New-York tribune., 1895-12-28
A CANADIAN MINISTER IMPRISONED.
THE REV join c. MARTIN VKU EI1IIi Ihr1N I'D Hf
IRRESPONsIBLE OFFICIALS IN CENTRAL
TURKEY-FOR THREE DAYS IIE SUFFERS
THE MOST TRYING INDIGNITIES

IRRESPONSIBLE OFFICIALS IN CENTRAL
T1RKEY-FOa THREE DAYS HE SUFFERS
THE MOST TRYING INDIGNITIEs
Constant,nope Dec 27-Dspatches were for
warlea from here November 20, saving that a
Canadian missionary. the Rev. John Campbell
Martin had been terribly beaten and imprisoned
at Fekke near Hadjin Central Turkey. fun
narrative OF the case has been received. 1t ap-
pears that Mr. Martin is a Canadian by birth and
residence. lie appointed missionary by the
American Board OF Boston while the field in
1894. His home in Dundee. Quebec. Canada
1t appears that on Tuesday. October 49, while
travelling toward Tashjih. making his regular
annual tour OF the villages around Hadjin, Mr.
Martin and two who accompanied him were
stopped In Kiske by zabeh or soldier police
man. named Mahomet. who asked 10 see his
teskere. travelling permit The soldier appeared
10 be satisfied and left the party When the min
lister had proceeded some distance on his way the
zabteh again approached him and demanded the
permit. 1t was given to him than he put
it in his pocket and refused TO restore IT, He then
forced the party with the exception Of Mr.. Martin
to return Kiske that his boxes might be en-
amined. Two or three hours after the arrival Of
the minister in Tashjn his servant came. saying
that the boxes had been examined and nothing OBJ
jectlonabe having been found In them, they were
zabeh's possession.
Wednes day night another zabteh. 1brahim CUR
jim Oghoo. came with order the col
leoor and elders of the village to arrest Mr.. Martin
and his and 10 take them with all speed to
Kiske. In the morning. Mr.. Martin TO per-
form a marriage ceremony. but the officer Of the
law would not allow him 10 wal.
After waiting two hours ~ Kiske the vekil OF
the Mudir. Hadji Oghoo Osman for Mr.
Martin. and sought for a long time TO get from him
the order which he had Issued the night before
to the elders in Tashjn, but Mr. Martin refused to
,ba ffcfa
teskere"
Mr.. Martin replied: "Mabomet took my teskere
and he must have shown il to you"
This was denied. Then the missionary and ser
wants ordered out OF the After some
time the Moslam Iioja, who acted scribe for the
vek Of the Mudr, came and said: This officer is
a bad man: he has made me write a paper TO the
kaimakam in Fekik, stating that you have no
teskere and on that ground he is about to send
thither"
The tax collector, on hearing the statement made
by the Hoja. went to the Government and informed
Osman and the zabtehs that he had the teskere
the previous evening in their hands, and he warned
them that If called upon to testify In the case he
would tell the truth. This led them to reconsider
the matter and they sent for the Hoja to write
new paper. The vekil Of the Mudir remarked: I'VE
have decided not TO destroy this mans teskere. but
simply TO say that il has by some months outrun
Mr.. Martin had not gone outside OF the Adana
Niayet In which he resided. and he had his pass
port and Consular certificate with him. He was
well known In all those villages having visited
them for the last three years. The yek.l OF the
Mudr confessed that he knew him we'll What
aid the officers have in view In treating him they
did? They wanted. 1t Il believed, 10 extort money.
and having found this a more difficult task than
they had supposed. endeavored to save themselves
In one way another.
The people who knew them best say that these
officers are partners with the robbers who infest
that region: that on condition OF sharing in the
spoils they allow the thieves to unmoested. The
fact that these Officers as well as offcers In gen
era throughout the district. have had their salaries
withheld for the last nine months aas Il bearing
on the case. This was learned from the Zahtiehs
themselves as they conyersed in the prison cell In
witch they stood guard
Mr. Martin and he men were made prisoners In
kske. and put under guards. After some time ihey
were taken out. an j. under escort OF two zabti-
chs sent to Baghohejk. iiye or six hours distant.
The guards int ended. IL is believed. to take advan
tage OF the darkness to assault and II may be take
the lives Of the prisoners. They had orders from
the veki! OF the Mudr 10 obtain the paper Issued
b. him TO the elders In Tashjn. and that whenever
they got possession OF that they were to abandon
the prisoners and return TO kiske In Bagchejik
they did their utmost TO get the minister to quarrel