not
want as much, and suggested fog
ging. So four dozen were ordered
and fifteen years of hard labor i'm
posed"
The ancient bridge across the Mo
selle at Coblentz, is to be enlarged.
The stone superstructure will in part
be removed and an iron one of larger
size will be substituted for it. at
cost of 10000 marks. The bridge
was erected in 1910. $40 years ago.
and the armies of nearly every nation
in Europe, it is said, have passed
over it.