The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1898-01-27
TORTURED BY THE TURKS.
Armenians dashed i'm Order to Elk.
tort Confessions.

.oTt CONCESSIONS.
New York. Jan. 27.-The Herald
Paris special says that Rev. George
III. Hepworth,, who has been investi-
| eating the Armenian massacres, sends
from Erzeroum. Armenia, an inter-
| view with an Armenian who is not in
clined to revolutionary sentiments,
and who deplores the attempts to
raise revolt among his people. The
name of the Arriienian is not given.
because If it were known 1t might go
hard with him.
In reply TO Dr. Hepworth's question
as to the equality of Turks and Ar
menians before the law, the Armenian
said that in theory the law applies
to all alike, but that in practice the
injured Armenian has no chance to win
his case in court, and is likely TO SUI
fer still further injury If he pushes
the matter, unless he happens TO De
rich, in which case the affair takes
a different turn.
Armenians charged with political
offenses are thrown into prisons, six
or eight in narrow cell, where they
are compelled to eat and sleep and per-
ficials, in order to give the impression
that they have caught a revolutionist
and obtain the reward, resort to tor
ture in order to force the prisoner to
confess. He is dashed on the bare
back, in some instances, until he either
rants, or, to escape further punish
ment, confesses anything and signs
any document which may be pres ented.
Are Turks ever tortured?' DR.. Hep
worm asked
Without doubt" he replied. - hon
ever a Turk is supposed to have some
information which the authorities ought
10 know, there is no hesitation in using
the thumbscrew. But the instances OF
such proceedings are rare. They are
not so i'm the case of suspected ATme-
mans. l ought to add. however. in or
der to be perfectly fair, that the same
thing constantly occurs in Russia. In
Persia, in China and in all other ORR
entail countries. | don't think the Turk
is any worse than his neighbors, but.
being almost a European, why should
h not be BETTER"
But. there are Armenians on the 10
lice force" DIR. Hepworth said.
Yes. and they are worse than the
Turks"
why" DR.. Hepworth asked.
Because" he replied, the Armenian
must prove his loyalty by his arrests.
and in doing so he is more diabolical
than the Turk. You see. he begins as
suspect, and he must be oVerZeaious 10
prove that he is not partial to his coun-
tfymen. The worst men on the force
are often Armenians for this reason"
Speaking of censorship, the Armenian
said:
Our hymn-books have been confis-
4 h.. nd A nVfl N a
pears in some of their songs. The Turk
hates the word Armenia. He says there
is no such place. There is an AnatOlia,
but not an Armenia, and he prohibits
any reference TO it,. We are an obliter-
ated people, and the word must be eX-
plunged from our hymn books. More
over to sing a national song is TO rem
der one liable to arrest.
I'm a book of history used in the
schools it is natural that list of old
time Armenian things should appear.
Can YOU have a history of this country
without mentioning the fact that in
the old days we were of such impor-
tance as q people that the Roman En-
peror Pompey, after a severe struggle,
captured an Armenian queen and car
ried her to the imperial city TO grace
his triumphal profession? But If that
statement were made in book used
in our schools all such books would be
confiscated.
1T seems to me to be bad policy. for,
although we are prohibited from speak
ing of these facts. they are still facts,
and not even the Turk can successfully
deny them. The truth is the truth. and
that ends the matter. 1t does not les
sen our loyalty to the home govern
ment to know that centuries ago we
were an independent people. We pre-
fer to live I'm Turkey than to abide IN
any other country, for We have more
freedom here. and If the Turk would
be simply fair to us there would be 30
trouble We do not want To emigrate.
We have strong affection for our
home. and il allowed even modicum
of liberty we should be prosperous and
happy"