Evening star., 1961-09-18
Menderes Hanged Secretly
By Ruling Turkish Junto


nan Menderes was hanged yes
terday for crimes against the
Turkish constitution which a
court ruled we're committed
during 10 years of strong-man
rule.
The 62-year-old ex-Prime
Minister, once idolized in Tur-
key, followed two other top
ministers in his former cab
met to the gallows. Ex-Foreign
Minister Fatin Rustu Zorlu
and former Finance Minister
HaSsan Polatkan were ex-
ecuted early Saturday.
They were convicted with
Menderes after a 10-month
trial before a revolutionary
court of violating the constitu-
ton.
Took Sleeping Pills
MendereS took an overdose
of sleeping pills after hearing
the verdict and his execution
was delayed until medical ex-
aminers could rule that he was
fit.
A team of physicians treated
him through the week end, and
a communique issued by the
ruling National Unity Com
mittee said he was found to be
completely recovered by a six
man medical team headed by
DR.. Sejat Tavat. Turkish law
prohibits executing a man who
is not in his right mind or too
i'll to stand.
The MendereS regime was
overthrown Is months ago
after student uprisings in which
the military eventually joined.
A military junta has been
ruling Turkey, but elections in
tended to restore civil govern
next are scheduled for october
IS.
Yesterdays communique did
not specify when or where
Menderes was executed, but
presumably the hanging took
place at the Marmara Sea is
land prison of Imrali, where
Zorlu and Polatkan we're exc
cuted.
Newspapers published Off
cial army photographs of the
latter two executions but were
barred by decree from making
any editorial comment. The
general feeling among Turks
seemed to be one of regret that
the junta had found it neces-
Sary to take the lives of the
three former leaders.
zorlu helped the hangman
slip on the moose yesterday, Of
ficial witnesses reported.
The 52-year-old former dip
lomat appeared calm and un-
afraid, the witnesses said. The
hangman, they added, at first
had difficulty slipping the moose
over zorlu'S head.
Ducks Head to Help
zorlu, his hands tied behind
him, ducked his head to help
and said: I'm sorry. My hands
are tied. If they were free I.
could put the moose on myself"
Zorlu mounted a small chair,
which in Turkish executions is
kicked out from under the con-
demned at the last moment.
zorlu asked that he be allowed
to kick away the chair him
self. Permission was granted.
Former Finance Minister
Hasan Polatkan. hanged with
zorlu. appeared agitated, ac-
cording to the witnesses, who
would not permit the use of
their names. Polatkan was too
afraid to write a last letter to
his wife and three children and
asked officials to take a few
notes for the family.
Forty-three former officials
sentenced to life Imprisonment,
including 77-year-old express
ident Celal Bayar, Travelled to
Imrali with the condemned
men and now are imprisoned in
a special bloc on the island.
The other Alb defendants sem
fenced to prison terms ranging
from 2 to 16 years will be scat
tered among various prisons
throughout Turkey.
3 Sons Survive Menderes
Menderes was born in a Turk
ish Aegean province. the son
of well-to-do parents. He went
to the American College in
Izmir and later was graduated
from Ankara University Law
School.
His wife, Berrin, and three
sons survive him. One, Yuksel,
is a candidate for the new Par
Lament.
A veteran of the 1919-1922
Turkish war of independence
against Greece, Menderes tried
his hand at farming early in
the 20s. Later he switched to
politics and was elected to Par
Lament in 1881.
In 1946 he resigned from the
Peoples Republican Party head
ed by former President Ismet
Inonu-later leader of the op-
position to Menderes in Par
liament-and helped establish
the Democrat Party. The Dem
ocrats we're the first opposition
party in Turkish political his
tory, and Menderes led them to
an overwhelming victory in the
1850 parliamentary elections.
Helped Allies In Korea
Menderes was the man who
allied Turkey with the Western
allies in the Korean war. He
sent a Turkish brigade to the
Korean front without waiting
for parliamentary approval.