Protection of Christians in Persia [‎109r] (3/10)

fn£' VE g
9 NOV 7
No. 87 ; dated ^ulaliek^ the 12th July 1871.
jV/m—C. Alison, Esq., c.b., Her Britannic Majesty’s Minister at Teheran.
To—The Right HoiTble the Eael op Granville, k. g., &c., &c., &c.
I have the honor to enclose copies of a correspondence^ with Her
Majesty’s Consul-General at Tabreez and the Persian
Government, on the subject of the alleged misconduct of
the Persian Poreign Office Agent at Tabreez respecting the execution of a
Mussulman for the murder of a Christian, as tending to excite an ill-feeling
on the part of the Mahomedan population against the Armenian com
munity.
The Persian Minister for Poreign Affairs at my instance addressed
the telegraphic message enclosed in translation under No. 7 to the heir
apparent, and His Excellency informs me that the reply of His Royal High
ness is perfectly satisfactory as affording a guarantee that the Christians
will receive efficient protection against violence in case of need.
On learning the particulars of this case, the Shah issued an order that
no capital execution should take place in the Provinces without his
sanction.
No. 13, dated Tabreez, the 7th June 1871.
From— Captain H. M. Jones, Consul-General at Tabreez.
To—Her Britannic Majesty’s Minister at Teheran.
A mukder has been committed in this town within the last few days. The
circumstances attending which, I think it necessary to bring to your obser
vation.
An Armenian, named Yahia Khan, left the Naib-ul-Vezareh’s house on
Thursday evening last, accompanied by one of the ferrashes of the latter.
This man, named Meshedi Mehmet, was a notorious bravo and had already
committed three murders under circumstances of peculiar atrocity. The late
Serdar-i-kull had long tried to seize and punish him, but he succeeded in some
manner in finding shelter and protection in the house of the Naib-ul-Yezareh,
where he remained for the last three years.
Meshedi Mehmet accompanied his victim to the house of the brother of
the latter, whom they found drinking along with two other Armenians. After
a short time passed in conversation, the murderer drew a pistol from his belt
and fired at Yahia Khan, the others made their escape; and, while Yahia Khan
was endeavouring to do the same, he was pursued by Meshedi Mehmet and
stabbed by a yataghan, which entered the groin and severed the artery. He
died very shortly afterwards. The murderer was so intoxicated that he was
unable to escape, and was seized by the town guard while lying drunk and
insensible in the court-yard. The Begeer-beg immediately imprisoned him
and reported the matter to the Vali Ahd. As this was the fourth undoubted
murder of which the prisoner had been guilty, His Royal Highness ordered
him to he executed forthwith, and the sentence was carried out on the following
day.
The conduct of the Naib-ul-Yezareh has throughout been so extra
ordinary, not to say culpable, that I trust you will call the attention of the
authorities at Teheran to it. You will find the details in the enclosed letter
which I addressed to him. Since then he is endeavouring, by a most glaring
perversion of facts, to make it appear that the murder was committed by the