Evening journal., 1903-08-28
UNCLE SAM WILL
LOSE NO TIME
In Furnishing the Turks for
the Assassination OF Our
Representative
NO MOTIVE FOR THE CRIME KNOWN

Minister Leishman Asks For Immedi-
ate Punishment Of Persons Guilty
of Murder-European Squadron Or
dered to eBrut.
Washington. aug. zS.--rrUmpJ anu
vigorous action is being taken by the
United States government to secure the
punishment of those persons implicat-
ed in the assassination of United
States Vice Consul William c. Magels
sen, at Beirut, Syria, on Sunday last
while he was out driving. Minister
Leishman at Constantinople, who re-
ported the fact to the state depart
ment, has been instructed to de-
mand thorough investigation
of the affair and the pun
ishment Of those involved in the crime
and the European squadron has been
ordered to proceed Immediately to
Beirut to support the demands of the
United States minister should this be
found necessary. This latter measure
was determined upon as a result of con-
ferences which have been held over the
telegraph and telephone wires between
the officials here and the president at
Oyster Bay. The latter felt that no
time should be lost in dispatchlng Ad-
miral Cottons squadron to Turkish
waters, and he gave instructions to
Acting Secretary Darling that imme-
diate orders be given Admiral Cotton
to proceed at once.
The presidents determination TO lose
no time in getting the squadron to Bel
rut was also due in part TO information
received by Acting Secretary Loomis,
of the state department, from the presi-
dent Of the American Board Of Mis-
sions at Boston, indicating that an at
tempt had been made to burn the Eu-
pirates college buildings at HarpOot
In the absence of particulars no
motive can be ascribed for the crime,
and the state department officials have
no means of suggesting a theory as
to why the vice consul should have
been killed. There have been no com
plants about him or his work, and the
meagre cablegrams convey not the
slightest suggestion OF cause for
the crime.
Admiral Cotton, commanding the
European squadron, has been cabled
by the navy department TO have his
vessels in readiness to move to Beirut,
which is on the eastern shore of the
Mediterranean sea. in case the da-
mands of the United States govern
ment upon the Turkish. government
are not complied with. The Brook
lyn and the San Francisco are at Vile
franche and the Machias is at Genoa
Mr.. Magelssen was 30 years old,
having been born in 1873. He was edu-
Gated in the common schools of Min
nesota and was a student Of the col
Iege at Deborah. Ia, where he gradu-
ated three years ago. For time he
was assistant city assessor of Sioux
Falls, S. D., and also associate editor
OF paper called the Echo, published
there.
Magelssen, whose father was a
scandinavian, was appointed vice con
sui at Beirut September 20, 1899, by
Consul Gabriel Bic Rayudal, who is
Of the same nationality. At the time
of his appointment as vice consul he
was a consular clerk in Turkey. Ma
geIssen was appointed on the recon-
mendation of Senator Nelson, Of Min
nesota. who says that he was the son
of a prominent Lutheran minister. He
was born at Bratsburg, Fillmore coun
ty, MINI.
The department will not declare its
entire policy in the matter until a
fuller. report from Minister Leishmar
has been received
Beirut Is in Syria. Its population
is about 100000. The American min
lister to Turkey, John G. A. Leishman
IS a Pennsylvania man.. He was sem
to Turkey in 1900. From 1897 to 1906
he was minister to Switzerland.
The announcement Of the assassina
tion Of the American vice consul, fol
lowing so soon upon the assassination
of a Russian consul in Turkey, created
strong comment IN official circles anC
the suggestion was made that such fire
ouent assassinations indicate a yer,
disturbed condition of affairs In thu
Turkish dominions.
Minister Leishman gave no particu
lars Of the assassination, and the stat
department has no information as h
the cause of the murder. The Amerl
can government will Insist that th'
local authorities be punished If the
were derelict in their duty and tha
full measure Of punishment be givel
the actual perpetrators Of the outrage
Beirut is a city on the eastern shor
of the Mediterranean sea, and is
place of considerable commercial i'm
Dortance.
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