The Philipsburg mail., 1899-11-10
TRAGEDY IN TURKEY.
A YOUNG WOMAN POISONED
IN SULTAN'S HAREM.
The Most beautiful Clrcassian Girl Seen
in ConstantinOple for Years First Kid
naped, Then Murdered - Was Only
Fifteen Years Old.

The splendid Yildiz palace has an
other mystery for which the people of
Constantinople hold their Sultan re-
sponsble. A beautiful Circassian girl
returned from Abdul Hamid's 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
riage of an officer of the imperial
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 five to six
hours before her arrival in the city.
The theory of suicide not being ap-
plicable in the case of an Oriental
woman, the assumption is that Zu-
leika drank in death with her choco-
late, or swallowed it in French rag
out or sweetmeat. Whether she was
poisoned at the Sultan's instigation 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 officer Of the Sultan's guard, and
a 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 profitable-six
months ago Youssouff was voted the
luckest dog in Pera, for he had sue
ceeded 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 fer several days, but, ow-
ing to the presence of Emperor Will
liam in Constantinople, who kept the
Sultan and his officials extremely busy,
no purchaser had been found. Then,
being unable to prolong their stay,
Zuleikas 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, Youssouff secured her by
trick for the beggarly sum of $4,000
francs. He told his friends that, ow-
ing to financial difficulties, he had con-
sented to become an auction tout for
this occasion, and so, when he bid,
others who wanted the girl held back
in order not to force the price. When
at last the "chappies" saw that Yous-
souff had fooled them, it was too late
to dispute him his prize. But Yous-
souff was not content with selling"
his comrades; his brides papa was
sold by him in the bargain. Instead of
paying him cash, he gave him fifteen
promissory notes of $1,000 francs each,
payable successfully month after
month.
Youssouff paid his notes promptly
on each succeeding first for half
year, and meanwhile tried to improve
the property he had bought on the in
stallment plan to the best of his
knowledge. The best of teachers in
singing, dancing, playing and story
telling were engaged to instruct Zu-
leika in those arts which the Turk ad-
mires mostly in women. She proved an
adaptable creature, and the fame of
her accomplishments soon spread over
all Pera. 1t even mounted the walls
of Yildiz Palace, and in the course of
time fell upon the blase ears of the
Padishah
Il should like to have this Zuleika
OF which there is SO much talk" the