Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-18
TURKEYS GREATEST MILLIONAIRE
story That is Told of How He GOT His
Fortune.
From the Chiclgo Record.

Il rom the Chic1go Record.
The richest man in Turkey is an Ar
menian who is a naturalized American
citizen and lived in this country for SOW
eral years If the stories told in the dinlo-
matte circle of Constantinople are true he
came by his money in a peculiar manner
1t will be remembered that the Sultan Aziz
was assassinated in 1876. For several wears
prior to his death he accumulated all the
money and bonds he could obtain. which he
stored away in his palace as a reserve fund
IN case OF a war with Russia which had
been impending for some time The amount
of his Accommodations has been yariousIy as
unated from $4,000, 900 to $40 900 600 and
was undoubtedly considerably In excess of
the latter sum. Most of it was in English.
french and German securities that drew,
interest and were easily convertible at any
bank in any city of Europe
Although the assassination was a p1vs-
terry II is believed to have been insnired If
II was not actually accomplished. by Nidad
faSha, the minister of finance; from ayar-
lclouS motives. He alone was aware of tho
magnitude OF the sultans hoard and the
pIace or It's concealment, and after his SOW
eIeish death, by virtue of his position, he
TOOK charge OF the fund and pretended TO
deposit IT in the public treasury Bur If is
beheFed by those most familiar with Turk
ish affairs that he retained for his own
dement, large part-perhaps one-half of il
Ia
1ntruSted to the Armenian banker I have
named and directed him to take the bonds
10 London and Paris and there denosit
them IN such manner that their owner
snip could not be traced to Midad Pasha
IL Is also believed to have been the latter's
intention to withdraw a portion of this
property from concealment as soon as he
felt safe in doing SO.
But not long afterward Midad Pasha was
himself assassnated in the boldest and
most astounding manner He was attend
ing a meeting OF the ministry when he was
informed that a messenger was awaiting
nm IN the anteroom with confidential
communication that must be delivered i'm
medlateiy and to himself alone Midad left
ms colleagues and entered the anteroom
where an unknown man Immediately plung-
ed a dagger into his heart. The palace
guard, nearing his death cry and the fan
OF ms body, Immediately rushed TO the
room and shot the assassin before he could
escape. Although the police continued their
Investigations Tor months, they were never
able 10 Identify the assassin or associate
any one else with the crime but the knew
ing ones believe that he was a ruffian i'm
ported from the mountains by the Arrnep-
nan pahker referred to and was Handsomely
pald to commit the deed On the evening
or Mldad's assassination the Armenian
merchant went TO Midad's palace and in
formed his widow that there were conceal
ea IN certain strong box certain papers
that would connect her husband with n
conspiracy against the crown and wonId
undoubtedly cause the arrest and fmprison
tnent or the entire family and the eonfisca-
tlon OF the property if they We're discoy-
cred The frightened widow, already he
slde herself with excitement because of the
assassination, begged him to search her
husband papers and destroy all question
able or suspicious documents He sDent
the night at this work, and among the ma
pers burned that night are believed to have
been the evidence of Midad's ownership in
the bonds that have made the Armenian
the richest man in Turkey