Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1899-04-22
TRAGEDY IN TURKEY.
\ YOUNG WOMAN POISONED
IN SULTAN'9 HAREM.
The Most Beautiful Circassiaa GIRL Soea
IN ConstAutinoplc Tor Years Ftrst KID
mapped, Then Murdered - Was Only
rtfsssn YeAra OLD.


The splendid Yildix palace has az
other mystery for which the people OF
Constantinople hold their Sultan re-
sponsible. A beautiful Circassian girl
returned from Abdul Hands harem to
the abode of her rightful owner some
ten days ago, and soon afterward died
OF poison-a certain vegetable COM
pound warranted to work at the end
OF six or seven hours-no sooner, no
later.
The girl breathed her last just fifty
minutes after her arrival in the car
court. 1t is known that she rode to
her old masters home directly from
the palace and without stopping on the
way. She herself said on her death
bed that she had not eaten or drunk
anything since early breakfast In the
harem. which was from Ave to six
hours before her arrival in the city.
The theory OF suicide not being APP
plicable in the case of an Oriental
woman, the assumption is that Zu-
leika drank in death with her choco-
late. or swallowed 1t In a French rag
out or sweetmeat. Whether she was
poisoned at the Sultan's instiRation or
whether the chief eunuch murdered
her on his own hook-that, Of course.
no outsider can decide There Is lit
tie likelihood that that part OF the
tragedy will ever be cleared up.
Six months ago Youssouff Tevfik. >
young ofiicer OF the Sultan's guard. and
son of the army contractor who was
favored with the silken cord after he
had acquired riches enough to make his
disgrace and the consequent confisca-
ton of his fortune proftable-six
months ago Youssouff was voted the
luckest dog in Pera. for he had sue
eeeded In buying Zuleika, the pearl of
| the Circassian slave market
Zuleika. attended by her business
like father and brothers, had previ-
ously been hawked about the harems
OF the great for several days. but. ow-
ing to the presence of Emperor Will
liam In Constantinopie. who kept the
Sultan and his officials extremely busy
no purchaser had been found. Then,
being unable to prolong their stay
! Zuleika's relatives, or natural own
ers," as they call themselves in Tur-
key, put the girl up for auction, and
though all Pera's golden youth bid
for her. Youssoun secured her by a
trick for the beggarly sum Of $1,000
francs. He told his friends that. ow-
Ing to financial difficulties, he had con-
sented to become an auction tout fol-
this occasion. and so. when he bid
others who wanted the girl held bach
In order not to force the price. Wher
at last the "chappies" saw that Yous
souff had fooled them. 1t was too lat,
to dispute him his prize. But Yous
souff was not content with selling
his comrades; bis brides papa wa,
sold by him In the bargain. Instead o
paying him cash, he gave him fifteer
promissory notes OF 81 900 francs each
payable successfully month afte
month.
Youssouh paid his notes prompt,
on each succeeding first for half
year. and meanwhile tried to improy,
the property he had bought on the in
stallment plan to the best OF hi
knowledge. The best of teachers II
singing, dancing, playing and stor.
. telling were engaged to instruct Zu
leika In those arts which the Turk ad
mires mostly In women. She proved al
, adaptable creature, and the fame O
, her accomplishments soon spread owe
. all Pera. 1t even mounted the wall
Of Yildiz Palace, and In the course o
time fell upon the blase ears of tn
! Padishah.
Il should like to have this Zuleik