Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1921-04-14
ruler IS VICTIM
OF ROYAL FLUSH
Amar AIayam, Tribal King of Ar
menia, Lands in Jail
in Minneapolis.
POKER GAME HIS UNDOlNG
Seeks to Rally His Tribesmen to Re.
gain Heritage of His Fathers
Turns to Gambling to Sup
ply Necessary Funds.


right of birth tribal king Of Arine-
MIA, is prisoner in the Hennepin
county Jail, held there on the charge
of giving worthless $50 check to
redeem his losses at poker and afraid
to summon his clansnen to his aid for
fear they would fepudiate the leader
ship of u man in felon'S cell.
AT least such was the story told by
Alayam to Floyd Il. Olson, county III,
torney, from whom he besOught ~
recommendation of probation that he
might once more rally his trbesmen
and seek with them to regain the her
itage Of his fathers.
Ten years ago Alayam, according t.
the story he told Mr.. Olson, became
the king Of his tribe In Armenia UPON
the death of his father. Abu Alayum.
Abu had been strong raer. lie
had amassed lands and fortune. Dur.
ing his lifetime he had held ut bay
the emlssaries Of the TURKISH sultana
who had sought to despoil his lands.
Upon his death the Turks came.
Looted by Turks.
Alayam was but Il youth Of twenty
two Al that time Marauding Turks,
backed by the power of the Sultan.
seized upon the richest of his inheri-
lance. 1t was useless to resist their
strength by force. For money they
promised to release the farms of his
fathers, so, gathering about fifty of
his young men. Alayam came to Amer
lea, the land OF tabled fortunes.
After the custom Of the Armenian
immigrants, Alayam was spokesman
for his tribesluen in the new land. 1t
was through him that they hired out
for various occupations, a 1.-THE of
their wages they gave to Alayum, who
boarded the money that he might go
back 10 ransom his kingdom from the
Turks.
Almost enough money was raised to
accomplish the purpose when the
world war came. Upon the heels of
news of the war came tidngS of the
ravishing of Armenia by the Turks.
Tales of the suffering of his country
men caused Alayam To abandon his
dream of going back To his kngdon.
The money saved for that purpose he
sent overseas, II contribution TO the
Armenian relief funds. Many of his
coloniSts returned To enlist as soldiers
to fight against the Turks. The rest
were scattered.
Still those who remained continued
to give a part of their wages To Ala
yam and he stayed on in this country,
feeling that the money he could raise
here would he of more value to his
countlymen than his presence in Ar
menia as Il common soldier.
Turns to Gambling.
Tho end of the war was also the end
of A!aynms resources. So many Of
his colOnists had gone back to ArIne-
MIA that the contributions of the re-
manning were scarcely enough to af-
ford their chieftain n living. Despcr-
ate at the thought that return to his
fatherland might never be realized.
Alayam began to gamble. seeking. he
told Mr.. Olson, to multiply the titheS
of his cooniSts into the fortune he
needed.
But instead of winning Alayam lost.
With money gone he gave worthless
check for $50 for last stack of chips
and those, too, were lost. Alayam was
arrested.
In his plea to the county attor ey
Alayam begged for !! Recommended ion
of probation. He could call his follow.
ers together then. he said, and would
depart with them for their old home
I'm Armenia. Even without money
Alayam was confident he could rally
his fathers tribcsmen and, with the
power of Turkey weakened, regain
again his heritage.