The Wilmington daily Republican., 1895-05-13
IN TURKISH DUNGEONS.
Experience of an American Citizen
"a in the Sultan's Domain.
NO CHARGES MADE AGAINST HIM.

According to Mr.. Manassian's Story His
Only onense Was In Having Become an
American Citizen After Leaving His Ma
tive Land. Armenia.
NEW YORK, May 18.-Crlcor Mnnnssian
has arrived in this city from Marsellles,
accompanied by his wife and child. The
facts concerning Mr.. Manassianls arrest
AMI Imprisonment in Turkey l-were pub
lished some tisne ago. HIS deposition con.
cerning the treatment he received at the
hands of tho Turkish government will
this week be presented to the department
of state at Washington.
Mr.. Manassian, who is OF Armenian
birth, became an American citizen in 1893,
after residence of seven years in tho
United States. His statement Is as fol-
lowsr
II left New York In July, 1893, and
went to my native city Of Tokat, Turkey,
10 visit my relatives and attend to mat
ters relating to my family. At Constan-
hnople I showed my passports to our con-
snlate and received permit from the gov
srnment to go to Tokat. About three
months after was.called from Tokat to
SAMSON, whore my nephew lay dying.
applied to the government to have my
teskere vized. They took my passport,
saying the governor wished to SEQ 1t. They
kept both and gave me a provisional tes-
kere, with which won't to SAMSON and
returned. I could not recover my pass
port, and was at last told after three
months that it was sent to Sivas to the
vail governor goneraD. wrote to Con-
sul Jewett, at Sivas, and sont my citizen
ship papers at his request, but could not
secure the passport.
II was then beginning to make plans to
return to America The consul wrote me
again April Is, 1894: "The vail informs
me that he has sent your papers to Con-
stantinople.' was much annoyed but
was not alarmed. In September the vail
rame to Tokat, / applied to him about
my passport, but he said, You should not
have become an American citizen
-' "Three days after, late in the evening,
seven Turkish soldiers came into tho house
where l was with my wife and child, and
In spite Of my protest that | was an
American citizen, and that they had no
right to arrest me without the informa-
ton of an American official, they CON-
pelled me to go, saying the vail wanted me.
They took me to prison. The next morn
Ing they put mo in chains and inanacles,
and an iron ring around the neck, together
with two murderors, in II dungeon, and
then they sent mo in a cart to Amasia
From Amasia to kovak they made me
walk In chains with the murderers, five
days distance, making me sleep at night
In dungeons in chains. My feet were so
swollen Icould not walk any more, and
persuaded the murdcrers to pay for a cart
till SAMSON was reached, which we could
not walk In three days.
"Noither ! nor my friends could send
kilograms. Tho messages would be ac-
copied, but not sent. But a person was
sent to Sivas and Information given to
Consul Jewctt, and yet nothing was done
efther by him or the consul at SAMSON
for two weeks. Thoy brought inc out oc-
casionally to ask me II | still persisted in
remaining an American citizen, and when
4 said did, they took me back to jail AT
the end of two weeks was sent as II prs-
pner to Constautinople In Turkish
steamer, and upon arrival put into prison.
1.-The next day Minister Terrell was in
formed, and was released and sent to
him, He hoard of all | had suffered. 1t
was sono days after my arrival that n let
ter came from Consul Jewctt and both he
Rnd the consul ut SAMSON have confirmed
tlo outrage and injury inflicted upon lne
by order of the vail.
IL had my wifo and child come to Sam
soon, and as no man was allowed TO como
with her had to take the steamer for
Simsoon again. / wns dumbfouudcd to
fiud that she had no money whatever, all
the money that l had about $3.50 in ALI
and my watch having been stolen by the
Turkish soldiers, who remained behind
and ransackod my house on the night they
arrested Ine.p We sold some of my wife 4
gold coin ornaments and with much suf-
fcring reached Cnnstantnoplo | sont an
Rppcal by Registered letter from Constan-
tinople Dec. 10 last to the president of the
United States, bog9ging him that tele.
graphic instruction bo sent to Minister
Terrell to secure justice for me. No an
swer came.
"There had not been even word against
me from any Turkish official, and oven
khe chief of police at Constnntinople ex
pressed great astonishment that l should
have hcen arrested and put In chains
They took my atlilavits and said they
would be sent to our government and that
n | managed to reach the United States
the matter would be settled from there
with much suffering we managed tC
borrow money and reached Marseilles anC
tkore we livod In prlvatons till, by work
ing at my trade all could, earned money
for passage to the United States. Oul
consul at Marseilles gave me to under
stand that they had orders not to protect
American citizens who were born Arme
mans. Is such thing possiblep Who Il
our government afraid OFF,