EXTRAORDINARY TRIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6930, 2 February 1884, Page 2 (Supplement)

EXTRAORDINARY TRIAL.

A reiiakeable trial is now going on at Stamboul. Bahri Pasha, head of the police at Pera, and six officers of the secret police, have been at last charged with the commission cf a series of offences, in which they have made use of their position to extort money. The plan adopted was to make a descent on the house of au innooent person, who wa« then accused of coming false money. Coining tools and moulds made for the secret police were found in the well, and false pieces hidden about the house, where they had been placed for the purpose by the band. If the accused were willing to pay a heavy bribe, the prosecution was dropped. If not the evidence was found to be conclusive, and the accused were sentenced to long terms of imprisonment. Nine persons are known to have been so sentenced. The discovery was owing to the failure of Bahri Pasha to bribe an Armenian witness to give false testimony. The evidence brought before the court alleges that it was under the orders of Bahri Pasha that the plot was formed. It is shown that on one occasion an agent of the secret police went to complain ! to Bahri Pasha that his colleagues were preparing joining tools for the purpose of accusing innocent people. Bahri Pasha, after listening to the declaration of this agent, told him that if he did not keep silent he would be escorted to Fezzan. Further witnesses have deposed that Bahri Pasha bad ordered them under threats to say that they had been bribed to give evidence against the secret police. It is alleged that the real motive was not extortion of money, so much •as to show vigilance and protect false coiners. Nearly all tao victims are poor persons. The persons sentenced have been brought from prison to give their evidence. Notwithstanding the great influence possessed by the accused, the evidence appears so overwhelming that it is generally believed a conviction must be the result.