Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-01
LEISHMAN MUST TALK
ACCUSED OF UNAMERICAN AC-
TON OVER MANS DEATH.

The killing of an American citizen in a
railway train in Asiatic Turkey by the
son of Turkish Pasha, which, 1t is
charged. was conveniently smothered by
the American minister. Mr.. Leishman,
and for which no one was punished. was
revealed yesterday on the arrival of the
North German Lloyd steamship Koenig
Albert and reported in a special dispatch
to The Star.
AS result of Mr.. Leishman's conduct
charges will be preferred against him at
the State Department. through Senator
Curtis of Kansas by Mrs. William War
kentin. the widow of the man killed, who
was a prominent Kansas banker.
Mr.. Warkentin was shot and killed on
April In a train between Damascus ana
Beyrut. The prominent Turk who did the
shooting is at liberty and no attempt was
made to punish him under the plea that
the killing was accidental"
The body of Mr.. Warkentin arrived yes
terday on the Koenig Albert. accompa MED
by his widow. who was most bitter over
the attitude taken by Minister Leishman.
Mr.. Leishman's position throughout
the AFFAIR was rather that OF Turkish
official than of an American minister"
said Mrs. Warkentin.
Asked to Sign Paper in Turkish.
His sole anxiety seemed to be the in
convenience which my husbands death
would cause the Turkish government In
stead of trying to assist me in my trouble
his first action was TO try to secure a re-
lease from me OF any indemnity which I
might claim for my husbands death.
HE told me that. while the father OF
the young Turk who killed my husband
received salary OF 10000 pounds from
the Turkish government. the young man
himself was penniless. and that 1 would
not be able to recover anything from
him. Mr.. Leishman acted as If he was an
agent of the Turkish government and
harassed me by trying to get me to sign
document of release.
This was written in Turkish. and I
was unable to read 1t. When II was pre-
scented to me l was told that I would not
be able to bring my husbands body back
to America unless / signed il.
"Mr. Leishman also told me that il was
useless to prosecute the son Of the pasha
and that an action would only embarrass
him with the porte. I did not care for
any damages for my husbands death. be-
cause he was wealthy, and / was not in
need of money.
responsible for his death was punished
for his criminal carelessness."
Shot Through Car Partition.
The Turk who killed Mr.. Warkentfn did
the shooting through the partition OF a
compartment i'm a train while en- route 10
Damascus. II was said to be accidental.
and was done while the young Turk was
fooling with a revolver After the shoot
ing he was arrested. but Immediately re-
leased upon his declaring his identity.
No further action was taken by the Turk
ish authorities. and every effort was made
to hush the matter up.
The Kansas friends of Mr.. Warkentin
were greatly excited when they heard OF
the manner Of his death. Albert Bergera,
prominent lawyer of Kansas City, came
to New York to meet Mrs. Warkentin.
He declared yesterday that charges
against Mr.. Leishman would be preferred
with the State Department, and that IL
no action was taken the matter would be
made the subject of a senatorial investi-
cation by Senators Curtis and Long of
Kansas