The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-02-15
CONSUL IN JAIL.
Turkish Consul at Boston is
Under Arrest.
Derieux Heirs Attorney Prefers
Charges Of Embezzlement.


Boston. Feb. 15.-Joseph A. Iasigi.
Turkish consul at Boston. was arrested
In New York Saturday. on a charge of
embezzlement. The arrest caused big
sensation in this city. Iasigi Is well
known in social circles. and both he and
hts wife have been leaders among the
upper ten.
From the facts which counsel on either
side have given grudgingly. 1t appears
that the criminal proceedings were in
stltuted on Friday. after the counsel for
the Derieux heirs, for whom Iasigi was
trustee, and from whose funds 1t Is
claimed he has embezzled. had en-
deavored to obtain an accounting from
Iasigi in the civil courts.
General Francis Peabody; who Is act
ing as counsel for the Derieux heirs who
reside In France, says that he has given
Iasigi every opportunity to produce the
securities. my position" said Mr..
Peabody "of course, prevents me from
discussing the case as fully as l might.
/ have caused the arrest of Iasigi, act
Ing as counsel for Pierre Charles De-
rieux and Charles Armand Antoine
Berger de la Villardere, the beneficiaries
OF these securities. The arrest was
caused because Iasigi failed to produce
about $260.000 worth of securities which
he held. have positive and convincing
proof In support Of the charge of en-
bezzlement Of these securities"
The warrant for the arrest was OBJ
tained in the local court Friday after
noon, after Iasigi had failed to appear in
the supreme court, where. 1t is said, he
had promised General Peabody to pro-
duce the securities. Some difficulty was
experienced in locating Iasigi as he had
already left for New York, but late Sat-
urday night the local officials were no.
titled Of his arrest.
In the meantime, attachments have
been made on all his property in this city
and his bank account.
The Derieux fortune amounted to
about $500, 900 or $500, 900 when, in 1S49. the
testator died. Joseph Iasigi, the Arme-
nian father of Joseph A., who amassed
an 100000 fortune in the Oriental trade
in Boston, was made trustee of the es-
tate. When the eldest Iasigi died. Os-
car, his son, succeeded to the trusteeship
as well as to the consul generalship of
Turkey, which Office his father held for
many years.
Oscar was drowned when the City of
Columbus went to pieces on the rocks off
Cay Head, eight years ago. Joseph A.,
who had been acting consul general for
several years, was made consul general.
In 1884 he was vested with powers of at
torney from the two heirs of the Derieux
estate, and assumed all the duties OF
the trusteeship, Jointly with Francis c.
Welch.
Every three months the income was
sent to the heirs, who continued to live
In France. Nothing appeared to cause
difficulty. In April last the usual
amount of the income was sent to
France. Since then, it is said, nothing
has been paid over to the heirs. This
state of affairs naturally soon turned to
an investigation. But it dragged along
without result until six weeks ago. when
counsel was employed and the power of
attorney to Iasigi was revoked.
An effort to get list of the securities
themselves failed. Mr.. Peabody, who
had received new power of attorney
from France. demanded to be shown the
securities, so as to be satisfied that he
QasigD still had them. Mr.. Iasigi's re-
peated promises to do so were not full
filed. Coudert Bros. of New York then
came to the case. and some correspond
ence suggested the possibility Of ltiga-
ton over the ownership of the securities
which resulted in the attempted hearing
in the injunction Friday Moorfield
. Storey, the counsel for Iasigi, absolutely
refused to talk6f the case.
Iasigi was held I'm SIC. eco bail at New
York to await proceedings to secure his
eztraaition to this state. Reauisition
papers are now in New York, and the ac-
cused's counsel will be given a hearing
today.