The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1905-11-30
IN TURKISH COURT.
PARTY OF AMERICANS HAVE
AN ODD EXPERIENCE.
Are Welcomed Into Justice Shop Lo-
Gated on the Site of solomon's
Temple in the Holy
Land.

A citizen of Indian territory, while In
Jerusalem recently with party of
friends, met with rather novel expert
ence which will long remain in their
memory. The party was en- route to the
Mosque of Omar, which stands on the
former site of King Solomon's Temple.
All at once heavy shower of rain COM
menced to fall. Not being provided
with umbrellas on this occasion, all
members of the party sought shelter In
the nearest doorway, the door standing
invitingly open. To their utter astonish-
ment they we're unexpectedly ushered
into room where Turkish court was
being held
The judge was dlgnifed Turk, who
wore long black whiskers and had on a
long, reddish looking robe, which swept
the floor. Although deeply engaged in
the case that was being tried before him,
the judge found time to smoke from a
large water pipe, which stood on the floor
near by. His honor was Judge and
jury combined. A number Of advocates.
witnesses and spectators we're sitting
or reclining on mats ranged around the
room, while the Judge sat in high chair
and the lawyer stood while making n
plea for his client. With the exception
of the visitors. the entire assembly we're
Turks and Hebrews. all of whom wore
long robes, the Turks wearing fezes and
the Hebrews turbans.
The prisoner at the bar was Hebrew
he was charged with stealing coat from
another Hebrew. The evidence given
in Arabic by the witnesses seemed to
convince the Judge that the prisoner
was guilty. as he was sentenced to nine
months in Jail. The trial was just being
concluded when the Americans arrived
on the scene. Immediately the Judge
arose from his seat and approaching in
a dignifed manner, offered each of the
party his hand. saying in excellent Eng
lish that he was happy to be honored by
their presence in his humble court room.
He then adjourned court for the re-
mainder of the evening and invited the
party to remain and have some refresh
ments. For fear of being adjudged in
contempt of court they remained with
him sitting on the mats on the floor like
they had seen the natives do. After cof-
fee had been served by the court bailin
the Judge asked them where they were
from, how they enjoyed their trip and
what they thought of Palestine. They
told his honor that they we're from the
United States. had had very pleasant
trip and admired Palestine. but would
like to see it cleaned up The Judge
stated that the cleaning process would
be brought about a little later on. but
like the Biblical saying, it was not safe
to put new wine into old bottles for fear
of breaking the bottles, so it would be
dangerous to put new ideas into prac-
tice until such time as his people had
time to properly digest them.
In answer to the question how he hap.
pened to speak such good English the
judge said that he had learned the Eng.
lish language from his children. he bav.
ing II children and several wives. who
had attended the American missionary
schools in Constantinople and had
learned the English language that way
The judge stated that. although he was
Turk and a subject of the sultan. he
was an admirer of President Roosevelt,
whom he regarded as the greatest dip.
' lomat OF the age. He showed a CON-
plete set of the presidents books print
ed in French, which he said he had read
through several times. He also stated
that his only regret was that he did not
have one Of the presidents mighty guns
to hunt big game with. Speaking Of our
election system, he said that our policy
OF electing q president every four years
was bad one. He thought when the
United States had as good a man az
President Roosevelt that we ought tc
emulate the example of Mexico and keeI
him In Office for life. He made inquiry
as to how our judicial system was con.
Quoted. They told him how our learned
judges held court, with the jury system
and that they were only allowed one
wife and seldom had as many as II chill.
dren. His honor replied that he would
not like to be Judge In the United
States unless he could have all his wives
and children with him.