Office of the Historian

Mr. Terrell to Mr. Gresham.

Legation of the United States,
Legation of the United States, December 13, 1893. (Received Jan. 2, 1894.)
No. 134.]

Sir: I inclose for your information the copy of a letter just received from the Rev. E. W. McDowell, at Mosul, dated November 24. The letter to which he refers, written to the church secretary in New York, asking further action of you, may have induced the belief that Miss Melton’s case was neglected here. The estimable gentlemen in charge of missionary enterprises are, I fear, sometimes unreasonable in their demands; certainly there was no occasion for this gentleman’s colleague to write home to have the Department take more energetic action.

* * * * * * *

I have, etc.,

A. W. Terrell.
[Inclosure in No. 134.]

Mr. McDowell to Mr. Terrell.

Mosul, Turkey in Asia, November 24, 1893.

Dear Sir: Yours of October 31 was received by last post. I am glad to know that our Government shows no signs of receding from its first position in this case, and that in case of failure to punish the assailants of Miss Melton an indemnity will be asked.

We, from the first, have been morally certain as to who the guilty parties are, but did not think it wise to specify their names until the time had come to give the evidence. While, as you suggest, it is impossible for us to secure personal testimony in the case, I feel confident that the circumstantial evidence which I have sent you will strike you as being exceedingly strong against the men referred to, whose names I gave.

There has nothing of importance occurred in the case since I last wrote you. Abdullah Pacha, sent to Amadia to investigate the matter, is taking his time to do it, and has already visited and interviewed the intimate friends of the prisoners in villages on this side of Amadia, e. g., Sheikh of Bowrnemee and Beshid Bey.

But I am satisfied to have him go on in his own way, for I am sure he is weaving a rope with which, figuratively speaking, we can hang the prisoners.

I regret to say that my colleague, before he reached Mosul, hearing what seemed to him unfavorable news about our case, wrote to our secretaries at New York, asking them to secure further action by the Department of State. Possibly they may send this letter to Secretary Gresham, who perhaps may telegraph you.

Please accept this as an apology beforehand. We are perfectly satisfied that you are doing what is right in the case. In my letters to our missionary board I have not had a word of complaint to offer, and shall write them this week to inform Secretary Gresham, in case the letter referred to has been sent him, that it was written by one not fully acquainted with the circumstances, and that we on the ground are satisfied that you have pushed the case as rapidly as was possible under the circumstances.

Very sincerely, etc.,

E. McDowell.