The Portland daily press., 1895-06-12
HORRIBLE cRuELTlEs
Practiced On Armenian Prisoners BY the
Turks,


Boston, June II, The following
Is the first story of life
IN Turkish prisons that has been pub
llshed since the new interest in Arme-
mans has been shown. 1t is from reliable
| sources in Turkey and Boston.
An American resident in Turkey writes
that there is one theme which concen-
trates attention in eastern Turkey, name
| ly, the condition and the prospects OF the
country. 1t is not only the cause of COM
mon humanity which interests, but the
whole future of religious and Christian
work. The question now pending holds
within it the life or death of Oriental
Christianity. Are these wicked and
Goddess fanatics to be permitted to dip
their swords further in the blood Of inno-
cent Christians, not only in general
massacre, but on public highways, in
their own homes, in their fields, and,
worse than all, in the prisons by the
| after day the pitiful story is told over and
| over again of pillage, burning torture,
| murder violence, rape, abduction, con-
| fiscation, desecration of churches etc.
| In the Bitlis prison there are seven cells
each one large enough for 10 or 12 persons
There are between 20 and 80 persons
| crowded into each one. There are no
and human excrement are heaped to-
| gether ArJnenians found in these cells
| have to do their purchasing through the
| zabtiehs and at double price They are
| deprived of immediate communication
with those outside, and letters directed to
them are not delivered. What they are
allowed to write must be in Turkish
And to get it written 2 diasters or bread
equivalent to the daily ration must be
given. The daily allowance of bread by
law should be 300 drains, but it is never
more than $50, and that is dirty and
poorly baked. Often it is not delivered.
The water is undrinkable Armenians
often have to drink the sKhuliteh''
water. This is the water of the tank
where the Turks perform ablutions for
prayer. Should one dare to ask for JUS
tice, he is at once thrown into dark,
damp, subterranean cell Armenians in
these cells are the slaves of the caprice
and severity of the Turks.
casper khapolan of Ayzood village
Moosh, had his head and arm broken by
the prison keeper with an iron shovel
Seroon Manoogian of Vertennes village,
Moosh, was violently beaten and strangled
by Zabtiehs.
Mihran Damadian of Constantinople
was taken to Moosh, being beaten and
lll-treated by the way. Put into chains
and handcuffed, he was brought to Bitlis
with his leg broken.
Melo Mukhian Verto Boghosian of
Mushgashen, of Moosh, died a few days
after release from prison from the effects
of the i'll usage sustained in prison.
Muggerditch Sughertisian of Bitlis died
a few days after release from prison from
the effects of ill usage sustained in pris-
on.
Geragos Asdvadzadoorian of Zundza
village of Keghi after Is days imprison-
ment in Bitlis, died from the effects of ill
usage About $50 found on his person
was appropriated.
Gopo, the rails of Aharouk village, of
Kheelp, died in prison from the effects of
i'll usage. About S45 found on his person
was appropriated.
Malkhass Aghapanian and Serop Malk
Yhassian of Avzud village, of Moosh,
were beaten into a fainting condition.
Malkhas was burned in eight places and
Serop in IL places with hot irons.
.Hagop Seropian of Ayzood village,
Moosh, was stripped to his shirt and
drawers, and beaten till he tainted, and
then a girdle was thrown round his neck,
and he was violently forced to the Zaftieh
office, where he was branded in 16 places
with red hot ramrods. He was kept on
his feet for five days and nights without
food or drink. He was also subjected to
violent beatings and plucking out of
hair.
Serko Minasian, Zarabed Malkhasian,
Kero Asdvadzadooria of Ayzood village
of Moosh were violently beaten, forced to
remain standing for long periods at
time and the contents of the vessel con-
tanning human excrement were poured
over their heads.
Hacfhig Minasian of Moosh was choked.
by Muhe Tchaoush, till he tainted
Korken Mardoian of Semal village of
Shadakh was subjected to violent beat
ings, plucking out of hair and forced to
remain standing for "a hours at time.
Then Mulazin Hadji Ali and the prison
keeper, Abdul Kadeer, forced him to
perform the Shatan topee (Saran's ring;
forced through between them and then
tied together by the great toes Then
they committed sodomy on him, result
ing in his death. Korken was 45 years of
age.
Casper Simonian of Khass village of
zabtiehs by the order of Muhe Tchaoush
and Capts. Eskender and Hadji Taieem.
They bound him hand and foot and COM
mitted sOdomy on him nearly every night
resulting in his DEATH He was 35 years
Of age.
Mukhetar Safarian and Khacho Baloian
of Kakarlu village of Boulanik were
topee; then they committed sodomy on
them. Mukhtar was 15 and Khacho ID
years of age.
Sogho Shawian of Alvasenj of Moosh
was kept in Moosh prison in an iron
colcar of nine ozes and heavier chains on
his feet. He was brought to Bitlis prison
in handouts. The zabtiehs kept him in
their room 3 1-2 months Often they
forced him to stand for long time hun
CRY and with beatings. They committed
sodomy on him. When he would faint
they would pour water on him to revive
him, and they would renew the beating.
They plucked out his hair and burned
him with hot irons He was Damadian's
servant, who was 30 years old
Markar Manoogian of Vertannes of
Moosh was violently beaten by zabtiehs
in Mushaghshen. On the way to Bitlis
the zabtiehs forced him to carry them by
turn on his back, and when his strength
gave out they beat him. They kept him
one night in hole made in the snow.
They kept him three nights without food
and drink and did not allow him tobacco,
to which he was greatly addicted. He
was hanged on Feb. 27, 1894
Saghatiel Merzoian of Hosh Geldi will
age OF Bavanik was kept standing with
out food and drink for long periods at