A MISSIONARY POISONED

The Rev. F. H. Lesile of Michigan Killed at Urfa

NOVEMBER 13, 1915
BOSTON, Nov. 12.---The death by poison of the Rev. Francis H. Leslie of Northport,
Mitch., a missionary stationed at Urfa, Asiatic Turkey, was announced today by the
American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. Ambassador Morgenthau at
Constantinople, who notified the State Department at Washington of the death, reported
that he was making a thorough investigation to determine the responsibility, and that,
pending the result of this inquiry, he had formed no opinion as to the case.
The Ambassador's information was based on a telegram from the Consul at Aleppo. Mr.
Leslie, who had been acting as an intermediary for 300 British, French Italian, and
Russian refugees who were interned at Urfa, had been in close touch with the Consul. He
had been appointed consular Agent by the United States to facilitate his handing of
monthly allowances sent to the interned persons, but the Turkish Government, according
to the Rev. James L. Barton, Secretary of the American Board.
Mr. Leslie had been the only missionary R Urfa, which is a remote station in North
Mesopotamia on the Arabian border, since 1912. The station included an extensive
industrial plant, employing several thousand persons.