Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-05-28
INHuMAN TREATMENT.

London Globe gives IN account Of the i'll
treatment TO which Moorish WON ell arc
subjected. Young, pretty, with Eawnlilie
eyes, about eighteen years of age, and with
a modest gentle manner-this is Esther
Amar, whose shameful treatment has been
the cause Of much excitement. She has
Just arrived il Tangier, accompanied by her
mother, To endeaVor 20 gain redress. If pos
sibc, ior brutal, cowardly and cruel out
ramc perpetrated on her, as she states, III the
presence and by the command of an English
uilicial---one who, at the time, occupied the
position 0fiuierpreter of the British Consular
Agent at Casa blanca. The girl Cow seeks
an opportunity Of making public hcr own
story In Tie early part OF last year she
states, Il was employed us servant Ii the
family OF isaac B@nzaquen, Of CaSabanca,
but lodged in the house Of Abraham Shuceri,
u Jewish schooilna~ler, who is IL married
man, with Il daughter. One night | had
gone 10 bed, and had been asleep some time,
when was awakened by Moorish soldiers
breaking open the house door, and on
opening the door Of my room was at once
arrested ! noticed with the soldiers Il man
named Anel, the Interpreter CT the Engns!,
Vice Consul 1t was Amiel who ordered
the soldiers TO arrest me. They dragged Inc
of 10 prison. they would not allow me 10
dress myself WAS then thrust into the
Moorish female prison, small, unroofed en-
closure, where / passed the night without
bed covering, light or protection from the
weather, in company with five ether women
whom l recognized as persons of bad char
acter. | was not informed what was the
charge against me.
:'At day break / WAS taken with the other
l,ofD hn bo i m: al
there, but no charge was preferred against
me. nor was there any trial, and | was pnt
under no examination. Two or the women
were logged before na; they reared during
their punishment. Then the soldiers laid
me on the ground face downward in front
of the Pacha. One soldier held my hands
and another ry feet. Some soldiers then
stood Oh each side Of me- ] was so fright
ened and confused at the time | cannot tell
exactly how many, but l think there were
three on each side. Each soldier held in his
hand plated leather thong The men then
commenced to lash me. They struck in
quick succession one after another and
screamed with the pain After some time The
Pacha asked Amiel if the punishment was
not sufficient, but Amiel urged him 10 con
tinuc. They continued 10 Hog me Hntii ]
was bleeding. While ! was being dashed
Benabu, my employers parlucr, appeared;
he implorcd the Pucha and .imicl - stop
the lioggiug, asserting that | was OF good
character, ant! perfectly innocent OF any
crime. AmeI insisted that the punishment
should continue While was being ilogged
the Plciia counted the strokes. | was in
such oai:l and terror that cannot remember
the number i received, but was told after
ward thai il ,2as 800 ashcs. Then the rest
of the women were logged. They were
not beaten 81 severely as | was The
punishment took place in al open enclosure.
The American Vice Consul to whom Benabu
had applied, interviewed cn my behalf, but
| was kept il prison Tor two days and Two
nights, during which time ! was ied on
some broth which my aunt brought me.
When was released was helped TO my
home by my mother, my aunt and Bcnab,l.
was then confined to my bed for month
and was not able TO lie on my back. 1t was
fifteen DAYS more before Twas able to sit up.
and through the effects ofmy punishment and
lnv shame could not leave the house. After
nv punishment | learned that The charge
made against me was that | was an inl-
proper character This is false, and when
evidence was taken on the sub ject the rabbi
and various other lsracitcs Of good position
in Casablanca testified TO my good character
and good reputation"
She conn planned 10 Captain Cobb, the
American Vice Consul. Sir John Drum
mond Hay, the English Minister at Tanger,
on the matter being officially reported to
him by the American Consul. sent an order
to Mr.. Lapeen to detain the man Amlei at
Casablanca. Yet, as a matter of fact, Amiel
was allowed to leave that place, and nc
arrived in Tanger, whence he started for
Palestine. After short residence there,
probably when he thought the matter had
blown over, he returned to Casablanca.
The American Vice Consul at Casablanca
instituted thorough and searching invcsti-
CATION into Esther Amar's character and
antecedents The result fully corroborated
his impression that she was employed in
respectable family at the time Of her pun.
ishment, and also that she was very, well
conducted and perfectly innocent OF the
misconduct imputed to her. A protest was
sent to the Turkish Sultan, the suzerain OF