Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-05-27

render Of Kars on the 26th Of October,
week after Moukhtar's defeat, and Hus-
sein Hami Pasha sent Hussein Bey, who
had been SO long on the frontier that be
spoke Russian fairly well, to the Grand
Duke Michaels, nominally to find out the
terms on which surrender was asked, but
really TO gain time. As a matter Of coufse
the Commissioner was well-treated Tor
the day at the Russian headquarters, and
when he returned to kars lie expressed
his belief that Melikofl would not be long
before he delivered an assault, but that
1t was probable, weak though the Turks
we're, they could give good account oil
the columns OF the Mascovs.
When all was was over, HuHsein Bey,
q prisoner in Russia, and Hussein Hami
Pasha at liberty in Urzeroum, because
he had shown clean pair OF heels,
rumors began to prevail there
and at Constantinople that Kars had been
betrayed by Hussein Bey. Had he not
had an opportunity OF making an ar
rangement with the Grand Duke when
he went out as Commissioner? Had he
not been allowed to keep his swordP
And, most fatal report OF all, had not his
uncle been accused OF treachery some-
where in Europe IN the war OF 1929? 80
when the prisoners were given up by
Russia in the spring OF 1877 Hus-
sein Bey was strongly advised to re.
turn to Turkey. But he disdsined such
counsel, and, having tolerabiy good
patented property, went back to look after
it. No sooner had he reported himself
than he was placed under arrent and
kept in prison till after the treaty with
Berlin. At length he was brought to
trial before court-martial on a charge
OF betraying Kars to the enemy. The
investigation was long and thorough.
Moukhtar Pasha was examined, and he
had nothing against the artillery COM
mandant. OF course, as he was with
Erzeroum when Kars fell, he could
know nothing personally Of the matter.
Hussein Hami Pasha, who had bolted,
tried to throw the blame on the accused,
though he could know nothing of the
matter either, being all the time enscon-
ced in the citadel. But he labored the
points already mentioned in the endeavor
to divert suspicion and an accusation
from himself.
After due consideration, the court
martial found the charges not proved,
and Hussein Bey was released. But in q
few hours he was rearrested and placed
under guard in the Senerkierate, where,
unless death has quite recently taken
him out of the power Of his prosecutors,
he still lies. Efforts have been made
from time to time on the part OF some
friends, English as we'll as Turkish, to
see him, but without avail; and in the
fall Of 1885 one Englishman, who stands
very we'll with the Porte, applied for per-
mission to pay him visit, his very ex-
istence was denied; and when it was
found that it would not run, since an
officer high on the staff and a
member Of the Council OF War had
admitted Hussein Bey was In prison,
and had even pointed out the
building in which he was confined
simple non possumus was plead
ed. Ultimately an application was made
with British official support to the Seras-
kier, who combine the functions OF Min
lister OF War and Commander-in.C Chief.
That ancient, who disdains to speak any
language but his own, and is even i'm
patient Of conversation through an in
| terpreter, being approached in the Turk.
| ish tongue, perhaps rather haltingly, at
first fenced with the proposition and ulti-
mately 'brusquely said that it was more
than his portfolio was worth to give any
such permission, and that nothing short
Of an order under the seal of the Padi.
shah would suffice to give access to the
prisoner.
The more it was seen that there were
high almighty reasons for refusing this
the more cumbent it became on the
friends Of Hussein Bey to endeavor Il
get at him. So q last effor was made
through one of the otficialstf the palace
who had frequent opportunities Of ap
preaching the imperial person, and the
commission was willingly, if not gladly
| undertaken. In the course Of few
days that official was met in the street,
| Of Pers, and when the subject wa
broached he turned pale and urgently
requested that nothing more nigh
ever be said to him Of the matter
He had attempted to open 1t ant
he very much feared that tn,
best thing Hussein tBey's friend'
could do was to let that cleve
officer be forgotten. So there the thin
ended. But the punishment did not ent
there. The greater part of Hussein Bey'
paternal property was in Thessaly, OF
the border OF Greece, and when the rec
tification of the frontier was made in 1888
that property was handed over to th
Hellenic Kingdom. So il Hussein Be,
were at liberty to-morrow--and he wa
certainly alive in May of this year-h
would be pauper, for after the lapse 0
SO long time it is exceedingly improba
BILE that the Greek authorities would re
cognize the claims Of one, the chief evi
dence of whose treachery is that his foe
recognized his bravery as brave mel
should New York Times.