Evening star., 1896-06-18
MURDER OF THE SHAH
Official Report From the American
Minister in Persia.
MANY DETAILS NOT BEFORE given
Sympathy Of the President Was
Promptly Expressed.
A S S A S S IN A T A n TIC

Mr.. Alex. Mcdonald, United States min
lister to Persia, has made an official report
to the Secretary OF State in regard 10 the
assassination of the Shah of Persia, which
contains many interesting details not in
ciuded in the telegraphic accounts OF the
event. At the time of his telegram an
nouncing the assassination. he says, there
was such confusion of reports in circula-
ton in Teheran that 1t was difficult to
know what to accept and what to reject.
DIR. Wishard, the physician of the Ameri-
can mission hospital who had been sum-
moned for consultation and attendance
told the minister that the shot had proved
fatal. that he had signed the certificate Of
death and that the body OF the shah was
then lying al the palace. The government,
however, in order to allay public excite
ment, reported that the shah was only
wounded. and that he would soon recover
Allhough this statement was only partially
believed, the minister says. IL served to
Keep down excitement and preserve the
normal condition of the city until the
garrison could be distributed over the town
to preserve order
This has been happily continued" SAYS
Minister Mcdonald, land the course of the
puslhess ana traffic goes usual: and
50 lar as can gather from reports and
rom the appearance of the city. there is
iio iedSon 10 belleNe anticiDate that
lhese Will be Interrupted
History of the Crime.
Historically considered, the facts of the
crime may be briefly stated as follows:
On Thursday, the Both of April. IL was an
houhced that the shah would pay a visit
TO the shrine at Aim.
situated about six miles south of Teheran,
on the site of the ancient city of Rhey, or
hSG
sassin time TO mature his plans. Friday Le-
ing the Mohammedan day of rest general
~ large numbers availed themselves of the
opportunity to pay their deyotions at the
tomb or the saint. 1t has always been
customary when the shah entered the court
OF the Shrine TO turn out the ordinary Wis
ltors and make it quite private ON this
occasion, however, the shah refused his
sanction TO this precaution, said he would
go IN with the people, and gave orders TO
nave MS prayer carpet taken into the inner
sanctuary containing the shrine This was
ABOUT midday. On the shah entering the
sanctuary. man standing behind some
women, not disguised, as at first reporte5
pushed forward and. under the pretext of
presenting a petition, fired a revolver at
the shahs heart One of his attendants
rushed forwari and took hold of his mai
esty, who aftcc walking few PAGES sat
down and expired.
The body was Immediately brought back
10 leheran and al examination made by
m.
Dr Wishard and other European doctors.
ana, the cause of death being proved an
e> pianatory certificate was drawn up and
signed The body is temporarily deposited
IN TOMB IN the large religious theater ad-
joining the palace, where il will remain un-
I'll the arrival of the present shah. when II
VIII be removed to the royal mausoleum at
the holy city of Koom. a hundred miles south
from Ieheran. on the direct highway to
lspahan and Bushire. 1t is not Vet certain
when the shah will arrive in Teheran, but
IL is gen orally supposed within a very few
days, IL his health is sufficiently strong to
hear the fatigues of a rapid Journey from
Iabriz. four hundred miles distant.
All Persia Shocked.
This abominabe and detestable crime.
for which no justification whatever can be
admitted, has sent a thrill of horror into
every heart and cast gloom over the whole
country. which will not be either easily or
quickly removed. The late shah was a man
OF most generous sentiments and active
sympathies and had won for himself the
love and veneration of his people and the
highest respect and esteem of all other
natioralities. He was the fourth ruler Of
this dynasty, and the ond to meet his
death at the hands of an assassin.
The criminal, who was seized irnmei-
etely after firing the fatal shot. is now
lodged in a room near the palace. His
name is Mohammed Ria. native of Ker-
man, in the southeast of Persia. He is
about middle age. of slight build. and for
some years followed the trade of a small
broker dealer in secondhand goods.
Some time. years ago. he imbibed socialistic
and revolutionary principles. and for his
connection with number Of persons hold
ing subversive doctrines he was arrested
and imprisoned. He was kept in confine-
ment about two years, and liberated lit
tie more than three years ago. He appears.
however, to have used his liberty with
more freedom than discretion, for he
after a short time again placed under re-
straint: but on the mediation of the high
priest of Teheran. the shah's son-in-law.
he set free. and sum OF money was
given him to help him in his trade. He is
| no doubt fanatic and il is reported that
his mind is deranged Up to the present he
| denies having any acco mplioes. and saws
that both in inception and execution OF the
crime he had no confederates.
American sympathy Expressed.
"On the receipt of your telegram of May
l. went to the palace and expressed to the
Sadr Azem. the late shah's brothers and
the assembled ministers, in the name of the
President, the government, and the Ameri-
can people, their abhorrence of the crime
and sincere coincidence and sympathy
toward the royal family, the ministers and
the people. / also called on his imperial
highness the Naib-es-Suttaneh. the COM
mander -in-chief. and the late shah's only
grown-up son. and comm unicated to him
the contents of the message. He was in a
mos, depressed state of mind at the awful
blow which had descended upon him. He
told me to convey to the President, govern
ment and people his grateful sense OF their
kindness in remembering them in their
heavy and unexpected affiiction.
The valiahd. or crown prince, governor
of TabriZ and also of the province of Aver
haiian has succeeded to the throne. He
was proclaimed Oh the night of the LIST of
May as MuZaffar-ed-din, shah, kaJar. the
latter being the name Of the tribe from
which this dynasty is descended. The new
shah is about forty-three years of age,
rather shorter i'm stature than his father.
of an amiable and concilatory disposition.
of considerable experience i'm the conduct of
affairs and favorably inclined toward the
development of the resources of the coun-
try and close relationship with foreign
countries.
AT the service for Europeans in the
chapel of the American Mission in Teheran
held on the evening of May 3 the Rev. J. l..
Potter, ID. D.. the officiating minister made
feeling reference TO the virtues, amiability
and kindliness Of disposition of the late
shah, and the gratitude which all felt for
the protection and liberty of worship which
they enjoyed. and which was greatly due
to the magnanimity and enlightened senti-