New-York tribune., 1899-03-12
TURKEYS RICHEST NlN.
THE ENTERPRISE HE SHOWED IN GAINING HIS
WEALTH.
w. f. Curtis in The Chicago Record.


w f. Curtis in The Chicago Record
The richest man in Turkey is Armenian.
who is a naturaIized American citizen and lived
in this country for geveral years If the stories
told in the diplomatic circle Of Consiantlnople
are true. he came by his money in peculiar
manner. 1t will be- remembered that the SUI an
AZiz was assassnated in 1876. For several
wears prior to his death he accumulated all the
money and bonds h. could obtain. when ne
stored away in his palace as a reserve lLnd III
case of 4 with Russia, which hdd been IN
ppndipg for some time The amount OF MS dC-
cumulations has been variousy estimated from
S1O0WOW 20 SiOOOJOlD and was undoubtedly
considerably in excess Of the latter sum. Most
os it was in English Ere lch and German So
curites that drew interest and were easily con-
vettible at any bank IN any city in Europe.
Although the assassination was mystery. II
is believed to have been inspired II 1t was NOT
acuallv accomplished by Midad Pacha, the
Minister Of Finance, from aVariClOuS motives.
He alone was aware )f the magnitude Of the
Sultan's hoard and th" place Of its cOncealmcnt.
and after his sover Il ;ns death. by virtue oi his
position. ne took charge If the fund ana pre-
tended tO deposit t. in the public Treasury. But
it is believed by those most familiar with Turk
iSh affairs that h. ret aimed for his own bencht
"A large part-pnrhapS -nalf Of it-WhlCh for
motives Of sef-grOtecton, he intrusted to the
Armenian banker have named. and directed
him To take the bonds 10 London and Paris and
there deposit them IN such manner that their
ownership could not bc traced to Mddd Pdchd
1t is also believed 10 have been the latter's in
iention to withdraw a portion If this property
from c0nccalmcnt soon as he felt safe in
doing
But not long aft"r~ard NiiIi Pacha was
himself assassinated n the bOldest and most
astounding manner. He was attending a meet
ing Of The Ministry when he was Informed that
a messenger was awaiting him in the ante
room with 4 conf lcntial communication hat
must be delivered mm diatcly and to himself
alone. Midad left his colleagues and entered the
a room. WhoTe 81 uE,-nOW.i man imm"d ate
ly plunged a dagger into his heart. The palace
sIald. hearing his death cry ana The fall Of his
body Immediately rushed to the room and shot
the assassin before he could escape. Although
the police continued their investigations for
/ months. they were never able To identify the
assassin or associate any one else with the
crime, but the knowing ones believe he was
rufan imported from the mountains by the
Armenian banker referred 20. anu hand
somely paid to commit the 4, ed.
ON the evening Of Mdads assassination the
Armenian merchant went to Midads palace and
Informed his widow that there were concealed
in certain strong box certain papers that
I would connect her husband with a conspiracy
against the Crown and would undoubtedly
cause the arrest and imprisonment of the entire
family and the cOnfSca ton of the property il
they were discovered The frightened widow.
already beside herself with excitement because
of TN" assassination. begged him to search her
husbands papers and .strOy all questionable
! or suspicious documents. He sueIt the night at
his work. and among the papers burned that
night are believed to have been the evidence Of
Miiad's ownership IN the bonds that have made
the Armenian the richest man in Turkey