[132]. The fate of Mr. OO. himself is recorded in the narrative subsequently published:
“Mr. OO. was put to death at Z. with excruciating tortures—his eyes being gouged out, and red-hot irons driven under his nails.”
[133]. Daughter (?). See Doc 94.—Editor.
[134]. Further instances of Turkish kindness are recorded by the writer in his subsequently published narrative:
“The poor Armenians sold their few possessions, but the transaction was really a legalised plunder. Everything was sold at one-tenth of its value. Here is a conversation between two Turks in a coffee house: ‘What a pity things were sold at such a low price! I could not stand the sight in the streets; I saw many cheap things, but my conscience would not permit me to buy anything.’ The other fellow replied: ‘Well done! What a conscience you have! If you really pitied them, you should have bought something and offered them a good price! If you and I do not buy, to whom will the poor people sell?’ It is to their credit that many of the old school Turks really took pity on the persecuted Armenians. During the massacres of 1895 many Turks had shielded and saved Armenians, but in this instance no one dared express his feelings or do an act of kindness. It is said that a Turk was hanged in front of his own house in Vezir Köprü, in the Vilayet of Sivas, for giving shelter to an Armenian.”
[135]. This is brought out very clearly in the narrative subsequently published by the same writer:
“A blind old man named CZ., whose son is a physician in the United States, was scarcely able to walk, even with the aid of a staff. The Mohammedan neighbours took pity upon him and promised to take care of him if the Government permitted. I appealed to the Kaimakam and the commandant of the gendarmes. The answer was: ‘Impossible; all have to go; no Armenian is to be left behind, whether blind, deaf or paralytic.’
“The Kaimakam regretted that he found himself in office at such a time; he was sorry he had ever entered the official life. His father, a professor in the Turkish University in Constantinople, had advised him to go into business, but, as he had had no capital, he entered the Government Service.”
[136]. See Docs. [68], [82] and [122].
[137]. We know from other sources that Mr. CC. was put to death.—Editor.