Mr. Terrell to Mr.
Gresham.
Legation of the United States,
Constantinople, May 3, 1895.
(Received May 16.)
No. 529.]Sir: I have the honor to inclose a copy of my
protest to the Porte on the 25th ultimo, against the manner in which the
case of Mustapha, who was prosecuted for killing one Stupe, a
naturalized American citizen, was conducted. The right to have a
dragoman present in such cases is a farce, if he can not be present when
the case is reexamined in the appellate court.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure in No. 529.]
Mr. Terrell to
Saïd Pasha.
United States Legation, April 25, 1895.
No. 60.]Sir: I am informed that after judgment of
the Turkish court, which decided that the man Mustapha, who murdered
the American citizen Stupe, should suffer the death penalty, the
court of cassation reversed the judgment for some supposed error,
and that Mustapha was finally condemned to a punishment of fifteen
years imprisonment.
The dragoman of the consul-general was present at the first trial,
which sentenced Mustapha to death. He was not present when the case
was considered in the court of cassation, and was not informed that
his presence before that court was desired or would be
permitted.
Your excellency is assured that I have sought to avoid giving cause
for embarrassment to the Ottoman Government in its administration of
justice, and have observed the disposition which you have been
pleased to manifest in the correction of wrongs; but I can not pass
without a protest the manner in which the trial of Mustapha was
conducted.
Your excellency will, therefore, note the protest which I now
respectfully make against the action of the court of cassation in
deciding the case of Mustapha without the presence of an American
dragoman, the same being in disregard of treaty stipulation.
Receive, etc.,
Note.—Mustapha on a new trial was
sentenced to fifteen years imprisonment.
