The times., 1899-02-23
RICHEST MAN IN TURKEY.
story That Ia Told of How He Got
His Money.

tfTom the Chicago ReCord1
The richest man in Turkey is an Ar
menian who is a naturalized American citi
zen and lived In this country for several
years. II the stories told in the diplomatic
circle of Constantinople are true he came
by this money in a peculiar manner. 1t
will be remembered that the Sultan Aziz
was assassinated in 1876. For several years
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 war with Russia, which
had been impending for some time. The
amount of his accumulations has been va
riously estimated from $4,000. .000 to siO.-
900. 900. and was undoubtedly considerably
in excess of the latter sum. Most of 1t
was in English French and German secu
rites that drew interest and were easily
convertible at any bank in any city of Eu-
rope.
Although the assassination was a mys-
terry. ii is believed to have been inspired
if it was not actually accomplished by Mi
dad Pasha. the Minister of Finance. from
avaricious motives. He alone was aware
Of the magnitude of the Sultan's hoard
and the place OF it's concealment, and after
his sovereign's death, by virtue of his po-
sition. he took charge OF the fund and
pretended to deposit II in the public treas
ury. But it is believed by those most IA
miliar with Turkish affairs that he retained
for his own benefit a large part-perhaps
one-half or (which, for motivese of self
protection he intrusted to the Armenian
banker | have named. and directed him
to take the bonds to London and Paris
aad there deposit them in such manner
tha; their ownership could not be traced
to Midad Pasha. 1t is also believed to
have been the latters intention to with
draw a portion OF this property from con-
cealment as soon as he felt safe in doing
So
But not long afterward Midad Pasha
was himself assassinated in the boldest
and most astounding manner. He was at
tending a meeting of the Ministry. when
he was informed that a messenger was
awaiting him in the anteroom with a con-
fidential communication that must be de-
livered Immediately and to himself alone.
Midad left his colleagues and entered the
anteroom, where an unknown man imme-
diately plunged dagger into his heart.
The palace guard, hearing his death cry
rushed to the room and shot the assassin
before he could escape. Although the po-
lice continued their Investigations for
months. they were never able to identity
the assassin or associate anyone else with
the crime. but the knowing ones believe
that he was a ruffian imported from the
mountains by the Armenian banker re-
ferred to and was handsomely paid to COM
nit the deed. On the evening OF Midad' S
assassination the Armenian banker went
to Midad's palace and informed his widow
that there were concealed in a certain
strong box certain papers that would con-
meet her husband with a conspiracy against
the crown and would undoubtedly cause
the arrest and Imprisonment of the entire
family and the confiscation of the prop
erty if they were discovered. The fright
ened widow. already beside herself with
excitement because of the assassination,
begged him to search her husbands pa
pers and destroy all questionable or suspi-
cious documents. He spent the night at
this work, and among the papers buri.Ji
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