Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-03-20
Kansas at the Front Z. Turkey.

from tue Icpeka mali. .
The richest man in Turkey is said to be
a natura!ized American citizen and, we
think. resided a few years in Kansas.
This man is an Armenian by birth, but
came over to this country a good many
years age and stayed here long enough to
get onto the curves of the country. and
engaged in the banking business.
Some twenty-five years ago. when the
father Of the present Turkish ruler was
sultan. he began to Systematically gather
in gilt edged securities. such as German
and English bonds, with a view of accu-
mulating a fund to pay the expenses with
the expected war with Russia.
The only man in Turkey who was aware
Of the amount and character of the secure
ties was the grand mafti. who was sup
posed to be the financial adviser OF the sui
tan.
There Is said to be no way to ascertain
the exact amount of these securities. but
was believed that the amount exceeded in
value $40. ~ 1850. In 1876 the sultan was as
sassinated. This is quite customary. we
might say. in Turkey. In fact. 1t is about
the only way the people in that country
can get even with the ruler.
After the sultan had been hurried into
the subsequently. the grand mafti. as GUS
tod!an of the funds. pretended to turn the
securities into the public treasury. but the
common belief was that he failed to turn in
more than half, appropriating the other
half or more to his " use and benefit.
AS the story goes. he then entered into
an arrangement with the Armenian bank
er. and American citizen, by adoption. to
take these securities to London and de-
post them there until UGH time as 1t would
be safe for the mafti to dispose Of them.
This the banker did.
Some time after this, while the mafti
was acting as chief sqeegee at some Turk
ish function, he was handed a message
stating that the messenger wished to see
him privately on some important business
in which the mafti was deeply concerned.
Not suspecting t%reachery. the mafti went
out to see what the messenger wanted, but
as soon as the caller had gotten him a lit
tie to one side he drew a large cheeseknife
from the recesses Of his pajamas and cut
an irregular opening in the person Of tho
mafti some ten or twelve inches deep, on
account of which the mafti let out one
whoOp and died. An attendant who heard
him yell, ran In to SEQ what was the mat
ter and shot the assassin before he could
get out of the place.
This left the Armenian banker and Amer
lean citizen the only person who knew of
the existence of the securities which had
been stolen by the grand mafti. He pro-
ceeded at once to see the widow Of the de-
ceased mafti and persuaded her that If the
croOkedness Of the mafti were to become
known his name would not only become
disSraced but his estates would become con-
fiscated. The widow was scared and begged
the banker to destroy all evidences of the
MATHS connection with the bond deal. which
the Armenian proceeded to do. This left
the Armenian In full possession Of the Sc
c%urities. which he afterwards proceeded to
turn into cash. thus showing that the nat
uralized citizen who has had a touch Of
high life in Kansas is fully able to hoe his
own row even in the despotic kingdom Of
Turkey.
The thing that surprised US. however. Is
that. having made his pile. he should take
any chances in staying in that country.
Some of these times the present sultan will
make that American citizen cough up. or
off will come his head. .