Contents [ by or i gi nal pages]

I nt r oduct i on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
I . The Ti p of t he St r i ng . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
I I . The Cr i me . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
I I I . Bl ood f or t he Br ead of Zi on ( The J ews) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
I V. The Sl ayi ng of t he Ser vant I br ahi mAmar ah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
V. The Deni al of t he Aust r i an Embassy
Empl oyee I saac Pi cci ot t o . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
VI . The Memo of Accusat i on Agai nst I saac Pi cci ot t o . . . . . . . . . . 148
VI I . Lawf ul Use of Chr i st i an Bl ood and Weal t h . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
VI I I . The Rol e of t he For ei gn Consul at es . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Readi ngs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Document s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211

Setting the stage
The Case: The Sl ayi ng of Fat her Thomas Al - Capuci and hi s ser vant
I br ahi mAmar ah Al - Roumi t o use t hei r bl ood i n t he pr epar at i on of t he
" Br ead of Zi on" .
The Date: Wednesday, t he 2nd of Zul - Hi j j ah, 1255 H. ( Febr uar y 5, 1840
A. D. ) .
The Place: The J ewi sh Quar t er i n Damascus.
The Participants in the slaying of Father Thomas Al-Capuci were the
following Jews:
1. Davi d Har ar i , 2. Aar on Har ar i , 3. I saac Har ar i , 4. J oseph Har ar i , 5.
J oseph Li f yado, 6. Rabbi Moussa Abou Al - Af i eh, 7. Rabbi Moussa Bokhoor
Yehuda ( known as t he Sal ani ki ) , 8. Sal i man Al - Hal l aq ( t he Bar ber ) .
The Participants in the slaying of Ibrahim Amarah were the following
Jews:
1. Moussa Far hi , 2. Mur ad Far hi , 3. Aar on Sal ambol i , 4. I saac
Pi cci ot t o, 5. Asl an Far hi , 6. J acob Abou Al - Af i eh, 7. J oseph Menachi m
Far hi , 8. Mur ad Al - Fat t al .


The Fr anci scan Chur ch - Damascus, Bab Toma,
The si t e of Fat her Thomas Al - Capuci ' s Tomb.


A Mar bl e Pl at e mar ks t he Tomb of Fat her
Thomas Al - Capuci i nsi de t he Fr anci scan
Chur ch i n Damascus, Bab Toma.

The Tr ansl at i on of t he Document af f i xed over t he Mar bl e Pl at e.
THE HISTORY OF THIS PLATE
The r enewal of accusat i on r egar di ng t he r el i gi ous r i t ual mur der , i n
Damascus, l ed Si r Moses Mont ef i or e t o r eal i ze t hat t he Met al l i c Pl at e
whi ch i s pl aced i nsi de t he Capuci n Chur ch i n t hi s ci t y, i n addi t i on t o
t he accusat i on of t he J ews of mur der i ng Fat her Thomas, wi l l cont i nue t o
be t he sour ce of r el i gi ous hat r ed t owar ds t hem( t he J ews) . And af t er he
r ecei ved, i n t he year 1840, f r omCar di nal Ri vor ol a ( t he Chi ef of t he
Capuci n Or der i n Rome) t he assur ance t hat t he t ext of t he host i l e
wr i t i ng wi l l be r emoved; and t he obt ai ni ng a f i r mand adequat e suppor t
f r omt he Fr ench Gover nment , Si r Moses f ound an appr opr i at e chance t o
t r avel t o Damascus and i nt er vene, i n per son, on t he act ual scene of t he
mat t er .
He ar r i ved i n Damascus on J ul y 3, 1849. Si r Moses had t he cour age t o
go, i n per son, t o t he Chur ch, and i n t he pr esence of t wo pr i est s he
copi ed t he t ext i n Ar abi c and I t al i an l anguages. I t appear s t hat t her e
was some doubt r egar di ng t he accur acy of t he t ext . . . .
The t ombst one i n t he Capuci n Chur ch i n Damascus, as a r emi nder of
Fat her Thomas' deat h, became a sour ce of cont i nuous concer n f or Si r
Moses. I n or der t o r equest t he assi st ance of t he Fr ench Gover nment , Si r
Moses and Lady Mont ef i or e r et ur ned t o Par i s dur i ng t he mont h of
December , 1849. I n Par i s, Si r Moses met wi t h Gener al Laf i t t e, t he
Mi ni st er of For ei gn Af f ai r s; and soon t her eaf t er he was r ecei ved by
Loui s- Napol eon, t he Pr esi dent of t he Republ i c.
Accor di ng t o Si r Moses, t he f ol l owi ng conver sat i on t ook pl ace at t he
El ysee Pal ace wi t h t he Fut ur e Emper or of Fr ance:
" He r ecei ved me wi t h a gr eat wel come. . . . Then I
asked Hi s per mi ssi on f or me t o r ead my r equest .
He l i st ened wi t h gr eat at t ent i on and expr essed
Hi s agr eement many t i mes. And when I f i ni shed
r eadi ng He sai d: ' I shal l gi ve di r ect and st r ong
or der s; I amver y happy t o be abl e t o ser ve a
r i ght f ul cause! ' . "
I n 1855 Si r Moses was pl anni ng t o t r avel agai n t o Pal est i ne. Dur i ng hi s
st op i n Par i s he pr esent ed t o t he Emper or , t hr ough t he Fr ench
Ambassador , a r equest f or a di r ect i ve t o be sent t o t he Fr ench
Ambassador i n Damascus t o secur e t he t hef t of t he host i l e ant i - semi t i c
document f r omt he Capuci ns' Chur ch. Ther e was no appar ent r esponse.
Gr eat pr essur es wer e pl aced by Si r Moses f r omt hat t i me f or war d as wel l
as by Ki ng Fr eder i c- Gui l l aume of Pr ussi a, dur i ng hi s vi si t t o London i n
1842. Thei r cont i nuous i nt er cessi on di d not succeed i n put t i ng an end
t o t hi s bl i nd pr ej udi ce, or t he f anat i ci smwhi ch l ay at t he f oundat i on
of t hi s shamef ul document i n t he Chur ch of Damascus. *
* Quot ed f r omt he book Sephar di c J udai smby Paul Goodman.


The Document af f i xed on Mar bl e Pl at e next t o t he
Tomb of Fat her Thomas i nsi de t he Fr anci scan Chur ch -
Damascus, Bab Toma.


The Tomb of Fat her Thomas Al - Capuci i nsi de t he
Fr anci scan Chur ch - Damascus, Bab Toma.

INTRODUCTION
I n t he t hi r t i es of t he 19t h cent ur y, Muhammad Al i managed t o l i ber at e
Syr i a and uni f y i t wi t h Egypt , t he t hi ng t hat gener at ed a ser i ous
i nt er nat i onal cr i si s emanat i ng f r omt he danger s t hat i t coul d
const i t ut e agai nst t he Eur opean i nt er est s. A new i nt er nat i onal
coal i t i on emer ged under t he l eader shi p of Engl and wi t h t he ai mof
dest r oyi ng t hi s uni t y. Fr ance monopol i zed a speci al st andi ng i n f avour
of Muhammad Al i i n t he hope of ut i l i zat i on t hi s f r i endshi p and
obt ai ni ng pr i vi l eges i n t hi s i mpor t ant ar ea. Lat er on, and due t o
Eur opean pr essur e, i t was obl i ged t o qui t hi m. Sever al schemes spr ang
t o exi st ence t r yi ng t o dest r oy t hi s uni t y assumi ng di f f er ent f or ms.
Some t r i ed t o at t ach t o Syr i a a speci al st andi ng t o al i enat e i t f r om
i t s sur r oundi ngs, and ot her s asked f or t he r et ur n of t he J ewi sh
Ki ngdom.
l

1
Vi enna, Feb. 8t h 1841. Abst r act f r oma t el egr amsent f r omPr i nce Met t er ni ch t o
Count Appon. Ar chi ves of f or ei gn af f ai r s, Tur key, Fr ench Embassy i n
Const ant i nopl e, Pol i t i cal Depar t ment Vol ume 282. Fol . 70- 78.

I n t hi s t ur bul ent er a and i n Muhammad Al i Pasha' s f i nal phase of
mandat e upon Syr i a, Damascus was t er r i bl y shocked by a hor r i f i c cr i me,
t he vi ct i mof whi ch was Fat her Thomas Capuchi .
2
Thi s cr i me was commi t t ed
by a gr oup of J ews who want ed t o ext r act hi s bl ood t o make a mat zo ( For
YumKi ppur ) . I t was not t he f i r st cr i me of i t s ki nd f or t he West had
al r eady exper i enced many cr i mes of t hi s sor t , not t o f or get t hose ones
t hat f ound t hei r scene on Czar i st
2
Capuchi n Pr i est , spent 33 year s i n Damascus, ( 1807- 1840) . He was f ami l i ar wi t h
Phar macol ogy and Medi ci ne. He used t o t r eat t he pat i ent s i n Damascus f r ee,
Musl i ms, Chr i st i ans or J ews. He was ski l l ed i n Vacci nat i on agai nst smal l pox,
whi ch he pr act i sed f or t he f i r st t i me i n Damascus. He r ender ed gr eat human
ser vi ces dur i ng t he pr ol i f er at i on of epi demi cs. He was an obj ect of t r ust ,
r espect and l ove by al l peopl e.
On t he day of t he cr i me he happened t o be i n t he J ewi sh Quar t er t r eat i ng a
smal l pox- st r uck J ewi sh boy. ( See Al - Macsoud Fi Qawa' i d al - Tal mud Tr ans. Yussef
Hanna Nasr Al l ah, pages 29- 30) .

Russi a. Some cr i mes wer e di scover ed and r ecor ded despi t e al l ef f or t s t o
cover up or t o dest r oy t he evi dence.
2

Resear cher s' pens f l ocked f r omt he East and t he West t o pr esent t he
cont ent s and t o r eveal t he hi dden mot i ves of t hese cr i mes. Thus t hi s
cr i me of sl ayi ng Fat her Thomas Al - Capuci , and hi s ser vant , was not t he
f i r st of i t s ki nd.
3

2
A si mi l ar cr i me was commi t t ed i n Al ger i a i n t he mi ddl e of t he 18t h cent ur y
when J ews ki dnapped a Chr i st i an boy and dr ai ned hi s bl ood; but t he J ews
succeeded i n get t i ng t hi s i nci dent di smi ssed by of f er i ng money t o t he Tur ki sh
gover nor of Al ger i a.
3
The Consul Gener al of Egypt wr ot e t o t he Fr ench For ei gn Mi ni st er , on Apr i l 2,
1840: " I f i nd mysel f obl i ged t o pr esent t o you a copy of a r epor t , whi ch was
sent t o Mohammad Al i and pr epar ed by a Rabbi who was conver t ed t o I sl am, t hat
r eveal s t o us t he t r ut h t hat human bl ood i s necessar y f or t he J ewi sh
cel ebr at i on of YomKi ppur . Thi s st r ange di scover y hel ps us under st and t he
di sappear ance of l ar ge number s of peopl e wi t hout any knowl edge of t hei r f at e,
and cer t ai n Gr eek sl aves bought by t he J ews dur i ng t he war may have di sappear ed
f or t hi s r eason. "
Al so, t he Fr ench Consul i n Damascus r ef er r ed t o si mi l ar i nci dent s. He was
wat chi ng and obser vi ng t he devel opment i n t hi s par t i cul ar case because t he
vi ct i mFat her Thomas was a Fr ench subj ect l i vi ng i n Damascus.

Thi s cr i me, sur el y, i s not t he l ast of i t s ki nd ei t her .
1
But t hi s
par t i cul ar case gai ned speci al meani ng because of t he sur r oundi ng
pol i t i cal envi r onment .
The Egypt i an aut hor i t i es i n Cai r o and Damascus wer e ver y concer ned
about t hi s hor r i bl e cr i me. The Fr ench Consul par t i ci pat ed, per sonal l y,
i n t he i nvest i gat i on because t he vi ct i mwas a Fr ench subj ect . The
i nvest i gat i on r eveal ed ser i ous mat t er s t hat sur passed t he cr i me i t sel f
as t o t he nat ur e and mot i ves connect ed wi t h t he J ewi sh t eachi ng,
pr escr i bed by t he Tal mud, whi ch cont ai ned dest r uct i ve devi at i ons gui ded
by bl ack hat r ed of humani t y and al l ot her r el i gi ons equal l y, and
t oget her .
2

1
See Rohl i ng: J ewi sh Bel i ef s Accor di ng t o t he Tal mud. A chapt er cont ai ned
quot es f r omt he Tal mud says: " The l i f e of mi ser y and subj ugat i on over t he
Peopl e of I sr ael wi l l cont i nue unt i l t he el i mi nat i on of f or ei gn r ul e over t hem.
Bef or e t he J ews f i nal l y r ul e over t he r est of al l nat i ons, war must br eak out
and dest r oy t wo t hi r ds of t he wor l d. Then t he J ews wi l l spend seven cont i nuous
year s dest r oyi ng t he weapons t hey had capt ur ed af t er t hei r vi ct or y. ( p. 65)
2
The Fr ench Consul i n Damascus sent a t r ansl at i on f r omt he Tal mud:
1. Ther e i s not hi ng sai d or done i n Chr i st i an Chur ches whi ch i s not
di f f er ent f r omt he t r ut h, and not di f f er ent f r omwhat t he unbel i ever s
pr act i ce. The dut y of t he J ew i s t he dest r uct i on of t hese Chur ches. The
Chr i st i an Bi bl e i s not hi ng but a bel i ef of Gr eat Si ns; t her ef or e, t he dut y
of t he J ew i s t o bur n i t , r egar dl ess of t he pr esence of God' s name i n i t .
2. I t i s t he dut y of t he J ew t o cur se t he Chr i st i ans t hr ee t i mes dai l y, and
pr ay t hat God may dest r oy t hemal l , especi al l y t hei r Ki ngs and Rul er s. Thi s
i s t he Law, and i t s f ai t hf ul obser vance f al l s upon t he l eader s of t hi s
bel i ef , especi al l y t hose whose dut y i t i s t o ur ge t he cur se of t he
Chr i st i ans. God has or der ed t he J ewi sh Peopl e t o put t hei r hands on
Chr i st i an weal t h by al l means possi bl e, i t mat t er s not whet her t hey use
t r i ck, t hef t , or i nt er est char ge.
3. I t i s t he dut y of t he J ews t o consi der t he Chr i st i ans as beast s and t o
t r eat t hemas such. I f a J ew sees a Chr i st i an on t he edge of a cl i f f , he
shoul d push hi mor t hr ow hi mt o t he bot t om.
The Fr ench Consul expl ai ned t hat t her e ar e some Tal mudi c r ef er ences t o t he
Musl i ms, whi ch ar e even mor e sever e t han t hose f or t he Chr i st i ans; and t hat he
r ef r ai ned f r omt r ansl at i ng t hemdue t o hi s f ear of Musl i manger over t hem.

The J ewi sh r eact i on cr eat ed a gr eat t umul t ever ywher e; and t hei r
l eader s and suppor t er s wer e knocki ng on t he door s of t he r ul er s i n
Eur ope and t he Uni t ed St at es t o i nt er vene on t hei r behal f and ef f ace
t he t r aces of t hi s cr i me, and decl ar e t hat t he J ews wer e not gui l t y of
t hi s cr i me.
Even t oday, whenever t he J ews commi t a cr i me whi ch st i r s wor l d opi ni on,
t hey ar e not sat i sf i ed t o be decl ar ed i nnocent of such a cr i me but t hey
expl oi t t o t he maxi mumt he oppor t uni t y t o obt ai n mor e i nf l uence over
publ i c opi ni on.
They st ar t ed t hi s st r at egy by expl oi t i ng t he of f i ce of t he Aust r i an
Consul i n Damascus t o i nt er vene i n t he i nvest i gat i on on behal f of some
of t he accused J ews on t he gr ound t hat t hey wer e Aust r i an subj ect s; and
t hey r equest ed t he i nt er vent i on of hi s gover nment on t hei r behal f .
The J ews expl oi t ed t he t ol er ance of t he Egypt i an aut hor i t i es and t he
Fr ench Consul i n Damascus, when t hey got i n t ouch wi t h t he accused
per sons ur gi ng t hemt o deny any i nvol vement ; t hey ent i ced t hose who had
al r eady admi t t ed commi t t i ng t he cr i me, and t hr eat ened t hemi n or der t o
r ever se t hei r conf essi on. Then t hey st ar t ed appl yi ng pr essur e over t he
Fr ench Consul t hr ough hi s super i or s i n Par i s and Const ant i nopl e. They
accused t he Fr ench Consul i n Damascus of i nj ust i ce and oppr essi on, and
of bei ng j eal ous of t hei r J ewi sh weal t h.
1
Thi s accusat i on came f r omt he
Aust r i an Consul who al so accused t he nat i onal aut hor i t i es, who wer e
conduct i ng t hei r i nvest i gat i on, by usi ng t or t ur e t o compel t he accused
per sons t o admi t t hei r cr i me. They r epeat ed cer t ai n st at ement s
concer ni ng t he I sl ami c l aw i n t hi s r egar d;
1
The Fr ench Consul r esponded by sayi ng t hat Mr . Laur i n t he Aust r i an Consul , was
not awar e of t he f act t hat t he J ews of Damascus pai d much of t hei r gol d i n t he
case of Fat her Thomas Al - Capuci because t hey knew, and f or l ong t i me, t hat t hey
wer e r esponsi bl e f or t he di sappear ance of a l ar ge number of ot her r el i gi ous
communi t i es' member s. He f ur t her r ef er r ed t o t he huge sums of money of f er ed by
t he J ews, as a br i be, t o some Fr ench Consul at e st af f , member s t o get t hemt o
cooper at e i n wi pi ng out al l t r aces of t hi s cr i me.
and as t o t he accusat i on of t or t ur e, even i f i t t r ul y t ook pl ace, t hi s
was an act of some i ndi vi dual s so, t her ef or e, I sl ami c Law had no r ol e
or connect i on i n t hi s mat t er .
Al t hough, t he use of t or t ur e wi t h t he accused cr i mi nal , i n or der t o
obt ai n hi s conf essi on, was a known pr act i ce t hen i n Eur ope and i n t he
Uni t ed St at es. We wi l l not over st at e t he f act i f we say t hat t or t ur e i s
st i l l pr act i ced i n t hese count r i es t oday.
The J ewi sh l eader s made t hei r move i n Eur ope and i n t he Uni t ed St at es
by usi ng t hei r f i nanci al and publ i c i nf or mat i on i nf l uence, and by
ur gi ng t hese Gr eat St at es t o i nt er vene on t hei r behal f . They st i r r ed
t hei r suppor t er s i n Par l i ament s and t he Pr ess; t hey or gani zed
demonst r at i ons suppor t i ve of t hei r cause, and sent not abl e
r epr esent at i ves of t he Eur opean J ews t o Mohammad Al i .
The J ews succeeded i n t hei r expl oi t at i on of t he di l emma f aci ng Mohammad
Al i by t he Gr eat Power s host i l i t y and enci r cl ement i n Syr i a; and t hey
al so expl oi t ed hi s f i nanci al cr i si s by of f er i ng hi mhuge sums of money.
Because of al l t hi s, t hey succeeded i n obt ai ni ng a Fi r man or
Decl ar at i on Or der f r omMohammad Al i . I n f act t hey hoped by f or mi ng i t s
cont ent s - t o end t he case i n t hei r f avor , and t o do away wi t h i t
al t oget her .
And when t he Sul t an of Tur key r ecover ed Syr i a, f r omMohammed Al i ,
Mont ef i or e obt ai ned f r omhi manot her Fi r man decl ar i ng t he pr ot ect i on of
t he J ews f r omt he i nvest i gat i on of cr i mes si mi l ar t o t hat of Damascus.
l

But t he J ews wer e not sat i sf i ed wi t h what t hey had achi eved so f ar , and
di r ect ed t hei r concent r at ed ef f or t t o er ase t he wr i t i ng i nscr i bed on
t he Tomb of Fat her Thomas i n t he Fr anci scan Chur ch whi ch r eads: " Her e
l i es t he bones of t he mi ssi onar y Fat her Thomas Al - Capuci , who was
mur der ed by t he J ews on t he f i f t h of Febr uar y, 1840. "
2

Thus, t he J ews cont i nue t o commi t i ndi vi dual cr i mes and col l ect i ve
sl aught er i ng, and succeed i n wi pi ng of f t he evi dence of t hei r cr i mes by
t he vi r t ue of usi ng t hei r f i nanci al , pol i t i cal , and pr opaganda
i nf l uence i n t he r ul i ng ci r cl es of Eur ope and t he Uni t ed St at es. And
t hey ar e not sat i sf i ed wi t h t hi s but t hey end up wi t h pol i t i cal and
economi c gai ns, al most al ways. For t he demonst r at i ons whi ch wer e
or gani zed by t he J ews and t hei r suppor t er s i n Eur ope, especi al l y so i n
t he Angl o- Saxon count r i es; and t he pet i t i ons t hey i nt r oduced i n t he
wake of t hi s cr i me, wer e cent er ed on t hei r demand of t he r et ur n of t he
J ews t o Pal est i ne.
They succeeded i n convi nci ng peopl e wi t h hi gh r esponsi bi l i t y and
pol i t i cal st at us i n some Eur opean st at es t hat t he r et ur n of t he J ews t o
Pal est i ne woul d be t he best sol ut i on t o t he East er n Quest i on.
1

Ther ef or e, t hr ough t he i nf l uence of t he J ews and t hei r suppor t er s i n
Engl and, t he Br i t i sh Gover nment adopt ed t he subj ect of J ewi sh
Pr ot ect i on t hr oughout t he Ot t oman Empi r e, and t he adopt i on of t he i dea
of t he r et ur n of t he J ews t o Pal est i ne. Accor di ngl y, Pal mer st on sent a
l et t er t o hi s ambassador i n Const ant i nopl e st at i ng t hat t her e exi st s
t he i dea of
1
Ar chi ves Af f ai r es Et r anger es, Al exandr i e, Di r ect i on Commer ci al e, Vol 28, No.
220, pp. 542- 543.
2
Mont ef i or e wr ot e t o Pal mer st on and t o Loui s- Napol eon on t hi s mat t er . The
Fr ench Consul i n Damascus was concer ned about t he anxi et y and r est l essness of
t he Chr i st i ans i n Damascus over t he vi si t of J oseph Rot hschi l d, t he f amous
Fr ench Fi nancer , and hi s ef f or t t o r emove t he i nscr i pt i on on Fat her Thomas'
Tomb.
See Ar chi ves Af f ai r es Et r anger s Consul at de Damas- Cor r espondance pol i t i que,
Vol . 2 ( 1848- 1853) , No. 1, pp. 132- 135.
1
The Engl i sh Newspaper , The Gl obe, wr ot e t hat t he r et ur n of t he J ews t o
Pal est i ne amount s t o t he f or mat i on of t he most beaut i f ul di amond i n t he Engl i sh
Cr own.
The Mor ni ng Chr oni cl e, whi ch r epr esent ed t he of f i ci al vi ews of Pal mer st on, t he
For ei gn Mi ni st er , conf i r med t hat t he cr eat i on, or mor e pl ai nl y, t he r ecr eat i on
of t hi s Syr i an- Pal est i ni an ( J ewi sh) Ki ngdomi s t he ul t i mat e need of t he East er n
Pol i cy, and i t wi l l ser ve Engl and.
See Dr . Haj j ar : L' Eur ope et l es dest i nees du Pr oche- Or i ent ( 1815- 1848) p. 333.
Dr . I br ahi mHaj j ar pp. 334- 335.

r et ur ni ng t o Pal est i ne among t he scat t er ed J ews i n Eur ope; and t hat
t hi s i dea needs a sui t abl e r esponse, and t hat ever yt hi ng i ndi cat es t hat
t hei r wi sh now i s cl oser t o i t s f ul f i l l ment t han ever bef or e. I t i s
cl ear t hat t he J ews possess huge weal t h. As i t appear s, cl ear l y t oo,
t hat each count r y t hat r ecei ves a gr eat number of t he J ews wi l l obt ai n
gr eat benef i t s. But t hei r set t l ement i n Pal est i ne depends on t he
sol ut i on of t he East er n Quest i on. Accor di ngl y, i t i s usef ul t hat t he
Sul t an shoul d encour age t he r et ur n of t he [ J ews] t o Pal est i ne, and
t hei r set t l ement t her e. Not onl y because he wi l l benef i t mat er i al l y
f r omt hi s but because t hi s wi l l pr event t he pr ospect of f ut ur e
expansi on pl ans by Mohammad Al i or hi s successor s.
Pal mer st on r equest ed t hat hi s ambassador expl ai n t hi s t o t he Ot t oman
Gover nment and t o advi se i t , st r ongl y, t o encour age t he r et ur n of t he
J ews t o Pal est i ne. What happened i n 1840 was r epeat ed many t i mes i n t he
t went i et h cent ur y when t he Zi oni st s commi t t ed col l ect i ve cr i mes i n
Pal est i ne and i n Lebanon, t hat st i r r ed t he consci ence of t he nobl e ones
t hr oughout t he wor l d, and wer e denounced by wor l d' s opi ni on. But ,
agai n, Zi oni st f i nanci al , pol i t i cal , and pr opaganda i nf l uence succeeded
ever y t i me i n t hwar t i ng t he r esul t i ng f eel i ng of deep anger ,
di st r act i ng t he peopl e' s at t ent i on and t hought f r omt hese cr i mes. And
t he Zi oni st s, i nst ead of bei ng penal i zed, came out wi t h gr eat r ewar ds
of huge sums of f i nanci al ai d, and huge amount s of t he most moder ni zed
and sophi st i cat ed weapons. And, i nst ead of one Mohammad Al i i n t he
ni net eent h cent ur y, t hey f ound mor e t han Mohammad Al i i n t he t went i et h
cent ur y.
Thi s cr i me, t he sl ayi ng of Fat her Thomas by t he J ews, t ook pl ace i n t he
ci t y of Damascus, Syr i a, t he ci t y of r el i gi ous t ol er ance and peace.
Many mor e cr i mes si mi l ar t o i t t ook pl ace i n many di f f er ent par t s of
t he wor l d. How coul d such a cr i me t ake a pl ace when t he J ews l i ve i n
soci et i es wher e t hey ar e onl y a ver y smal l mi nor i t y? And, how di d t hose
soci et i es i gnor e t he i mpact and i nf l uence of t hi s smal l spi t ef ul
mi nor i t y?
Her e t oo, i t must be sai d t hat bot h West er n and East er n soci et i es wer e
way ahead of Ar ab- I sl ami c count r i es i n di scover i ng t he J ewi sh i deol ogy,
and i t s hi dden cont ent s of dest r uct i ve evi l . Accor di ngl y; t hese
soci et i es embar ked upon r esear ch and ser i ous i nqui r i es r egar di ng t he
sel f - i sol at i on of t he J ews, i n t hei r own quar t er s ( t he ghet t os) , and
t hei r own i nsi st ence upon t hi s i sol at i on, i n or der t o at t r act and
i nvi t e hat r ed, so t hey wi l l be si ngl ed out f or t hei r mar ked char act er
and char act er i st i cs. And i t may have been t hat t he i mposed envi r onment
of t ol er ance by t he Musl i mAr abs was t he pr i mar y f act or whi ch pr ovi ded
t he oppor t uni t y f or t he J ews t o enj oy t he l i f e of compl et e f r eedom
t hr oughout t he Ar ab- I sl ami c r egi on. They came t o know ever yt hi ng about
t he r egi ons of t hi s wor l d, at t he same t i me, t hey benef i t ed f r omt hei r
pr i vat e i sol at i on, and shr ouded t hei r own wor l d wi t h obscur i t y, so t hat
t he wor l d woul d not know of t hemexcept a meager amount of i nf or mat i on.
I t was not st r ange, t her ef or e, t hat t he ci t y of Damascus was st r ongl y
j ol t ed by t he di scover y of t hi s hor r i bl e cr i me, and t o be awakened
suddenl y t o what had bef al l en her , t o t he sad r eal i t y of not knowi ng
t hose who l i ved wi t h t hem, and among t hem.
The al ar med cal l of t he ci t y was expr essed by t he mot her s war ni ng t hei r
chi l dr en: " bewar e of goi ng f ar f r omyour own house; because t he J ews
mi ght pass by you, t hey mi ght put you i n t hei r sacks and t ake you away
t o sl ay you and dr ai n your bl ood, t o make t hei r br ead of Zi on. "
Gener at i on af t er gener at i on car r i ed t hi s war ni ng of " J ewi sh bet r ayal "
wi t h t hem. Then t he J ews est abl i shed a count r y f or t hemsel ves i n t he
l and of Gr eat er Syr i a. But di d t he J ewi sh hat r ed of ot her s di sappear ?
Or had t he Tal mudi c t eachi ngs, wi t h t hei r cr i mes and di st or t i ons,
cont i nued t he pr act i ce of t hei r hat r ed agai nst humani t y, and t he
sur r oundi ng soci et i es?
The obser vat i on of t he dai l y event s as t o what i s happeni ng i n t he
occupi ed l and gi ves dai l y conf i r mat i on beyond t he shadow of a doubt
t hat what i s descr i bed as t he Zi oni st Raci smi s not hi ng but an
ext ensi on and r emol di ng of t he Tal mudi c t eachi ngs. And i f t he J ew
r ef uses t o l i ve i n a non- J ewi sh home, t hi s l ed t he r ef usal of t he
enl ar ged ghet t o' s soci et y ( I sr ael t oday) t o l i ve i n t he home of some
ot her soci et i es.
My i nt ent i on i n publ i shi ng t hi s book was not hi ng mor e t han t he exposur e
of some secr et s of a J ewi sh r el i gi on sect and t he pr act i ces of i t s
adher ent s. Thei r hat ef ul , bl i nd sol i dar i t y t o t hei r bel i ef s, and t he
execut i on of Tal mudi c t eachi ngs whi ch wer e f or mul at ed by t hei r
r el i gi ous bel i ef s and t eachi ngs ( The Law of t hei r Pr ophet Moses) . The
Hol y Qur an r eveal ed, adequat el y, God' s sayi ng: Sur as I I : 75, 79:
Can Ye ( O Ye Men of Fai t h) ent er t ai n t he hope t hat t hey
wi l l bel i eve i n you? - Seei ng t hat a par t y of t hemhear d
t he Wor d of God, and pr event ed i t knowi ngl y af t er t hey
under st ood i t .
Then woe t o t hose who wr i t e t he Book wi t h t hei r own hands;
and t hen say: " Thi s i s f r omGod, " t o t r af f i c wi t h i t f or a
mi ser abl e pr i ce!
Woe t o t hemf or what t hei r hands do wr i t e, and f or t he gai n
t hey make t her eby.
I t i s al so my i nt ent i on t hr ough t he wr i t i ng of t hi s book t o show,
i ndi r ect l y, t he i mpor t ance of t he st at e' s nat i onal sover ei gnt y i n t he
Syr i an r egi on because i t cl ear l y r eveal s t he ar r ogance and def i ant
behavi or of I saac Pi cci ot t o ( a J ew wor ki ng i n t he Aust r i an Consul at e i n
Damascus) i n f r ont of t he Chi ef J ust i ce of t he Cour t . Thi s par t i cul ar
i nci dent coul d not have t aken pl ace i f f or ei gn i nf l uence i n Syr i a had
been non- exi st ent at t he t i me. Ther ef or e, we want t o di r ect our
at t ent i on and open t he eyes of our Ar ab br ot her s t o t hese f act s, and
exami ne t he subj ect of nat i onal sover ei gnt y as i ndi vi si bl e. We want
al so t o show t hat no f or ei gner has any r i ght what soever t o i gnor e t hese
f act s. Pr esi dent Sadat ' s ( Pr esi dent of Egypt af t er Nasser ) gr ave
mi st ake, whi ch was t he cause of hi s assassi nat i on, was t hat he had a
l ow r egar d f or t he nat i onal r i ght s of ( Egypt , and) t he Egypt i an peopl e,
and subsequent l y he sol d t hei r nat i onal r i ght s t o t he devi l .
For t hose r easons we have wi t nessed t he submi ssi ve post ur e of t he
l eader of Egypt , t he l ar gest Ar ab count r y, i dl y st andi ng by as a
spect at or whi l e t he t r agedy of Lebanon t ook pl ace i n t he summer of
1982.
The sover ei gnt y of Egypt became r el at i ve and i ncompl et e af t er t he Camp
Davi d agr eement .
Fi nal l y, I want ver y much t o di r ect my gr eat appr eci at i on and t hanks t o
my comr ade i n ar ms, Al - MuqaddamBassan Assal i , who was my r i ght ar mi n
t he pr epar at i on of t hi s book. I hope t hat I have been abl e t o f ul f i l l
some of my dut i es i n t he pr ocess and t he t ask of exposi ng t he pr act i ces
of our nat i on' s hi st or i c enemy, seeki ng onl y t he cause of God.
Damascus
Sept ember , 1986

THE MURDERING OF FATHER THOMAS AL-CAPUCI
AND HIS SERVANT IBRAHIM AMARAH
IN DAMASCUS, 1840 A.D.

The Elements of the Research:
I . The Ti p of t he St r i ng
I I . The Cr i me
I I I . Bl ood f or t he Br ead of Zi on ( The J ews)
I V. The Sl ayi ng of t he Ser vant I br ahi mAmar ah
V. The Deni al of t he Aust r i an Embassy Empl oyee I saac Pi cci ot t o
VI . The Memor andumof Accusat i on Agai nst I saac Pi cci ot t o
VI I . The Lawf ul Use of Chr i st i an Bl ood and Weal t h
VI I I . The Rol e of t he For ei gn Consul at es

I

THE TIP OF THE STRING

Damascus was qui et as usual on Fr i days. On t hi s day peopl e at t end t o
t hei r own pr i vat e l i ves and t o t hei r l i vi ng condi t i ons, r egai ni ng
dur i ng t hei r day of r est what t hey have l ost i n st r engt h dur i ng t he
week, and pr epar e f or wor k t he next day. Gover nment of f i ces and st at e
bui l di ngs ar e empt y on Fr i day except f or t hose who ar e r esponsi bl e f or
mai nt ai ni ng secur i t y and t he r equi r ement of publ i c ser vi ce. Dur i ng t hi s
day on Fr i day ( t he 4t h of Zul - Hi j j ah, 1255 A. H) t he 7t h of Febr uar y
1840 A. D. , t he Assi st ant t o t he Fr ench Consul i n Damascus, Mr . Beaudi n,
came t o t he Of f i ce of t he Gover nor of Damascus and i nf or med hi mof t he
f act t hat Fat her Thomas Al - Capuci had l ef t hi s house on Wednesday ( t wo
days ago) , as was hi s dai l y cust omt o go t o t he J ewi sh Quar t er t o
pr act i ce hi s wor k of t r eat i ng t he
1
The Pat r i ar chat e Magazi ne, ( f or mer l y The Syr i an Magazi ne) , VI , vol . 19
( November 15, 1931) , pp. 598- 608.

si ck and t o gi ve vacci nat i ons agai nst smal l pox, and had not r et ur ned
home. Due t o t he f act t hat t he Musl i mcommuni t y Quar t er s wer e f ar f r om
hi s r esi dence, Fat her Thomas ar r anged hi s vi si t s t o t he Musl i mQuar t er s
ear l y i n t he mor ni ng. Af t er wor k he woul d r et ur n t o t ake hi s l unch and
r est f or a shor t t i me bef or e he woul d go t o t he Chr i st i an sect i on, and
ent er t he J ewi sh Quar t er at t he end of t he day, and r et ur n t o hi s house
l at er i n t he eveni ng.
On t hi s par t i cul ar day he was car r yi ng wi t h hi man adver t i sement f or a
publ i c auct i on f or t he Tar noba est at e, si nce Tar noba had di ed ear l i er .
The t i me f or t he r et ur n of Fat her Thomas t o hi s house dr ew near , and
passed, and yet he was nowher e i n si ght . Hi s ser vant , I br ahi mAmar ah,
became concer ned and he hur r i edl y went t o t he J ewi sh Quar t er l ooki ng
f or Fat her Thomas, but he t oo di d not r et ur n.
Mr . Beaudi n st at ed t hat t he phar maci st of t he Sham' s Hospi t al , Mr .
Sant i , who bor r owed a book f r omFat her Thomas ear l i er , came t hat day t o
r et ur n t he book. He knocked on t he l i t t l e chur ch door sever al t i mes,
and when no one answer ed t he door he went t o t he bi g Fr anci scan Chur ch.
However , t he pr i est s di d not show much concer n about t he mat t er , as
t hey assumed t hat he mi ght have been vi si t i ng some si ck peopl e. The
next day, whi ch was Thur sday, Febr uar y 6t h, some Chr i st i ans came ear l y
f or pr ayer and f i ndi ng t he Chur ch' s door cl osed t hey t hought t hat
Fat her Thomas had al r eady conduct ed t he ser vi ce and t hat he had l ef t on
hi s dai l y r ounds; so t hey al so l ef t . Al so Mr . Massar i , t he physi ci an of
t he Gover nor of Damascus, Shar i f Pasha, had i nvi t ed al l t he pr i est s f or
a di nner par t y at hi s home on t hat day. Al l came except f or Fat her
Thomas. Thi s caused t he ot her pr i est s t o become concer ned f or Fat her
Thomas. Af t er t he di nner par t y was over t hey went t o see t he Fr ench
Consul t o i nf or mhi mr egar di ng t hei r concer n over t he absence of Fat her
Thomas si nce Fat her Thomas was a Fr ench subj ect .
The Fr ench Consul , Mr . Comt e De Rat t i - Ment on al so r ecei ved t he
i nf or mat i on wi t h concer n. He went i mmedi at el y t o t he Chur ch of Fat her
Thomas Al - Capuci wher e he f ound a cr owd of concer ned peopl e gat her ed.
They shout ed at once sayi ng t hat t he pr i est had l ef t yest er day
af t er noon t o t he J ewi sh Quar t er and t hat he and hi s ser vant wer e
mi ssi ng i n t hat ar ea.
The Consul or der ed one of t he nei ghbor s t o cl i mb down t he l adder i nsi de
t he Chur ch and t o open t he door . When t he nei ghbor cl i mbed down he went
t o t he door and f ound i t cl osed but not l ocked. Thi s f act seemed t o
i ndi cat e t hat t he ser vant l ef t t he chur ch wi t h t he i nt ent of comi ng
back shor t l y. The Consul ent er ed t he Chur ch, and when he went i nsi de
t he ki t chen he f ound di nner had been pr epar ed f or bot h, Fat her Thomas
and hi s ser vant . I t was r eady t o be eat en whi ch i ndi cat ed t hat bot h men
went out wi t h i nt ent i on of r et ur ni ng f or di nner .
Thei r concer n t ur ned t o f ear s t hat bot h had met wi t h deat h out si de t he
Chur ch. Ther e was no evi dence t o i ndi cat e deat h caused by a t hef t of
money or val uabl es as ever yt hi ng i nsi de was i n i t s pr oper pl ace and
or der l y. I n addi t i on many had wi t nessed Fat her Thomas ent er i ng t he
J ewi sh Quar t er s yest er day af t er noon. However , no one had seen hi m
l eavi ng t he J ewi sh Quar t er s. The Consul r et ur ned t o hi s of f i ce and sent
hi s assi st ant t o meet wi t h t he Egypt i an Gover nor of Damascus, Shar i f
Pasha, car r yi ng wi t h hi mwhat i nf or mat i on he obt ai ned.
The Gover nor of Damascus i mmedi at el y i ssued an or der t o make necessar y
sear ches and i nvest i gat i ons, and sent t he man who was r esponsi bl e f or
secur i t y ( Al i Nounou) t o i nspect suspect ed pl aces i n t he J ewi sh Quar t er
and some houses i nsi de i t . But r esear ches di d not r esul t i n anyt hi ng.
Then t wo Chr i st i an nat i ves, Cat hol i cs, ( Ni ma Kassab and Mi chael Kal l am)
gave t hei r evi dence whi ch sai d t hat t hey wer e passi ng t hr ough t he
J ewi sh Quar t er , on t he day f at her Thomas di sappear ed, 15 mi nut es bef or e
sunset . And when t hey r eached t he l ane of Tal ei Al - Fi ddaha i n t he f i r st
par t of t he J ewi sh Quar t er , t hey saw t he ser vant of Fat her Thomas goi ng
hast i l y whi l e he was ent er i ng t he J ewi sh Quar t er . They st opped hi mand
asked wher e he was goi ng and why he was wal ki ng so f ast . He r epl i ed
t hat hi s mast er had t ol d hi mbef or e t hat he was goi ng t o t he J ewi sh
Quar t er , but he had not come yet , so, he came t o l ook f or hi m. At t hat
t i me, suspi ci ons poi nt ed t hat Fat her Thomas and hi s ser vant had been
l ost t oget her i n t he J ewi sh Quar t er .
Shar i f Pasha, t he Gover nor of Damascus sent f or f our r abbi s and asked
t hemt o announce i n t hei r t empl es, t hat f or gi veness woul d be gr ant ed t o
anyone who gave i nf or mat i on t hat woul d hel p i n r eveal i ng t he cr i mi nal
case, coupl ed by a pr omi se t o keep t hei r names secr et i n case of an
at t empt on t hei r l i ves. Mor eover , Shar i f Pasha, i ssued hi s or der s t o
i nspect some houses bel ongi ng t o t he J ews, but al l ef f or t s pr oved t o be
of no avai l .
Mohammad Al i succeeded i n t he 19t h cent ur y i n t he l i ber at i ng of Syr i a
and uni f yi ng i t wi t h Egypt . Thi s act i on caused a ser i ous i nt er nat i onal
cr i si s because t he uni t y posed a gr ave danger t o Eur opean i nt er est s.
Ther ef or e, an i nt er nat i onal al l i ance was f or med under t he l eader shi p of
Engl and. Fr ance di d not j oi n t hi s al l i ance because she was hopi ng t o
cul t i vat e t he f r i endshi p of Mohammad Al i i n or der t o gai n cer t ai n
pr i vi l eges i n t hi s sensi t i ve r egi on. But l at er on Fr ance deser t ed
Mohammad Al i because of t he i ncr easi ng Eur opean pr essur e on her . And i n
or der t o dest r oy t hi s uni t y numer ous pl ans wer e f or med ei t her t o
i sol at e Syr i a i n t he r egi on or t o br i ng back t o r eal i t y t he
est abl i shment of t he J ewi sh Ki ngdom.
Dur i ng t hi s unst abl e per i od, and about t he end of Mohammad Al i ' s r ul e
over Syr i a, a hor r i bl e cr i me shocked Damascus, a cr i me t hat r esul t ed i n
t he sl ayi ng of Fat her Thomas Al - Capuci by a gr oup of J ews who want ed t o
use hi s bl ood i n t he maki ng of t he YomKi ppur unl eavened br ead.
1

Thi s was not t he f i r st cr i me of i t s ki nd. The West knew of many si mi l ar
ones, and so di d Czar i st
1
Fat her Thomas spent t hi r t y- t hr ee year s i n Damascus ( 1807- 1840) . He was a
knowl edgeabl e physi ci an and a t r ai ned phar maci st . He t r eat ed t he si ck
r egar dl ess of t hei r r el i gi ous bel i ef - Musl i ms, Chr i st i ans, and J ews. He was
act i ve i n er adi cat i ng and f i ght i ng cont agi ous di seases. He ear ned t he l ove and
t he r espect of al l . Fat her Thomas was mur der ed on t he same day he was vi si t i ng
and t r eat i ng hi s pat i ent s i n t he J ewi sh Quar t er , whi l e t r eat i ng a J ewi sh boy
agai nst smal l pox.

Fat her Thomas had pl aced publ i c not i ces f or t he Auct i on Sal e of t he
est at e of Tr anoba i n al l t he Chr i st i an Chur ches. When i t was obser ved
t hat t her e wer e no such not i ces f ound i n t he Roman Or t hodox Chur ches or
t he J ewi sh Templ es i t was concl uded t hat t he di sappear ance of Fat her
Thomas was bef or e hi s ar r i val t o t hese pl aces. And when on t he next day
a not i ce was seen mount ed, i n t he r egul ar pl ace, wher e publ i c not i ces
wer e usual l y pl aced, next t o t he J ewi sh Bar ber shop of Sol i man Sal oom,
suspi ci on now t ur ned on t hi s J ewi sh Bar ber .
The aut hor i t i es r emoved t he not i ce and exami ned i t . I t r eveal ed t hat
t wo waf er s ( medi ci ne capsul es) wer e used on t wo cor ner s as st i cker s
when al l not i ces wer e mount ed by t he use of f our waf er s. Upon
exami nat i on of t hese capsul es i t became cl ear t hat al l wer e of whi t e
col or , t he same ki nd used by Fat her Thomas. But t he t wo capsul es used
t o f ast en t he not i ce next t o t he Bar ber Shop wer e of di f f er ent col or -
one bei ng r ed, and t he ot her vi ol et .
The J ewi sh bar ber , Sol i man Sal oom, was br ought f or quest i oni ng. He sai d
t hat t he not i ce on t he wal l was mount ed by Fat her Thomas hi msel f . When
he was asked about t he met hod of mount i ng i t he sai d t hat Fat her Thomas
used t wo capsul es. Then he was asked agai n about t he col or of t he t wo
capsul es i n spi t e t he f act t hat t hey wer e on t he back of t he paper and
how di d Fat her Thomas pl ace t he not i ce on a pl ace t hat was t oo hi gh f or
hi mt o r each. The bar ber conf essed t hat because so many peopl e handl ed
t he not i ce he was concer ned t hat i t woul d f al l and be l ost i f he di d
not r emove i t f r omi t s or i gi nal pl ace and pl ace i t on a hi gher spot .
The bar ber , Sol i man Sal oom, was r ecal l ed f or f ur t her quest i oni ng and
was vi gor ousl y dr i l l ed wi t h many quest i ons. He was al so war ned and
t hr eat ened. On Fr i day, 14t h of Febr uar y, 1840, t he bar ber conf essed
t hat Rabbi Moussa Abou Al - Af i eh, Moussa Bokoor Yehuda ( Sal ani ki ) , Davi d
Har ar i , and hi s br ot her s I saac and J oseph Har ar i , and J oseph Li f yado
wer e t oget her , and t hat t hey al l wal ked t hr ough Zi qaq ( al l ey) Al -
Tal l aj , i n t he Tal l aj nei ghbor hood, passi ng t he house of Davi d Har ar i
bet ween noon and af t er noon of Wednesday, t he day of Fat her Thomas'
di sappear ance, when Fat her Thomas met wi t h t hem.
The bar ber , Sol i man Sal oom, al so conf essed t hat I saac Pi cci ot t o, one of
t he J ewi sh el i t es, st opped at hi s bar ber shop af t er hi s f i r st
quest i oni ng t o ask hi mi f he had conf essed t o anyt hi ng. When t he bar ber
r epl i ed negat i vel y, Mr . Pi cci ot t o sai d t o hi m: " I was expect i ng t hat of
you, and hoped i t woul d be t he case. " He al so st at ed t hat he had been
t o t he Fr ench Consul r egar di ng t he i nvest i gat i on t o hel p t he bar ber
dur i ng hi s j ai l - det ent i on. Thi s was i n or der t o keep Mr . Sal oom, t he
bar ber , si l ent . Fol l owi ng t hese r evel at i ons by Mr . Sal oom, t he
aut hor i t y summoned t hose whose names had been gi ven by Mr . Sal oom. They
wer e asked t o st at e what f act s t hey knew r egar di ng t he di sappear ance of
Fat her Thomas Al - Capuci and hi s ser vant . Thei r answer s wer e as f ol l ows:
J oseph Li f yado st at ed t hat hi s daught er had di ed on a Fr i day, f i f t een
days ear l i er , and as was t hei r cust omf or t he f ami l y of t he deceased,
t hey di d not l eave t hei r homes so t hat he di d not know anyt hi ng
r egar di ng t he case.
I saac Har ar i st at ed t hat he di d not know anyt hi ng about t he case, and
t hat he and t he bar ber Sol i man Sal oomwer e t he t ype of busi ness men who
di d not i nt er est t hemsel ves i n mat t er s ot her t han t hei r wor k whi ch was
buyi ng and sel l i ng. He deni ed any knowl edge of what had been r epor t ed.
Davi d Har ar i st at ed t hat he had not seen Fat her Thomas f or t wo
mont hs. He deni ed t hat he had a meet i ng wi t h t hose ment i oned by Mr .
Sal oom. He f ur t her st at ed: " I t i s t r ue t hat my house i s l ocat ed i n t he
Tal l aj Al l ey, but I know not hi ng about t he meet i ng of t hose ment i oned
by Mr . Sal oomdur i ng hi s i nt er r ogat i on by t he aut hor i t i es.
J oseph Har ar i st at ed t hat he was an ol d man who sel doml ef t hi s house;
t hat he had not met wi t h Fat her Thomas i n mor e t han t hr ee mont hs. He
sai d t hat he had l i ved wi t h t he Chr i st i ans al l hi s l i f e, spendi ng t he
ni ght i n t hei r homes, and t hey i n t ur n sl ept at hi s home.
Fi nal l y i t was t he t ur n of Rabbi Moussa Abou Al - Af i eh t o speak and he
st at ed t hat : " I r et ur ned t o my house f r omwor k ar ound sunset . Enr out e I
passed f r omQassat l i yeh r oad and not t hr ough t he Tal l aj nei ghbor hood.
Ther ef or e, I di d not see Fat her Thomas even one t i me. As f ar as t he
associ at i on i s concer ned, i t i s not our s. I have not met wi t h t hemonce
i n t he l ast si x mont hs. However , we mi ght have seen each ot her casual l y
and t hen depar t ed. I have no knowl edge r egar di ng t he meet i ng of t hose
ment i oned i n t he case.
Aar on Har ar i st at ed t hat : " I l i ve i n a house near t he Br i t i sh Consul ' s
r esi dence. Sel domdo I go t o t hat ar ea t o meet wi t h my br et hr en. I have
not seen t he bar ber f or ei ght days, and I l eave f or my wor k, and do not
l eave t he mar ket t o r et ur n home bef or e sunset . So t hi s bei ng t he case,
how coul d t he seven of us have met . "
Those men gave t hei r st at ement s i n t he absence of t he bar ber because
t hey wer e al l booked t oget her i n a si ngl e r oom. Ther ef or e, t hey wer e
abl e t o agr ee among t hemsel ves on what t o say and t o deny t hei r
meet i ng. Then t he bar ber Sol i man Sal oomwas br ought back t o f ace t hem
wi t h hi s own st at ement . They i nsi st ed on t hei r own st at ement s, and
ever yone t ur ned t o hi msayi ng: " O bel oved one, di d you see us your sel f ?
I pr ay t o God f or your sal vat i on. "
Then J oseph Li f yado deci ded t o conf i r mhi s st at ement by sayi ng: " I have
pr oof ; t he deat h of my daught er was on t he ni ght of Thur sday. Bot h I sa
Al - Mukhowi l and Mat t a Ghi br eel wer e i n my house and t hey can conf i r m
t hat . " The ot her s i nsi st ed by st at i ng t hat t he r epor t of t he bar ber was
f al se and had no f oundat i on i n t he t r ut h si nce t hey di d not r et ur n t o
t hei r homes f r omt he mar ket pl ace unt i l sunset .
When Rabbi Moussa Bokhour Yehuda came f or quest i oni ng, he st at ed t hat
he had no knowl edge of t he case; t hat he di d not meet wi t h t he
ment i oned gr oup associ at i on; and t hat he knew not hi ng r egar di ng t hi s so
cal l ed
"
meet i ng, " and t hat he di d not l eave hi s house bef or e sunset .
Ther ef or e, he di d not see Fat her Thomas and di d not meet wi t h hi m.
Faced wi t h t he deni al s of t hese accused, t he aut hor i t i es deci ded t o
book t hemf or f ur t her i nvest i gat i on.
The i nvest i gat i on r esumed on Sunday, 13t h, Zul - Hi j j ah ( Febr uar y 16,
1840) . At t hi s poi nt , t he bar ber Sol i man Sal oomdi d not conf ess t o
ot her t han havi ng seen Fat her Thomas meet i ng wi t h t he seven men. The
i nvest i gat or s deci ded t o di r ect t hei r ef f or t s t o t he bar ber because
t hey f el t t hat he knew mor e r egar di ng t hi s case, mor e t han he had t ol d
t hus f ar . They cont i nued t hei r quest i oni ng of hi m, and kept up t hei r
i nt er r ogat i on of hi mat t i mes wi t h ki ndness, at ot her t i mes wi t h
t hr eat s. The bar ber began t o br eak down and r equest ed t hat he be
gr ant ed i mmuni t y and par don bef or e gi vi ng f ur t her t est i mony. Thi s was
gr ant ed. Then he conf essed t hat t he above ment i oned gr oup of seven men
t ook Fat her Thomas t o Davi d Har ar i ' s house. " Af t er hal f an hour t hey
cal l ed me f r ommy shop, i t was af t er sunset . They sai d t o me:
' Sl ay t hi s pr i est . ' Fat her Thomas was i n t he r oomwi t h hi s hands t i ed.
I sai d t o t hem: ' t hi s i s not my busi ness, ' and I r ef used t o do i t . Then
t hey gave me money, and t hey al so gave me t he publ i c not i ce of t he
est at e auct i on sal e. Aar on Har ar i gave i t t o me. They i nst r uct ed me t o
mount i t near my shop.
When you f i r st br ought me f or quest i oni ng, Davi d Har ar i saw me and he
sai d t o me: ' bewar e of admi t t i ng anyt hi ng. We wi l l gi ve you money. ' I t
was t he ser vant ( Mur ad Al - Fat t al ) of Davi d Har ar i who came t o my shop
t o r equest me t o go t o t he meet i ng pl ace.
The above st at ement of conf essi on was r ecor ded, and t he ser vant Mur ad
Al - Fat t al was summoned f or quest i oni ng.
The I nvest i gat or r esumed hi s quest i oni ng of Sol i man Sal oom, t he bar ber ,
by sayi ng t o hi m:
"
Your conf essi ons yest er day wer e st at ement s di f f er ent
f r omyour st at ement s t oday. And you sai d t hat t he quest i oni ng and t he
conf essi on was obt ai ned due t o beat i ngs. That i s t o say t hat t he
conf essi on was obt ai ned f r omyou by f or ce. Now you ar e accusi ng t hese
men; we want t o know t he t r ut h. Do not be af r ai d. We do not want t o
accuse anybody. And i f t her e i s anot her si de t o t he case, st at e i t and
do not be af r ai d. "
The bar ber i nsi st ed t hat he had t ol d t he t r ut h, and t hat he was not
denyi ng anyt hi ng of what he sai d. The I nvest i gat or t hen asked: " Wer e
t her e any women or chi l dr en i n t he house?" The bar ber answer ed: " Ther e
wer e none ot her t han t he seven men, and t he ser vant who r emai ned
out si de t he house. "
The quest i ons by t he I nvest i gat or and t he r epl i es of t he bar ber ,
Sol i man Sal oom, wer e as f ol l ows:

Q: Who opened t he door ?
A: Davi d Har ar i opened t he door .
Q: Af t er t hey asked you t o sl ay t he Pr i est , di d you st ay t her e? Wher e
di d you go?
A: I di d not st ay. I l ef t f or my shop, cl osed i t , and t hen I went
home.
Q: Di d Fat her Thomas t r y t o cr y out ?
A: He was enci r cl ed by t he men. Thi s I t hi nk pr event ed hi mf r om
cr yi ng. Even i f he had
cr i ed, hi s voi ce woul d not have been hear d out si de. I n addi t i on, t he
sur r oundi ng houses
wer e al l occupi ed by J ews.
Q: Was hi s ser vant wi t h hi mor not ?
A: Hi s ser vant was not wi t h hi m. Anot her gr oup mur der ed t he ser vant .
Thi s I know t o be t r ue.
Mur ad Al - Fat t al , t he ser vant of Davi d Har ar i , came and was quest i oned
by t he I nvest i gat or . The ser vant sai d: " My t eacher sent me af t er sunset
t o cal l t he bar ber Sol i man Sal oom. I cal l ed hi mt hen went t o my house. "

Q: Was anyone el se pr esent ? Who was wi t h your t eacher ?
A: I di d not see anyone ot her t han my mast er ( t eacher ) who di d not
l eave t he house on t hat day because he was compl ai ni ng of a t oot hache.
Q: How di d you spend your day on Wednesday of Zul - Hi j j ah 2nd, t he day
on whi ch Fat her Thomas di sappear ed?
A: I was i n t he mar ket pl ace. I went t o t he cust omhouse t o cl ai ma
bal e of wool mat er i al . Then I went t o Geor gi Anj our i . I r emai ned i n t he
mar ket pl ace unt i l about sunset .
Mr . Anj our i was quest i oned r egar di ng t he t r ut hf ul ness of what Davi d
Har ar i had sai d of hi s meet i ng wi t h hi ml ast Wednesday. He sai d t hat
Davi d Har ar i di d not come t o hi s pl ace on Wednesday, but t hat he came
on Thur sday af t er noon. Some of what he sai d t o me was t hat " t he
Chr i st i ans wer e accusi ng us r egar di ng t he case of Fat her Thomas. I s i t
possi bl e t hat we woul d do somet hi ng l i ke t hat " ? Ar e we t hat ki nd of
peopl e? I answer ed hi m: " That ' s what t hey ar e sayi ng" .

Then t he I nvest i gat or sent a wr i t t en l et t er t o t he cust omhouse. The
r epl y t o t he l et t er ar r i ved, seal ed wi t h t he cust omof f i cer ' s seal . I t
st at ed t hat Davi d Har ar i di d not come on Wednesday, but t hat hi s
ser vant came on Thur sday and cl ai med a bal e of wool ; t hat Davi d Har ar i
had not come t o t he cust omhouse at al l .

The Assi st ant t o t he Fr ench Consul Beaudi n - per f or med t he
i nvest i gat i on on Tuesday, 16 Zul - Hi j j ah. He st ar t ed by quest i oni ng t he
bar ber Sol i man Sal oom.
Q. Who gave you t he publ i c not i ce of t he auct i on whi ch was f ound
mount ed next t o your shop?
A. Aar on Har ar i i s t he one who gave me t he publ i c not i ce paper .
Q. Wher e di d he gi ve you t hat paper ? And at what t i me?
A. He gave i t t o me hal f an hour past sunset on Wednesday. That was
when I went t o Davi d Har ar i ' s house. I t was t her e t hat he gave i t t o
me.
Q. Wher e di d you get t he capsul es f or mount i ng i t ?
A. Aar on Har ar i gave i t t o me.
Q. Wher e di d Aar on Har ar i get t he capsul es?
A. I do not know. Al l I know i s t hat he gave i t t o me wi t h t he not i ce
paper .
Q. Di d anybody see you when you wer e mount i ng t he paper ? At what t i me
was t hat ?
A. I mount ed i t ear l y Thur sday mor ni ng. No one saw me.
Q. Di d you di scuss t hi s wi t h anyone of your f ami l y, l i ke your f at her
or your wi f e?
A. I di d not di scuss t hi s wi t h anyone at al l .
Q. Di d t hey pay you money t o buy your si l ence?
A. They gave me not hi ng except a pr omi se t o gi ve a sumof money.
Q. Who has been r esponsi bl e f or your f ami l y and house expenses si nce
t he day of your i mpr i sonment ?
A. They pr omi sed me t hat t hey woul d t ake car e of t he expenses f or my
f ami l y. However , t hey have not l i ved up t o t hei r pr omi ses.
Q. How di d t hey gi ve you t hi s pr omi se?
A. When t he pol i ce- Abou Shi hab Tof nakj i - came and ar r est ed me on
Sunday af t er noon, Davi d Har ar i passed by my si de and whi sper ed t o me
sayi ng: " do not be af r ai d, we wi l l gi ve you money" .
Q. Ar e you pr epar ed t o swear , accor di ng t o your f ai t h, t o t he t r ut h
of your t est i mony?
A. I amver y much r eady t o swear .

Unt i l t hi s poi nt i n t he i nvest i gat i on t he bar ber Sol i man Sal oomhad
mai nt ai ned hi s deni al of any knowl edge of t he mur der , or of hi s
pr esence t her eof . So Beaudi n asked hi m:
Q. Di d you t r y t o spy on what had happened t o Fat her Thomas af t er you
l ef t Davi d Har ar i ' s house on Wednesday?
A. The bar ber answer ed t hat he was not abl e t o come back t o ent er t he
house.
Q. Di d you know t hat Fat her Thomas has post ed t he not i ce paper on
Wednesday?
A. Yes! I di d. But I di d not see i t because I was not i n t he shop at
t hat t i me. I was at Rabbi Moussa' s house. He had sent f or me. When I
r et ur ned t o my shop I f ound a cr owd of l abor er s r eadi ng t he
adver t i sement . I asked t hemwhat does i t cont ai n? They sai d t hat Fat her
Thomas had put i t t her e f or t he auct i on.
Q. Di d you know t he shape of t he paper ?
A. I di d not see i t . Ther e i s no doubt t hat t he Har ar i ' s f ami l y
r emoved i t because i f t hey wer e not t he ones who r emoved i t , t hey woul d
not have gi ven i t t o me t o put i t back.

On Wednesday, Zul - Hi j j ah 14, Mur ad Al - Fat t al was br ought i n agai n, and
t he I nvest i gat or asked hi m:
Q. Wher e wer e you, and wher e was your mast er Davi d Har ar i when he
asked you t o br i ng t he bar ber Sol i man Sol oomt o hi m?
A. I was i n t he mar ket pl ace. When I passed by t he Har ar i Fami l y
houses, he was st andi ng i n f r ont of hi s house. He sai d t o me: " Send t he
bar ber t o me. " So I went t o t he bar ber and sent hi m. Then I r et ur ned t o
my house.
Q. Your mast er has deni ed t hat he asked you t o send t he bar ber t o
hi m.
A: What i s my j ob? AmI not a ser vant ? That i s what he or der ed me t o
do, and t hat i s what I di d.
Q: I f he was t he one who demanded of you t o send t he bar ber t o hi m,
why i s he denyi ng i t ?
A: Per haps t he bar ber i s accusi ng hi mof t hi s because i f he deni es i t
he mi ght be l abel ed wi t h t he accusat i ons.
Q: Davi d ment i oned t hat he was suf f er i ng f r oma t oot hache. Thi s does
not seemt o agr ee wi t h t he st at ement t hat he was st andi ng i n f r ont of
hi s house. I f i t was necessar y f or hi mt o st ay i nsi de hi s house due t o
a t oot hache. You need t o gi ve us what ever i nf or mat i on you have. Because
you ar e a ser vant , no har mwi l l come t o you. So t el l t he t r ut h and do
not be af r ai d.
A: The t r ut h of t he mat t er i s t hat I was af r ai d, and t hat i s why I
sai d what I have sai d. The t r ut h i s t hat my mast er di d not ask me t o
send f or t he bar ber , and I di d not send f or hi m.

At t hi s poi nt i n t he i nvest i gat i on pr essur e on t he ser vant Mur ad
i ncr eased wi t h added t hr eat s. Then he st at ed: " You br ought me i n f r ont
of my mast er Raf ael Far hi and quest i oned me. He l ooked at me and
wi nked, so I deni ed i t . "
The I nvest i gat or sai d t o hi m: " Do you f ear Raf ael mor e t han you f ear
me?" The ser vant answer ed, " You wi l l whi p me and t hen l et me go. But he
wi l l beat me unt i l deat h. For t hat I ammor e af r ai d of hi mt han of
you. "

II

THE CRIME

Fr i day 25t h of Zul - Hi j j ah, 1255 H ( 28t h of Febr uar y 1840) .
The Meet i ng of t he I nvest i gat i on Commi t t ee Par t i ci pant s:
Li wa Sadi q Bey, Commander of Caval r y Ar t i l l er y
Fr ench Consul t o Damascus Comt e De Rat t i - Ment on
Assi st ant t o t he Fr ench Consul , Mr . Beaudi n
Mr . Massar i Hakeem, Gover nor of Damascus.

Due t o t he deni al of t he accused men, who wer e j ai l ed and separ at ed
f r omeach ot her , as of now, and t he f act t hat t hey ar e al l hol di ng f i r m
t o t hei r st at ement s " t hat t hey knew not hi ng r egar di ng t he di sappear ance
of Fat her Thomas, and due t o t he i ncr easi ng doubt about t he r ol e of t he
bar ber , Sol i man Sal oom, i t i s necessar y t o br i ng hi mback t o st and
bef or e t he I nvest i gat i on Commi t t ee. When he was br ought bef or e t he
i nvest i gat or s agai n he was bombar ded wi t h f ast and r epeat ed quest i ons.
At t he same t i me he was pr omi sed pr ot ect i on i f he conf essed t o t he
whol e t r ut h. So he conf essed as f ol l ows:
Davi d Har ar i , and hi s ser vant Mur ad Al - Fat t al , l ef t f r ommy shop t o hi s
house about hal f an hour al t er sunset . When I ent er ed t he house I f ound
t her ei n Aar on Har ar i , I saac Har ar i , J oseph Li f yado, Rabbi Moussa Abou
Al - Af i eh, and Rabbi Moussa Bokhoor Yehuda ( Sal ani ki ) , and Fat her Thomas
who was bound. Then Davi d Har ar i and hi s br ot her Aar on sai d t o me, " go
and sl ay Fat her Thomas. " I sai d t o t hem, " I cannot do t hat . " They sai d,
" wai t . " Then t hey got up and br ought a kni f e. I t hr ew hi m( Fat her
Thomas) down on t he gr ound and hel d hi mdown wi t h t he hel p of t he
ot her s, and pl aced hi s neck on t he edge of a l ar ge wash basi n. Davi d
t ook t he kni f e and sl ew hi m. Aar on compl et ed t he sl ayi ng af t er war d.
They dr ai ned hi s bl ood and wer e car ef ul not t o spi l l one dr op out si de
t he di shpan. We t hen pul l ed hi mf r omt he r oomi n whi ch he was sl ai n t o
anot her r oomcont ai ni ng some wood. We t ook of f hi s cl ot hes and bur ned
t hem. Mur ad Al - Fat t al , t he ser vant of Davi d Har ar i came and f ound
Fat her Thomas, i n t he r oomwi t h wood, sl ai n and naked. The seven men
t hen r equest ed me wi t h t he hel p of t he ser vant Mur ad t o cut t he body
i nt o smal l pi eces. We asked t hem, " what ar e we t o do wi t h i t ?" They
r epl i ed, " t hr ow hi mi n t he Bl ack Ri ver , whi ch i s t he car r i er of t he
ci t y wast e. " I t passes by t he J ewi sh Quar t er s near t he house of Rabbi
Moussa Abou Al - Af i eh. We st ar t ed t o cut t he body i nt o smal l pi eces and
t o put t hemi n a sack and we empt i ed i t i n t he r i ver , i n a r epeat ed
f ashi on. When we had compl et ed our wor k and r et ur ned t o Davi d' s house
t hey t ol d t he ser vant t hat t hey wer e goi ng t o mar r y hi mat t hei r own
expense. And t hey sai d t o me t hat t hey wer e goi ng t o gi ve money. I ,
t hen, r et ur ned t o my house.
Q: What di d you do wi t h t he bones?
A: We pl aced t he bones on t he t i l es and smashed t hemwi t h t he
mor t ar ' s handl e.
Q: What di d you do wi t h t he head?
A: We smashed i t t he same way.
Q: Di d t hey pay you some money?
A: I ment i oned t o you t hat t hey pr omi sed t hei r ser vant mar r i age
expenses, and pr omi sed me money. They al so t hr eat ened t hat t hey woul d
accuse us of t he mur der i f we t ol d of t hei r secr et .
Q: What ki nd of sack di d you use t o move t he cut pi eces of body? Di d
you use one or mor e sacks? Di d you car r y t he sack by your sel f or di d
you and t he ser vant t ake t ur ns i n car r yi ng t hem? What col or wer e t he
sacks?
A: The sacks wer e made of j ut e. They wer e of a bl ui sh col or . Onl y one
sack was used. The ser vant and I car r i ed i t t oget her .
Q: How di d you cooper at e wi t h t he ser vant i n car r yi ng i t ?
A: We car r i ed i t t oget her . Somet i mes I car r i ed i t by mysel f . At ot her
t i mes t he ser vant car r i ed i t by hi msel f .
Q: Wher e di d you put t he sack af t er you f i ni shed your wor k?
A: We l ef t i t i n Davi d Har ar i ' s house.
Q: I t appear s f r omyour st at ement s t hat when you sl ew Fat her Thomas
you put hi s bl ood i n t he wash basi n, and no si ngl e dr op of bl ood f el l
out si de t he basi n. But af t er you pul l ed t he body t o t he ot her r oom, and
cut i t t o pi eces, st i l l no bl ood was spi l l ed?
A: I n f act I di d not pay at t ent i on i f bl ood came f r omt he body or i f
i t di d not .
Q: What was t he f l oor of t he r ooml i ke, wher e you cut up t he body?
Was i t made of di r t or t i l es?
A: The r oomwas unf i ni shed one f ul l of di r t and wood. The cut t i ng of
t he body was done on di r t .
Q: What di d you do wi t h hi s i nt er nal or gans? How di d you car r y t hem?
Di d you cut t hemup? What di d you do wi t h t hem?
A: We cut t hemal l and put t hemi n t he sack whi ch we t hr ew i t s
cont ent s i n t he sal t y ( Bl ack) Ri ver .
Q: Di d any of t he par t s dr op or l eak out of t he sack?
A: When a cof f ee sack get s wet wi t h wat er i t becomes t hi ck; t hi s
pr event s anyt hi ng f r oml eaki ng out of i t .
Q: How many of you par t i ci pat ed i n t he cut t i ng, and how many kni ves
di d you use, and what ki nd?
A: The seven men di r ect ed us t o t he way of t he cut t i ng. But t he
ser vant and I di d t he wor k al t er nat el y. When one got t i r ed t he ot her
woul d t ake over . The kni f e we used was of t he ki nd used by
but cher s. The same was used i n t he sl ayi ng.
Q: What di d you do wi t h i t af t er t he compl et i on of t he wor k?
A: We l ef t i t i n Davi d Har ar i ' s house.
Q: Wher e ar e t he t i l es t hat wer e used f or t he br eaki ng of t he bones
l ocat ed?
A: They ar e l ocat ed bet ween t he t wo r ooms, i t i s a cover ed wal kway.
Q: How l ong di d t he sl ayi ng t ake? Was t he ser vant pr esent or not ? I f
he was not pr esent what t i me di d he come? Who opened t he door f or hi m?
A: The ser vant was not pr esent dur i ng t he sl ayi ng. He came af t er t he
r emoval of t he body t o t he second r oom, and af t er t he cl ot hi ng had been
st r i pped f r omt he body. Someone opened t he door f or hi m.
Q: Wer e t her e any women or chi l dr en i n t he house? Was anyone ot her
t han t he seven men pr esent i n t he house?
A: Ther e was no one ot her t han t he seven men, t he ser vant , and mysel f
pr esent .
Q: At exact l y what t i me di d t he sl ayi ng t ake pl ace? How l ong di d you
wai t f or t he bl ood f l ow t o cease? At what t i me di d you move t he body t o
t he ot her r oom? At what t i me di d t he ser vant come? How l ong di d i t t ake
f or t he whol e t ask? Wher e di d you put t he bl ood af t er you f i ni shed your
t ask?
A: The oper at i on st ar t ed about t wo hour s past sunset or a l i t t l e
l at er . Si nce t he r oomf l oor l evel was about one st ep hi gher t han t he
r est of t he house, t he neck of t he Pr i est was pl aced at t he t op of t he
st ep, a wash basi n was pl aced on t he f l oor ( under t he head) , i t t ook
about hal f an hour , per haps t wo t hi r ds of an hour , f or t he bl ood t o
st op. Then we t r ansf er r ed t he body t o t he second r oomabout an hour and
a hal f af t er I sha. When t he ser vant ar r i ved t he body was naked. When we
f i ni shed wi t h t he oper at i on i t was about 8: 00 p. m. As f or t he bl ood, i t
was l ef t i n t he basi n i n t he f i r st r oom. I l ef t af t er war d and I di d not
know what t hey di d wi t h t he bl ood. The ser vant r emai ned af t er my
depar t ur e.
Q: Wher e di d t he r emoval of t he cl ot hes f r omt he body t ake pl ace? Who
per f or med t he t ask?
A: The r emoval of t he cl ot hes f r omt he body t ook pl ace i n t he same
r oomwher e t he body i t sel f was cut t o pi eces. Davi d and Aar on r emoved
t he cl ot hes i n t he pr esence of al l t he r est .
Q: What ki nd of body cover was Fat her Thomas wear i ng? And, what t ype
of mat er i al was t he bel t ?
A: Fat her Thomas was wear i ng a bl ack r obe. I di d not t ouch i t wi t h my
hands. Hi s bel t was t he usual one, si mpl y a whi t e r ope.
Q: I s t he Sal t y Ri ver wher e you t hr ew t he body uncover ed ( exposed) or
cover ed?
A: The Ri ver i s cover ed. Ther e i s a f l at st one at t he ent r ance of t he
chi cken mar ket next t o Rabbi Moussa Abou Al - Af i eh' s house, whi ch i s
used as a cover . The Ri ver i s exposed when t he st one i s r emoved. That
i s wher e we t hr ew t he r emai ns of t he body.
At t hi s poi nt t he bar ber was r et ur ned t o hi s pr i vat e ( sol i t ar y) r oom
wher e he was i mpr i soned. Then t he ser vant Mur ad Al - Fat t al was r ecal l ed
f or quest i oni ng. They ( t he I nvest i gat i on Commi t t ee) t ol d hi mt hat t he
bar ber has conf essed t o ever yt hi ng and t hat t her e was no use f or hi s
deni al .
The ser vant , Mur k1 Al - Fat t al , sai d: " I was not pr esent when t he sl ayi ng
of Fat her Thomas Al - Capuci was car r i ed out . When I came I f ound hi m
sl ai n and naked i n t he r abbi ' s r oom, wher e t her e was onl y di r t and
wood. Sol i man and I t hen st ar t ed cut t i ng t he body. Thi s was i n t he
pr esence of Davi d Har ar i , Aar on Har ar i , I saac Har ar i , J oseph Har ar i ,
J oseph Li f yado, Rabbi Moussa Abou Al - Af i eh, and Rabbi Moussa Bokhoor
Yehuda. Af t er we cut t he body i nt o smal l pi eces, we t hen car r i ed i t and
t hr ew i t i n t he Sal t y Ri ver . We used a cof f ee sack made of j ut e, t o
car r y t he body r emai ns.

Then t he quest i oni ng was r esumed by t he I nvest i gat or and t he answer s of
Mur ad ar e as f ol l ows:
Q: What di d you do wi t h t he bones?
A: We br oke t hemwi t h mor t ar handl e over t he f l oor t i l es.
Q: What di d you do wi t h t he head?
A: We smashed i t wi t h t he handl e t oo, over t he f l oor t i l es.
Q: Di d t hey pay you money?
A: They pr omi sed t o pay f or my mar r i age expenses t o t he gi r l whomI
was engaged t o. They al so pr omi sed t he bar ber money.
Q: What ki nd of a sack di d you use? Di d you have one or mor e sacks?
Di d you car r y t he sack al one or di d you car r y one and t he bar ber
anot her ? What was t he col or of t he sack?
A: Ther e was onl y one sack. We cooper at ed i n car r yi ng i t t oget her
somet i mes and one of us at ot her t i mes. I car r i ed al one, t hen t he
bar ber t ook a t ur n by hi msel f . The col or of t he sack was whi t e wi t h
bl ue shade.
Q: Wher e di d you put t he sack af t er you f i ni shed your wor k?
A: I do not know anyt hi ng about i t , or i t s wher eabout s.
Q: I t appear s f r omyour st at ement t hat when you sl ew Fat her Thomas
you put hi s bl ood i n t he wash basi n wi t hout si ngl e dr op of bl ood
f al l i ng out si de t he basi n. But af t er you pul l ed hi s body t o t he ot her
r oomand cut i t t o pi eces was t her e st i l l no bl ood whi ch came f r omt he
body?
A: Some bl ood dr opped f r omt he ar t er i es, but t he di r t absor bed i t .
Not hi ng r emai ned vi si bl e on t he sur f ace of t he di r t f l oor .
Q: How about t he i nt er nal or gans? What di d you do wi t h t hem? How di d
you car r y t hem? What di d you do wi t h t hem?
A: The i nt er nal or gans wer e cut wi t h t hei r cont ent s, put i n t he sack
and t hen we t hr ew t hemal ong wi t h t he ot her body pi eces i n t he Ri ver .
Q: Di d any bl ood or cont ent s of t he i nt est i nes l eak f r omt he sack
dur i ng t he r emoval oper at i on?
A: The sack mat er i al was st r ong. I t di d not al l ow any l eaki ng f r om
t he sack.
Q: Who par t i ci pat ed i n t he cut t i ng oper at i on? How many kni ves di d you
use? What ki nd wer e t hey?
A: We used onl y one kni f e. I t was t he t ype used by but cher s. No one
ot her t han Sol i man and mysel f di d t he cut t i ng whi ch was done i n t he
pr esence of t he seven ot her men.
Q: Di d you not ask r egar di ng Fat her Thomas cl ot hes as t o what t hey
di d wi t h t hemwhen you f ound hi mnaked?
A: I asked. They sai d t hey had bur nt t hem.
Q: Wher e i s t he pl ace of t he f l oor t i l es whi ch you used t o br eak t he
bones over i t ?
A: The f l oor t i l es ar e l ocat ed bet ween t he t wo r ooms, i t i s a cover ed
ar ea.
Q: When di d you st ar t wi t h t he oper at i on and at what t i me di d you
f i ni sh wi t h i t ?
A: We st ar t ed about t hr ee o' cl ock. The wor k l ast ed unt i l about seven.
Q: Wher e i s t he Sal t y Ri ver , t he pl ace wher e you t hr ew t he r emai ns of
t he body? I s i t an uncover ed or a cover ed pl ace? I f i t was cover ed how
di d you open t he cover ?
A: The Sal t y Ri ver i s l ocat ed near Rabbi Moussa Abou Al - Af i eh' s
house. I t i s cover ed wi t h a f l at st one. We r emoved t he st one and t hr ew
t he r emai ns i n t he Ri ver .
Q: Wher e di d t he bar ber go af t er compl et i ng t he oper at i on?
A: He went t o hi s house.
Q: And you! How l ong af t er t hat di d you st ay at your mast er ' s house?
Di d you spend t he eveni ng wi t h t he ot her s? What di d you do?
A: I wai t ed an hour and a hal f . I pr epar ed t he t obacco f or t he
smoki ng of wat er - pi pes f or t hemand t hen I went t o my house and sl ept .
I do not know i f t hey st ayed over ni ght or went home.

The I nvest i gat or pur posel y asked Mur ad t he same quest i ons as wer e
pr evi ousl y addr essed t o t he bar ber . The answer s of bot h men mat ched
compl et el y, al most wi t h i dent i cal i nf or mat i on. Ther eupon, t he Chai r man
( Head) of t he I nvest i gat i on Commi t t ee, Li wa Sadi q Bey, deci ded t o
i mmedi at el y move t o t he scene of t he cr i me. The member s of t he
Commi t t ee agr eed and accompani ed hi m. They st ar t ed t hei r sear ch wi t h
Davi d Har ar i ' s house, t he pl ace wher e t he cr i me was commi t t ed and
car r i ed out . The I nvest i gat or asked t he bar ber Sol i man Sal oom( who was
br ought al ong wi t h t he ot her s t o i dent i f y t he obj ect s and pl aces) :
Q: Wher e di d you car r y out t he sl ayi ng oper at i on?
A: Her e! I n t hi s f ur ni shed r oom. He ( t he Pr i est ) was l ai d i n t he
mi ddl e of t he r oom; t hey put t he wash basi n under hi s neck and sl ew
hi m.
Q: Wher e di d you car r y out t he cut t i ng of t he body?
A: I n t hi s r ubbi sh r oom. The wood was pi l ed under t he ar ch f r omt he
west near t he door . Some bl ood t r aces wer e vi si bl e on t he wal l s of t he
r oom.
Q: Wher e di d you br eak hi s bones and hi s head?
A: I n t hi s f l at space bet ween t he t wo r ooms acr oss t he
por t i co. ( Ther e appear ed t o be col l apsed t i l es caused by heavy
poundi ng. )

Then t he mor t ar handl e was br ought i n. The bar ber r ecogni zed i t and
conf i r med t hat i t was t he t ool used t o br eak t he bones.
Next , t he kni ves wer e i nt r oduced - t her e wer e t hr ee kni ves. The bar ber
sai d t hat t he kni f e he used was not one of t hem. I t i s much l onger and
shar per t han t hese, he sai d. They sear ched f or t he kni f e but coul d not
f i nd i t . The I nvest i gat or s t hen di smi ssed t he bar ber and cal l ed t he
ser vant Mur ad Al - Fat t al t o t he scene. They asked hi mt he same
quest i ons; and t he answer s wer e an exact mat ch t o t hat of t he bar ber .
He poi nt ed out t he pl ace wher e t he cut t i ng was per f or med; t he pl ace
used t o br eak t he bones, and he r ecogni zed t he mor t ar handl e t o be t he
same as he had used. Al so he di d not agr ee on t he kni ves pr esent ed t o
hi m. He was asked about t he pl ace wher e t he pi eces of body wer e t hr own.
He l ed t he I nvest i gat or s t o t he Fr i day Mar ket pl ace and st opped i n f r ont
of Rabbi Moussa Abou Al - Af i eh' s house and poi nt ed at t he pl ace wher e
t he f l at st one was r emoved and t he body of Fat her Thomas Al - Capuci was
t hr own i n t he Ri ver .
The I nvest i gat or s di smi ssed t he ser vant and r ecal l ed t he bar ber Sol i man
Sal oom. He Conf i r med t he exact pl ace wher e t he r emai ns of Fat her Thomas
had been di sposed by dumpi ng t hemi n t he Ri ver . He l i f t ed t he st one
cover i ng, and t he t r aces of f l esh and bl ood wer e cl ear l y vi si bl e
t her ei n.
The I nvest i gat i on Commi t t ee cal l ed i n speci al i zed wor ker s. The wor ker s
went down t o t he Sal t y Ri ver bot t omand br ought some par t s of t he body
- - - pi eces of f l esh, t he l i ver , t he hear t , and some bl ood; and t he head
wi t h pi eces of Fat her Thomas' head dr ess.
Then t he Chai r man of t he Commi t t ee, Li wa Sadi q Bey, or der ed t he
t r ansf er of what t hey had f ound t o t he Of f i ce of t he Gover nor . He t hen
he or der ed t hemt o send al l hi s f i ndi ng t o t he Fr ench Consul , af t er
packi ng t he r emai ns of Fat her Thomas i n speci al cont ai ner , so t hat a
medi cal commi t t ee of doct or s coul d exami ne t he bones t o det er mi ne
whet her t hey wer e of human or ani mal t ype. Af t er t he exami nat i on t he
Fr ench Consul sent t wo r epor t s on t he mat t er .

The Testimony of His Excellency
the Consul of Austria
1

I , t he under si gned, t he Consul of Aust r i a i n Damascus conf i r mand admi t
t hat I was pr esent at t he Consul at e of Fr ance i n Damascus, when a t eam
of Musl i mDoct or s assembl ed t o exami ne t he bones of t he mur der ed Fat her
Thomas. I hear d t hei r medi cal r epor t conf i r mi ng t hat t he bones wer e
human. I admi t t hat I saw some pi eces of a bl ack headdr ess l i ke t he one
wor n by Fat her Thomas.
Mar ch 13, 1840
Mer l at o
The Aust r i an Consul t o Damascus

The Testimony of the French Doctors
1

We t he under si gned doct or s, r esponsi bl e agent s of Hi s Excel l ency t he
Gover nor , went t o t he r esi dence of t he Fr ench Consul f or t he pur pose of
exami ni ng bones. The exami nat i on r eveal ed t hemt o be t hose of a human
bei ng. Ther ef or e, we gave t hi s t est i mony i n Damascus, Febr uar y 29,
1840.

1
The Pat r i ar chat e Magazi ne, VI , 1931, pp. 657- 672.
1
Ri nal di ; G. Pi ccol o; F. Massar i ; Ami ant i a- Lor asso al so t he Gover nor physi ci an
and t he Hospi t al head doct or .

Testimony of the Doctors Committee
The r eason f or t hi s t est i mony, on t hi s dat e, we t he under si gned wer e
cal l ed t o t he r esi dence of Hi s Excel l ency t he Fr ench Consul i n Damascus
f or t he pur pose of exami ni ng bones r et r i eved f r omt he Sal t y Ri ver , as a
r esul t of cooper at i on by some J ews i n uncover i ng t he pl ace i n t he
pr esence of Hi s Excel l ency t he Consul . Hi s Excel l ency r equest ed us t o
conduct exami nat i on and st udy of t he bones and f l esh car ef ul l y; t o
submi t a r epor t accor di ng t o our medi cal knowl edge, as t o whet her t he
bones wer e t hose of human or ani mal , and t o r epor t f ai t hf ul l y and
et hi cal l y as God commanded us. Af t er t he r esear ch i t was evi dent t o us
al l , wi t hout any doubt or uncer t ai nt y t hat t he bones wer e t hose of a
human bei ng. We submi t t hi s t est i mony, si gned and seal ed, as evi dence
of our f i ndi ngs.
Damascus, Zul - Hi j j ah, 28, 1255 H.
Si gnat ur es:
Haj Mi st o Al - Sat i , Chi ef Sur geon
Mr . Khal i f , Sur geon Dr . Mohamad Ami n Sakr . Dr . Mohamad Al - Sat i
Dr . Mohamad Ben Al - Sai d Moussa
Wi t nessed by Mi chael Mashagah

The Testimony of Joseph the Barber
I , t he under si gned, t he bar ber who cut Fat her Thomas Al - Capuci hai r as
hi s bar ber , bear wi t ness t hat t he pi eces of t he bl ack headdr ess whi ch I
saw at Hi s Excel l ency' s of f i ce, at t he Fr ench Consul ' s r esi dence i n
Damascus, wer e t r ul y pi eces f r omt he headdr ess whi ch Fat her Thomas used
t o wear . I i dent i f i ed t he mar ki ng of t he headdr ess t o Fat her Fr anci ' s
Al - Capuci at my shop bef or e seei ng and i dent i f yi ng t he pi eces of t he
headdr ess at Hi s Excel l ency' s House. I obser ved wi t h cer t ai nt y t he r ed
mar k t hat I enci r cl ed t he l ower r i mof t he i nt er i or par t of t he
headdr ess and whi ch was a dar ker col or t han t he upper par t . Thi s i s
what I know, and I bear wi t ness t o i t bef or e God.
Damascus, Muhar r am8, 1256 H.
Yusuf Al - Hal l aq
( J oseph t he Bar ber )
Wi t ness of Tr ut h

Ear l i er t he Fr ench Consul asked t he ser vant Mur ad Al - Fat t al t he
f ol l owi ng:
" You st at ed t hat t hey wer e ver y car ef ul i n t hei r col l ect i on of t he
bl ood i n t he basi n, What di d t hey do wi t h i t ?" The ser vant answer ed:
" I t was f or t he aski ng of br ead, a ki nd of br ead used r el i gi ousl y. " The
Consul sai d: " How di d you l ear n t hat ?" t he ser vant answer ed: " I hear d
t hemsayi ng t hat t he bl ood was f or maki ng t he unl eavened br ead. "
Then t he Chai r man of t he I nvest i gat i on Commi t t ee asked: " Si nce you di d
no see t he bl ood, how di d you know t hat t hey t ook i t t o make t he
unl eavened br ead?" He answer ed: " I asked t hemwhy di d you keep t he
bl ood? and t hey answer ed me: t o make unl eavened br ead. "
The Chai r man of t he Commi t t ee r esumed hi s quest i oni ng: " Was t he sl ayi ng
of Fat her Thomas f or r eason of an obl i gat or y nat ur e mandat ed by t he
J ewi sh Rel i gi on? Or was t her e f eel i ng of hat r ed bet ween t hem( Fat her
Thomas and t he J ews) ? Or di d t hey desi r e t o put t hei r hands on hi s
money?" He answer ed: " I have no knowl edge about t hat . "

Wi t h t hat r evel at i on t he case of t he sl ayi ng of Fat her Thomas Al - Capuci
was conf i r med, and t he i dent i f i cat i ons and det ai l s wer e appar ent . But
t he case of t he mur der of hi s ser vant , I br ahi mAmar ah Al - Roomi , was not
conf i r med. Not hi ng was yet known about i t . Ther ef or e, i t was deci ded t o
r ecal l t he gr oup of seven men t o quest i on t hemwi t h ki ndness and
wi t hout t he exer ci se of any pr essur e, t o be sat i sf i ed wi t h t he f act s,
and t o pl ace t hemf ace t o f ace bef or e t he deeds t hey had commi t t ed.



III
BLOOD FOR THE BREAD OF ZION
(THE JEWS)

Record - Saturday 26th Zul-Hijjah, 1255 H
(March 1, 1840)

I saac Har ar i was br ought f i r st , and was asked what he knew about t he
sl ayi ng of Fat her Thomas Al - Capuci . He answer ed: " We br ought Fat her
Thomas t o Davi d Har ar i ' s house. Thi s was done by an agr eement among
our sel ves. We sl ew hi mf or hi s bl ood, and we put hi s bl ood i n a gl ass
bot t l e at Rabbi Moussa Abou Al - Af i eh' s house, accor di ng t o t he
t eachi ngs of our r el i gi on. The essence of t he mat t er was t o obt ai n t he
bl ood because t hi s i s what our r el i gi on demands of us. "

The quest i oni ng cont i nued by t he I nvest i gat or :


Q: " What col or was t he bot t l e i n whi ch you put t he bl ood? Was i t
bl ack or whi t e?"

A: " The bot t l e was whi t e, a mi l k bot t l e. "

Q: " Who car r i ed t he bot t l e and gave i t t o Rabbi Moussa Abou Al -
Af i eh?"

A: " Rabbi Moussa Sal ani ki car r i ed t he bot t l e and gave i t t o Rabbi
Moussa Abou Al - Af i eh. "

Q: " Why do you need t he bl ood accor di ng t o your r el i gi ous t eachi ngs?"

A: " I t i s needed ( f or mi xi ng) i n t he br ead pr epar at i on. "

Q: " Di d you di st r i but e t he bl ood among your sel ves?"

A: " No! The bl ood was not di st r i but ed t o ever yone, i t i s onl y
di st r i but ed t o t he r el i gi ous l eader s such as Rabbi s and ot her s. "

Q: " How di d you agr ee among your sel ves, and how di d you or gani ze your
gr oup t o br i ng t he Pr i est ?"

A: " The gr oup was or gani zed by Moussa Sal ani ki and Moussa Abou Al -
Af i eh. They wer e t he ones who br ought t he Pr i est ( Fat her Thomas) . "

Q: " Wher e di d you sl ay hi m?"

A: " I n t he new f ur ni shed r oom, above t he squar e shaped hal l . "

Q: " Who per f or med t he sl ayi ng?"

A: " Moussa Abou Al - Af i eh and Davi d Har ar i wer e t he ones who di d t he
sl ayi ng. "

Q: " How di d you col l ect t he bl ood at t he t i me of hi s sl ayi ng?"

A: " A br ass basi n was br ought f or t hi s pur pose. "

Q: " How l ong was he l ef t i n t he r oomaf t er hi s sl ayi ng?"

A: " Appr oxi mat el y, hal f an hour . "

Q: " Wher e di d t he cut t i ng of t he body t ake pl ace?"

A: " I n t he second r oom, t he empt y one. "

Q: " Who di d t he cut t i ng up of t he body?"

A: " We al l par t i ci pat ed i n t he cut t i ng wi t h Mur ad Al - Fat t al . "

Q: " Wher e di d you pl ace t he body af t er you f i ni shed? And who di d away
wi t h i t ?"

A: " The bar ber and t he ser vant pl aced t he pi eces i n a j ut e sack of
whi t e col or wi t h a shade of bl ue. Then t hey car r i ed i t away and
di sposed of i t . "

Q: " At what t i me was t he sl ayi ng car r i ed out ? When di d you f i ni sh?"

A: " Bet ween hal f past one and f our o' cl ock ( Ar abi c t i me) . "

Q: " Di d al l of you sl eep i n t he house af t er t hat ? Or di d you separ at e
wi t h each of you goi ng t o hi s house?"

A: " We separ at ed and each went t o hi s house. "

Q: " Wer e t her e l adi es pr esent ? I f so, i n what r oomof t he house wer e
t hey i n?"

A: " I t hi nk t hey wer e i n t he nor t h r oom; but I di d not see any of
t hem. "

Q: " I n al l pr obabi l i t y t he gr oup must have t hi s oper at i on pl anned
sever al days bef or e t he act ual execut i on. Tel l us what you know of
t hi s. "

A: " The or i gi nal gr oup member s, Moussa Abou Al - Af i eh and Moussa
Sal ani ki , wor ked t oget her t o br i ng t he Pr i est Thomas wi t h t he pr et ence
of per f or mi ng vacci nat i on agai nst smal l pox f or t he chi l dr en. Thi s was
agr eed upon t wo or t hr ee days ear l i er at Moussa Abou Al - Af i eh' s house.
We br ought hi mt o my br ot her Aar on' s house. Ther e he was sl ai n. "

Q: " You st at ed t hat t he bl ood was car r i ed t o Moussa Abou Al - Af i eh' s
house. I f we br i ng hi mand he deni es t hi s f act , do you have any pr oof
agai nst hi m? Or pr oof of t he pl ace wher e t he bot t l e of t he bl ood was
kept ?"

A: " I t i s t r ue t hat Moussa Abou Al - Af i eh was t he one who t ook t he
bot t l e of bl ood. I amr eady t o conf r ont hi mwi t h t hi s, but I do not
know wher e he kept i t . "

Q: " When Moussa Abou Al - Af i eh t ook t he bot t l e, di d he put i t i n a
box? How di d he car r y i t ?"

A: " He pl aced i t under hi s r obe and t ook i t wi t h hi m; he di d not put
i t i n a box or i n anyt hi ng el se. "


Rabbi Moussa Abou Al - Af i eh was br ought i n and was quest i oned about t he
bl ood of Fat her Thomas, whi ch t hey had put i n a bot t l e, as t o wher e t he
bot t l e was, or wi t h whom? Rabbi Moussa answer ed: " I t r emai ned i n t he
house of Davi d Har ar i . "

Q: " Di d you see t he bot t l e wi t h your own eyes?"
A: " Yes! I saw i t wi t h my own eyes. "
Q: " Does Aar on Har ar i know t hat ?"
A: " Yes! He knows t hat t he bl ood r emai ned t her e, i n t he house of
Davi d Har ar i . "

Aar on Har ar i was br ought i n, and was asked about t he bl ood, and he
answer ed t hat Moussa Abou Al - Af i eh was t he one who t ook t he bot t l e t o
hi s house.

The I nvest i gat or asked Aar on Har ar i :

Q: " I n what way di d he ( Moussa) t r anspor t t he bl ood?"

A: " He t ook i t i n a whi t e mi l k bot t l e, t he t ype used f or mi l k. "

Q: " Was Moussa Sal ani ki wi t h you or not ?"

A: " He was wi t h us. He i s t he one of us - t he seven. " ( He named t he
ot her s exact l y as has been st at ed bef or e. )

Q: " How was t he bl ood del i ver ed?"

A: " We ( t he seven) agr eed t o gi ve t he bl ood t o Moussa Sal ani ki , who
i n t ur n was t o del i ver i t t o Moussa Abou Al - Af i eh. "


Davi d Har ar i was cal l ed, and was asked by t he I nvest i gat or :

Q: " Wher e i s t he bl ood bot t l e?"

A: " Moussa Sal ani ki r ecei ved t he bl ood, he i n t ur n del i ver ed i t t o
Moussa Abou Al - Af i eh i n our pr esence. The bl ood was i n a whi t e bot t l e,
mi l k bot t l e, t he capaci t y of t hr ee of f our pi nt s. "

Q: " Wher e i s t he bl ood now? and wher e was i t pl aced or i gi nal l y?"

A: " I t was pl aced i n a basi n. " ( Davi d Har ar i conf i r med t hat . )

Q: " Wher e di d you del i ver t he bl ood?"

A: " The del i ver y was t o t he empt y r oomi n my house. "

Q: " Why di dn' t you keep t he bl ood wi t h you?"

A: " I t i s a pr act i ced cust omt hat t he bl ood be kept wi t h t he Rabbi s. "

Q: " Was Moussa Sal ani ki pr esent dur i ng t he sl ayi ng?"

A: " Rabbi Moussa was wi t h us dur i ng t he sl ayi ng of t he Pr i est
Thomas. "

The I nvest i gat or shi f t ed hi s quest i oni ng t o Moussa Abou Al - Af i eh as
f ol l ows:


Q: " Was Rabbi Moussa Sal ani ki wi t h you dur i ng t he sl ayi ng of Fat her
Thomas?"
A: " Yes! He was wi t h us. "

The I nvest i gat or t ur ned t owar d Rabbi Sal ani ki :


Q: " What do you know about t he bl ood quest i on?"
A: " I do not know anyt hi ng about t hi s subj ect . I have no knowl edge of
i t . "

Tur ni ng t owar d I saac Har ar i , t he I nvest i gat or asked:


Q: " Wher e was t he bl ood bot t l e kept ?"
A: " I t was kept wi t h Moussa Abou Al - Af i eh. "
Q: " Why ar e your br ot her s denyi ng knowl edge of t hi s case?"
A: " May be t hey ar e af r ai d of bei ng beat en. "
Q: " Di d you not al l - t he seven - par t i ci pat e i n t he sl ayi ng of t he
Pr i est ?"
A: " Yes! We al l par t i ci pat ed i n hi s sl ayi ng. "
Q: " Now t hat t her e i s no doubt r egar di ng t he sl ayi ng case, t el l us
wher e t he bl ood i s. "
A: " Moussa Sal ani ki del i ver ed i t t o Moussa Abou Al - Af i eh and i t
r emai ns wi t h hi m. "

The I nvest i gat or t ur ni ng t o Aar on Har ar i :

Q: " Why di d you sl ay t he Pr i est , Fat her Thomas?"

A: " To get hi s bl ood, i n accor dance t o t he r el i gi ous r equi r ement s. "
( I saac Har ar i conf i r med t hat hi s br ot her was t el l i ng t he t r ut h. )

Q: " Why was t he bl ood not kept wi t h you si nce t he sl ayi ng t ook pl ace
i n t he house of your br ot her Davi d?"

A: " Rabbi Moussa Sal ani ki del i ver ed t he bl ood t o Rabbi Moussa Abou
Al - Af i eh because i t i s t he t r adi t i onal r el i gi ous obl i gat i on t hat t he
Rabbi s keep t he bl ood. "

At t hi s poi nt t he i nvest i gat i on st opped. I t was Sat ur day 26t h, Zul -
Hi j j ah. The i nvest i gat i on r esumed agai n on Monday t he 28t h.

The I nvest i gat or addr essi ng Rabbi Moussa Abou Al - Af i eh:

Q: " I saac Har ar i and hi s br ot her Aar on Har ar i admi t t ed t hat Rabbi
Moussa Sal ani ki r ecei ved t he bl ood and del i ver ed i t t o you. Wher e di d
you put i t ?"

A: " Rabbi Yaqoub ( J acob) Al - I nt abi made an agr eement wi t h t he
Har ar i s, and t he ot her s, t o br i ng hi ma bot t l e of human bl ood.
Af t er war d t he Rabbi i nf or med me t hat t he Har ar i s pr omi sed hi mt o secur e
t he bl ood even i f i t cost t hemone hundr ed bundl es ( f i ve hundr ed gol den
l i r as) . Af t er t hat I went f or a vi si t t o t he Har ar i s' house. They t ol d
me t hat t hey had br ought a man t o sl ay and dr ai n hi s bl ood. I ent er ed
t hei r house af t er t hey had al r eady sl ai n hi mand dr ai ned hi s bl ood.
They sai d t o me: ' si nce you ar e a wi se per son, t ake t hi s bl ood and gi ve
i t t o Rabbi J acob. ' I sai d: ' Let Moussa Sal ani ki car r y i t and del i ver
i t t o hi m. ' They sai d: ' You t ake t hi s - i t i s bet t er . You ar e wi se. '
The sl ayi ng was car r i ed out at Davi d Har ar i ' s house. "

Q: " Why i s i t so necessar y t o have t he bl ood? I s i t t r ue t hat t hey
put i t i n t he br ead? Do al l J ews eat f r omt hat ?"

A: " I t i s t he est abl i shed t r adi t i onal r el i gi ous cust omt o put bl ood
i n t he br ead f or t he r el i gi ous l eader shi p not f or t he common peopl e. As
t o t he way t he br ead i s made, Rabbi J acob Al - I nt abi r emai ns at t he
baker y t he ni ght of YomKi ppur . The Bel i ever s t hen come t o hi mwi t h
f l our f or br ead. He t hen mi xes t he bl ood i nt o t he dough t o make br ead
wi t hout t hei r knowl edge. Af t er war ds he r et ur ns t o t hemt he br ead he has
made f r omt hei r f l our . "

Q: " Di d you ask Rabbi J acob i f he sent t he br ead t o t he J ews l i vi ng
i n Damascus or i f he sent i t t o ot her count r i es?"

A: " Rabbi J acob t ol d me t hat he sent some of i t t o Baghdad. "

Q: " Does he have est abl i shed communi cat i on and cont act wi t h Baghdad
r egar di ng t hi s mat t er ?"

A: " That i s what Rabbi J acob t ol d me. "

Q: " I s i t t r ue t hat you cut t he body of t he Pr i est i nt o many pi eces?"

A: " I t ook t he bot t l e of t he bl ood and l ef t at t he t i me when t he
ot her r emai ned i n t he house. I di d not know about t hei r pl an t o cut t he
body i nt o pi eces. Al l I knew was t hat t hey want ed t o bur y i t . Davi d
Har ar i t ol d me t hat t hey wer e goi ng t o bur y t he body under t he st ai r way
i n hi s house so t hat no one woul d know about i t . I t seemed t hat af t er
t he news spr ead t hey deci ded t o cut t he body, br eak t he bones, and
t hr ow t hemi n t he Sal t y Ri ver . "

Q: " I s i t t r ue what i s bei ng sai d r egar di ng Sol i man, t he bar ber ,
hol di ng hi m( t he Pr i est ) down dur i ng t he sl ayi ng?"

A: " I saw al l of t hemgat her ed ar ound t he Pr i est . Sol i man, t he
bar ber , and Mur ad Al - Fat t al , t he ser vant , wer e wi t h t hem. They sl ew hi m
wi t h t he expr essed f eel i ng of pl easur e on t hei r f aces because t hey f el t
t hat t hey wer e per f or mi ng t he t eachi ngs of t hei r r el i gi on. "

Q: " Di d anybody know t hat you gave t he bl ood t o Rabbi J acob?"

A: " Nobody knew except mysel f and my compani ons. I t ook t he bot t l e
t hat ni ght and gave i t t o hi mi n t he l i br ar y r oomof hi s house. Then I
r et ur ned t o my house. "

Q: " Was t he or i gi nal agr eement t o sl ay a Pr i est or a Chr i st i an? How
was t he sel ect i on of t he Pr i est Thomas Al - Capuci , i n par t i cul ar , was
made?"

A: " The agr eement was t hat any Chr i st i an woul d do. When t he sel ect i on
f el l on t he Pr i est I sai d t o t heml eave hi mal one because hi s absence
wi l l dr aw t he at t ent i on and i nqui r es. They r ef used. Then t hey br ought
hi mand sl ew hi m. "

Q: " And what about t he Pr i est ' s ser vant I br ahi mAmar ah? Do you know
who sl ew hi m?"

A: " I do not know anyt hi ng except what i s r el at ed t o t he case of t he
Pr i est Thomas. "

Q: " The Pr i est ' s ser vant , I br ahi mAmar ah, was sear chi ng f or hi s
mast er i n t he J ewi sh Quar t er s bef or e sunset . I t i s unr easonabl e f or you
not t o know somet hi ng i n t hi s r egar d. "

A: " Per haps t he Pr i est and hi s ser vant wer e bot h sl ai n i n Davi d
Har ar i ' s house. They sl ew t he Pr i est f i r st . I saw a man t i ed up i n t he
second r oom. I t hi nk he was t he ser vant . "

Q: " Can you r ecover t he body of t he ser vant so t hat we may be abl e t o
bel i eve your st at ement s?"

A: " I do not know anyt hi ng about t he body of t he ser vant because
get t i ng r i d of t he body was t he ser vant ' s j ob. "

Q: " Yest er day you sai d t hat t he bl ood was i n your house and t hat i t
was i n t he cabi net . When t he sear ch f or i t was conduct ed not hi ng was
f ound. Today you cl ai mt hat you gave i t t o Rabbi J acob Al - I nt abi . Why
t he cont r adi ct i on i n your st at ement s?"

A: " I di d not conf ess t he t r ut h i n t he ear l i er i nvest i gat i on because
I was af r ai d t hat my i mage and r eput at i on among t he J ews woul d be
damaged. I amexcused f or not t el l i ng t he t r ut h because conf essi ons ar e
f or bi dden f r oma r el i gi ous poi nt of vi ew. "

Davi d Har ar i showed some hesi t at i on i n hi s conf essi on when he was asked
t he r easons f or t hat . He sai d t hat what he admi t t ed pr evi ousl y was t he
t r ut h, and t hat he r esor t ed t o hi s deni al out of f ear . He conf i r med
t hat t he bl ood was gi ven t o Moussa Abou Al - Af i eh by Moussa Sal ani ki .
Aar on Har ar i was asked about t hat t oo and he r epl i ed t hat : " Rabbi J acob
I nt abi t al ked t o seven of us and sai d t hat he needed human bl ood f or
maki ng t he br ead. Si nce Pr i est Thomas al ways vi si t s t he nei ghbor hood,
br i ng hi mby on any excuse and sl ay hi mand get hi s bl ood. "
" He t al ked t o us r egar di ng t hi s mat t er i n t he Synagogue. Thus we wor ked
a f ew days l at er on t he pr epar at i on of br i ngi ng t he Pr i est Thomas t o
our house on t he pr et ense of gi vi ng smal l pox vacci nat i on. He was sl ai n
and hi s bl ood t aken by Moussa Sal ani ki i n or der t o del i ver i t t o Moussa
Abou Al - Af i eh, so t hat l at er he woul d hand i t over t o Rabbi J acob. "
The I nvest i gat or compar ed t he conf essi ons. They wer e f ound t o be
i dent i cal . The Commi t t ee t hen concl uded t hat : " They - t he accused -
sl ew t he Pr i est Thomas Al - Capuci t o obt ai n hi s bl ood f or t he pur pose of
maki ng The Br ead of Zi on. "



The Pat r i ar chat e Magazi ne, VI I , Vol . 1, J anuar y 15, 1933, pp. 25- 32. I n
t he f oot not es of t he f i r st page t her e appear s t he f ol l owi ng: " The
r eason f or such act i ons commi t t ed by t he J ews cent er ar ound t hr ee
poi nt s: 1. Thei r hat r ed t owar d t he Chr i st i ans; 2. t hei r need f or human
bl ood t o pr act i ce magi c; and 3. t he doubt of t he Rabbi s and t he
r el i gi ous l eader s t hat J esus, t he Son of Mar y, was t he t r ue Chr i st .
Thus, t hr ough bl ood shed of hi s f ol l ower s, t hey woul d be assur ed of
t hei r own sal vat i on f r omet er nal deat h. " See t he Repor t of Rabbi Moussa
Abou Al - Af i eh.

IV

THE SLAYING OF THE SERVANT IBRAHIM AMARAH

Cont i nued - I nvest i gat i on Recor d of Sat ur day 26, Zul - Hi j j ah, 1255 H
( Mar ch 1, 1840) .
The I nvest i gat or addr essi ng t he ser vant Mur ad Al - Fat t al :

Q: " You say t hat you l ef t af t er sunset t o send t he bar ber , and t hat
you di d not r et ur n t o t he house unt i l af t er I sha. And t hat you saw t he
sl ai n Pr i est i n t he empt y r oomaf t er hi s cl ot hes had been r emoved.
Wher e di d you spend t he t i me bet ween t hese event s?"
A: " I wor ked on r ecor di ng t he moni es I had spent i n r unni ng my
mast er ' s house. "
Q: " What ki nd of expenses r equi r e t hat much t i me? Do you not see t hat
t hi s i s not a l ogi cal st at ement whi ch can be accept ed? You ar e a
ser vant , and t her ef or e you must do what ever you ar e or der ed t o do. You
shoul d not wor r y or be af r ai d t o t el l t he t r ut h, especi al l y si nce you
have been pr omi sed by t he Gover nor a gr ant of par don t o t el l t he t r ut h.
What woul d happen i f Hi s Excel l ency, t he Gover nor , wer e t o or der
exami nat i on of t he expenses whi ch you sai d t hat you r ecor ded and i t was
di scover ed t hat you have been l yi ng? Then al l of your st at ement s woul d
be f al se. "
A: " But why woul d t he Gover nor car e about who r ecor ded t he expenses?"

The I nvest i gat or r esponded: " So he coul d be sur e t hat you ar e t el l i ng
t he t r ut h as t o what you di d dur i ng your absence f r omyour mast er ' s
house, dur i ng t hi s per i od of t i me. "
The ser vant sai d: " The t r ut h i s t hat my mast er sent me t o Meyer Far hi ,
Mur ad Far hi , and Aar on I sl ambol i t o war n t hemt o be al er t ; t hat t he
Pr i est ' s ser vant mi ght come l ooki ng f or hi s mast er . I f so, t hey must do
what ever i s necessar y i n or der not t o r eveal or make known t hei r
secr et . I st ayed wi t h t hemaf t er I sent t he bar ber t o my mast er ' s house
because t hey r equest t hi s of me. "

Q: " How di d you cont act each one of t hem? And what di d t hey do af t er
you del i ver ed t he war ni ng t o t hem?"
A: " Fi r st I went t o Mur ad Far hi . I f ound hi mat hi s house i n t he
company of I saac Pi cci ot t o.
l
I
1
I saac Pi cci ot t o was an empl oyee of t he Aust r i an Embassy, and enj oys t he
pr ot ect i ve cust ody of t he Aust r i an Gover nment - t hr ough t he Aust r i an Consul ' s
Of f i ce i n Damascus. The Aust r i an Consul was not awar e of I saac Pi cci ot t o' s
i nvol vement i n t he cr i me, and was ver y f ai r and cooper at i ve i n hi s act ual
par t i ci pat i on wi t h t he I nvest i gat i on Commi t t ee. But l at er he became par t i al i n
hi s def ense on behal f of t he accused mur der er s and t r i ed t o mi sl ead t he
i nvest i gat or ' s wor k.

i nf or med hi mof t he message i n f r ont of I saac Pi cci ot t o. He
r epl i ed: " Wel l ! Go t o your mast er . " Then I went t o Aar on I sl ambol i ' s
house. I f ound hi mal one i n hi s r oom, eat i ng hi s supper . I gave hi mt he
message r egar di ng t he Pr i est ' s ser vant . He sai d. " Go t o your
wor k. " But t hen he asked me who el se was t o be not i f i ed r egar di ng t he
mat t er ?" I t ol d hi m. Then I l ef t hi s house. " I t hen went t o Meyer
Far hi ' s house i n t he mi ddl e of t he al l ey. I f ound hi mi n f r ont of hi s
house wi t h Asl an ben Rof ael . I i nf or med hi mof t he war ni ng message and
he sai d t o me: " I amst ayi ng her e. " Af t er war ds, I went t o J oseph Al -
Rayek' s shop wher e I wor ked on r ecor di ng t he expenses. I st ayed i n t he
st r eet ki l l i ng t i me as l ong as I coul d i n or der t o be l at e i n
r et ur ni ng. When I r et ur ned, about I sha t i me, t o my mast er ' s house I
f ound t he Pr i est sl ai n and naked, as I have pr evi ousl y st at ed. "

The I nvest i gat or t hen asked:
Q: Tel l us what you know r egar di ng t he i nf or mat i on you obt ai ned f r om
t he l eader s of t he communi t y i n t he quest i on of t he Pr i est ' s ser vant ,
I br ahi mAmar ah, f r omt he t i me of t he sl ayi ng unt i l t he t i me of your
ar r est . "
The ser vant answer ed:
A: " On Thur sday mor ni ng, one day af t er t he i nci dent t ook pl ace, I
came t o Davi d Har ar i ' s house. The f ol l owi ng wer e pr esent : Aar on
I sl ambol i , I saac Pi cci ot t o, Mur ad Far hi , Asl an ben Fuf ael , and Meyer
Far hi . Al so pr esent wer e Davi d and hi s br ot her s Aar on and I saac; and
Rabbi Moussa Abou Al - Af i eh and J oseph Li f yado. They st ayed i n t he house
f or about t wo hour s - f r omt hr ee t o f i ve o' cl ock, Ar abi c Ti me) . "
Q: " Di d you hear what t hey wer e t al ki ng about ?"
A: " I do not r emember what was sai d because I was busy pr epar i ng t he
t obacco and t he wat er - pi pes. "

The I nvest i gat or r esponded by sayi ng:
" Mur ad! Thi s i s not l ogi cal si nce you your sel f car r i ed your mast er ' s
war ni ng t o Mur ad Far hi , Aar on I sl ambol i , and Meyer Far hi : " t o be
car ef ul of t he Pr i est ' s ser vant . " You say t hat you do not know wher e
t hey kept hi m, and how t hey di sposed of hi m. I br ahi mAmar ah, t he
ser vant , and t he Pr i est ar e mi ssi ng. You ar e t he one who war ned t he
ot her t hr ee men as you wer e or der ed t o do by your mast er . You t ol d t hem
t o do what ever was necessar y so t hat t he news woul d not spr ead. Gi ve us
your t r ue t est i moni al st at ement of exact l y what happened so t hat you
may obt ai n compl et e par don! "
Mur ad AL- Fat t al answer ed:
" I hear d Meyer Far hi t al ki ng t o t he ot her s who wer e meet i ng i n my
mast er ' s house on Thur sday. I l ear ned t hat t hey had dscover ed t he
ser vant , I br ahi mAmar ah goi ng ar ound l ooki ng f or hi s mast er , t he Pr i est
Thomas. And t hat t he f i ve men: Aar on I sl ambol i , Mur ad Far hi , Meyer
Far hi , Asl an ben Rof ael , and I saac Pi cci ot t o br ought hi mi nt o t he
house. They sai d t o hi m: ' Ent er t he house. Your mast er i s i nsi de gi vi ng
t he vacci ne agai nst smal l pox t o t he boy. ' By t hi s met hod t hey br ought
hi mi nsi de. That ' s what I hear d. "
Q: " Undoubt edl y, you must have hear d of what t hey di d wi t h t he
ser vant . Who hel ped i n hi s sl ayi ng?"
A: " I was unabl e t o hear al l t he t al ki ng. I ama ser vant and I was
busy ser vi ng t he gr oup. Al l t hat I know i s t hat t hey di d t o hi mexact l y
what t hey had done t o t he Pr i est bef or e hi m. They al so t hr ew hi mi n t he
Sal t y Ri ver t hr ough t he f l owi ng st r eamwhi ch ends i n t he Ri ver . "
Q: " How coul d Meyer Far hi and hi s compani ons say t hat t hey sl ew t he
ser vant t he same was as t he Pr i est when t hey had no knowl edge as t o how
t hei r f r i ends di sposed of t he Pr i est ?"
A: " They asked t he ot her s about t he sl ayi ng of t he Pr i est and wer e
t ol d how he had been sl ai n and hi s r emai ns di sposed of . When t hey
l ear ned of t hi s, mast er Meyer sai d t hat t hey i n t ur n woul d r epeat what
had happened t o t he Pr i est wi t h hi s ser vant ; t hey woul d di spose of t he
ser vant by t hr owi ng hi s r emai ns i n t he di t ch whi ch empt i es di r ect l y
i nt o t he Ri ver . "
Q: " Wer e t he f i ve whi ch you ment i oned by name al one or wer e t her e
ot her s i n t hei r company? Who wor ks as a ser vant at Meyer Far hi ' s house?
What i s hi s name?"
A: " I know of no one ot her t han t hese f i ve who t ook par t i n t hi s
oper at i on. I do not know whet her t he ser vant who wor ks i n t he Meyer ' s
house knew of t hi s i nci dent . The ser vant i s a boy under t he age of
t wel ve year s. Hi s name i s Obei d Al - Fags. "
Q: " Do you t hi nk t hat t he bar ber , Sol i man Sal oom, knew anyt hi ng about
t he ser vant of t he Pr i est ?"
A: " The bar ber knew not hi ng r egar di ng hi m. Because when my mast er
sent me he i nst r uct ed me t o say not hi ng about t he st or y of t he Pr i est -
no, of t he war ni ng I was t o del i ver t o t he par t y r egar di ng hi s ser vant .
I do not t hi nk t hat t he bar ber knew anyt hi ng r egar di ng t he event s i n
r egar d t o t he sl ayi ng of t he Pr i est ' s ser vant . "
The Assi st ant t o t he Fr ench Consul , Mr . Beaudi n asked: " How di d you
meet Mur ad Far hi when you went t o hi s house? How di d you f i nd
hi m?" Mur ad Al - Fat t al answer ed: " I ent er ed Mur ad' s house af t er sunset ,
bef or e dar k. I f ound hi meat i ng hi s supper , I saac Pi cci ot t o was wi t h
hi m. I gave t hemt he war ni ng r egar di ng t he ser vant of t he Pr i est . "
The Gover nor , Shar i f Pasha, asked: " How di d your mast er know t hat t he
ser vant of t he Pr i est woul d come t o t he nei ghbor hood l ooki ng f or hi s
mast er ?" Al - Fat t al answer ed: " I t i s a known f act t hat t he Pr i est al ways
t el l s hi s ser vant as t o t he pl aces he wi l l be vi si t i ng. Ther ef or e, t hey
concl uded t hat most l i kel y t he ser vant woul d come l ooki ng f or hi s
mast er . That i s why t hey sent me wi t h t he war ni ng i n t hi s r egar d. "
The i nvest i gat i on ended at t hi s poi nt f or t he day, t hen was r esumed on
Fr i day, Muhar r am, 1, 1256 H. When t he i nvest i gat i on r esumed Mr . I saac
Pi cci ot t o was br ought i n accompani ed by Mr . J oseph Ayr out h, t he
r epr esent at i ve of t he Aust r i an Consul t o Syr i a. The I nvest i gat or asked
I saac Pi cci ot t o: " Tel l us what you know r egar di ng t he sl ayi ng of t he
Pr i est Thomas accor di ng t o t he conf essi on of Davi d Har ar i ' s ser vant .
Al so what you know r egar di ng Davi d Har ar i ' s r epor t i n r egar d t o t he
sl ayi ng of t he Pr i est , and hi s war ni ng mi ssi on r egar di ng t he ser vant of
t he Pr i est as st at ed i n t he Sat ur day Repor t on t he 26t h of Zul - Hi j j ah,
1256 H. " I saac Pi cci ot t o answer ed: " On Wednesday, t he day on whi ch
Pr i est Thomas di sappear ed, I was accompanyi ng Hi s Excel l ency t he Consul
of Aust r i a, i n t he f i el d. We r et ur ned f r omour t r i p on f our t h of an
hour or so bef or e sunset . Wi t h t he Consul we went t o my house. However ,
my wi f e was not home, so I r et ur ned wi t h t he Consul t o t he st r eet . Then
he wal ked i n t he di r ect i on of hi s house and I went t o Mul l i mRuf ael ' s
house. I sat wi t h hi s chi l dr en f or about hal f an hour , t hen I r et ur ned
t o my house and had my supper . I t hen went wi t h my wi f e t o Mr .
Maqsoud' s house because we wer e i nvi t ed t hei r f or t he eveni ng. We
st ayed past ni ne p. m. and r et ur ned t o our house. I knew not hi ng i n
r egar d t o what t he ser vant Mur ad Al - Fat t al has conf essed. I di d not see
hi mat al l .
The quest i oni ng cont i nued:
Q. " Al - Fat t al sai d t hat you went t o Mur ad Far hi s' s house and not t o
Rof ael Far hi ' s house. Exact l y, wher e di d you go?"
A. " Ther e ar e t wo door s t o my house. The house i s i n a deser t ed
nei ghbor hood. One door l eads t o t hi s nei ghbor hood, and t her e i s a bar
opposi t e. The ot her door whi ch l eads t o t he Bl ack Fount ai n Al l ey.
Toget her , we went t owar ds t he ent r ance t o t he J ewi sh Quar t er s. The
Consul t hen pr oceeded t owar ds Al - Shaghoor di st r i ct . I cont i nued t o
Mul l al l i mRof ael ' s house. I f I had want ed t o go t o Mur ad' s house, I
woul d not have t aken t he l ong way. Thi s conf i r ms t hat I di d not go t o
Mur ad' s house on t hat ni ght at al l . "
Mur ad Al - Fat t al was br ought back, and he f aced I saac Pi cci ot t o. The
I nvest i gat or asked hi mabout t he f act of hi s conf essi on. He r econf i r med
t hat he saw t hemgo i n t he house ent r ance i n f r ont of t he gar den t o t he
house. Then I saac Pi cci ot t o cr i ed: " He i s a Li ar ! He i s a l i ar !
The I nvest i gat or asked I saac: " But why woul d t hi s man l i e and accuse
you?" I saac di d not say mor e t han " He i s a l i ar ! "
The ser vant Mur ad r et ur ned and admi t t ed t hat I saac Pi cci ot t o had al so
come t he next day t o Davi d' s Har ar i ' s house. Ther e he met wi t h Mur ad
Far hi , Meyer Far hi , Asl an ben Rof ael , and Aar on I sl ambol i . The t i me was
mor ni ng, and t hey t al ked about t he subj ect .
The I nvest i gat or asked hi m:
Q. And how di d t hey concl ude t hei r t al k r egar di ng t he subj ect ?
A. They asked t hem: What di d you do wi t h t he Pr i est Thomas? They
r epl i ed i n det ai l as t o what t hey have done- as i t has been st at ed
bef or e. " The ot her s asked t he f i r st par t y: " And you! What di d you do t o
t he ser vant ?" They r epl i ed: " We f i r st met i n Meyer Far hi ' s house. The
Pr i est ' s ser vant came i nqui r i ng about hi s mast er . We sai d t o hi m: " He
i s i nsi de. . . . ent er . " When he came i nsi de we l ocked t he door and sl ew
hi m, as you your sel ves di d t o t he Pr i est . Thi s i s what t hey sai d i n
addi t i on t o " and we t hr ew hi mi n t he out si de sewer l i ne t o t he Meyer ' s
house. They st ayed wi t h t hemunt i l noon ( on Thur sday) .

The I nvest i gat or t ur ned hi s quest i oni ng t o I saac Pi cci ot t o:
Q. Do you admi t t o t he t r ut h of ser vant Mur ad' s st at ement ?
A. Regar di ng Wednesday eveni ng, i t has al r eady been st at ed. But as t o
Thur sday mor ni ng, I was sent by t he Aust r i an Consul ' s Assi st ant , on t he
Consul ' s or der t o get i n t ouch wi t h a Rabbi i n Bei r ut f or t he pur pose
of br i ngi ng Shedade I sl ambaui , i n or der t o t al k t o hi mand t o secur e
money. We went t o hi s house about f our o' cl ock ( Ar abi c Ti me) , but we
di d not f i nd hi mdue t o t he f act t hat he had been i nvi t ed t hat day t o
t he house of Asl an Far hi ben J oseph. We st ayed wi t h t he Consul i n t he
st r eet . I t hen ent er ed t o vi si t a si ck gi r l ( one of Sal mon' s daught er s)
named Ast er i n her own house. The Consul ' s Assi st ant was absent f or
hal f an hour . Then we r et ur ned t o t he house and sent f or Shedade
I sl amboul i , and we t al ked wi t h hi m. Then we at e di nner wi t h t he
Consul ' s Assi st ant pr esent and l ef t t oget her t o t he mar ket pl ace about
si x o' cl ock noon ( Ar abi c Ti me) .

At t hi s poi nt t he I nvest i gat or di r ect ed hi s quest i oni ng t o t he ser vant ,
Mur ad Al - Fat t al :
Q. How di d you gi ve your st at ement , and di d you accuse I saac? Al l t hat
i s r equi r ed of you i s t hat you t el l t he t r ut h, and do not accuse. Gi ve
wi t ness t o what you know and what you have seen wi t hout l yi ng or
di st or t i ng t he f act s.
A. What I knew i s t hat t hese f i ve men, I saac Pi cci ot t o i ncl uded, wer e
t oget her . As t o what I saac sai d about f our o' cl ock, f i ve o' cl ock, or
si x o' cl ock, I car r y no wat ch. So I cannot pi npoi nt t he exact t i me but
I know t hat t hey came l at e i n t he mor ni ng, and st ayed f or a whi l e. Then
t hey l ef t t hat day, Thur sday, and asked Mur ad i f t he st r eamempt i ed
di r ect l y i nt o t he Sal t y Ri ver . He r epl i ed t hat i t di d. How t hen coul d
he deny my seei ng hi mwi t h Mur ad af t er sunset ? I t i s so t hat he may
absol ve hi msel f ? Now I r emember how I can r ef ut e hi s al l egat i on. How
can he deny and def end hi msel f wi t h pr oof when he i s t he one who came
Thur sday eveni ng t o Davi d Har ar i ' s house bef or e t he ar r est of t he
gr oup. He sent f or hi s uncl e, Rabbi J acob Abou A1- Af i eh, and t hey
st ayed t oget her unt i l about mi dni ght . And he t ol d t he gr oup t hat ni ght
t hat " t he bar ber , Sol i man Sal oom, had conf essed t o t he i nci dent t oday,
and he ment i oned your names. I t hi nk t hat you ar e goi ng t o be ar r est ed
t omor r ow. " Then someone and t ol d hi mt o go and see Mur ad Far hi . He got
up i mmedi at el y, but t he gr oup r equest ed of hi mt o send hi s ser vant ,
wi t h t he news, and t o keep t hemi nf or med as t o what was happeni ng, and
why Mur ad want ed t o see hi m. He wi t h ser vant went . And af t er he met
wi t h Mur ad Far hi he sent hi s ser vant back t o t he gr oup t o i nf or mt hem
t hat not hi ng had happened. So t hey wer e r el i eved.
On t he second day, Fr i day, Aar on went t o I saac Pi cci ot t o' s house and
hi d f or t hr ee days, t o t he poi nt t hat hi s br ot her s t hought t hat he had
been ar r est ed. Af t er t hr ee days Aar on r et ur ned t o hi s house, and hi s
br ot her s met wi t h hi m. They t ol d hi mt hat t hey wer e wor r i ed because of
hi s absence, and t hat t hey had t hought t hat he had been ar r est ed. He
t ol d t hemt hat he was i n I saac Pi cci ot t o' s house. Whi l e t hey wer e
t al ki ng t he t hr ee Har ar i br ot her s wer e ar r est ed at t hei r br ot her
Davi d' s house.

The I nvest i gat or t hen sai d t o Mur ad Al - Fat t al :
Q. What i s t he name of I saac Pi cci ot t o' s ser vant who was sent f r om
t he Har ar i ' s house t o Mur ad Far hi ' s house at t he end of t he eveni ng
par t y t o i nf or mt he gr oup not t o be wor r i ed?
A. The name of Mur ad Far hi ' s ser vant , t he one who came and cal l ed
I saac Pi cci ot t o f r omt he par t y, i s Shehade. However , I saac Pi cci ot t o' s
ser vant , whomhe sent t o t he gr oup so t hey woul d not be wor r i ed i s
Yehya Bzai ni . He i s a young man at t ai ni ng manhood.

The I nvest i gat i on Commi t t e r equest ed f r omAsl an ben Rof ael Far hi and
hi s daught er , and f r omMi ss Leosha, Shehade Sl amboul i ' s daught er
wr i t t en st at ement s r egar di ng I saac Pi cci ot t o' s vi si t t o t hem. Thei r
st at ement s wer e compl et e deni al s of any cont act wi t h I saac and t hey
i ndi cat ed di shar mony bet ween Pi cci ot t o and Far hi ' s Fami l y.

The I nvest i gat i on Commi t t ee convened and r esumed i t s wor k on Wednesday,
Muhar r am8, 1256 H. The I nvest i gat or st ar t ed by aski ng t he ser vant
Mur ad Al - Fat t al t he f ol l owi ng quest i ons:
Q. You ear l i er conf essed t hat you met wi t h t hose who sl ew t he
Pr i est ' s ser vant when you went t o t hei r pl ace. Who wer e t hose per sons
whomyou saw and met wi t h?
A. I went t o Mur ad Far hi ' s house and I f ound I saac Pi cci ot t o wi t h
Mur ad Far hi . Then I went t o Aar on I sl amboul i ' s house and f ound hi m
eat i ng hi s supper . Then I went t o Meyer Far hi r ' s house and I f ound hi m
wi t h Asl an ben Rogael . Thi s i s what I have al r eady t ol d you i n my
pr evi ous conf essi on.
Q. Asl an has deni ed t hi s and has pr esent ed pr oof s t hat he came t o hi s
house on Wednesday af t er noon, and t hat he di d not l eave hi s house unt i l
t he next day. Tel l us pr eci sel y and t r ut hf ul l y al l t hat you know.
A. I saw Asl an wi t h my own eyes, he and Meyer Far hi . I have no r eason
t o accuse t hem. I sai d not hi ng ot her t han what I saw.

The I nvest i gat or asked Mual l i mRof ael :
Q. Can you t el l us t he exact t i me when your son Asl an r et ur ned t o t he
house on Wednesday, t he day t hat Pr i est Thomas di sappear ed?
A. " He and I wer e i n t he Cour t House about t en o' cl ock ( Ar abi c Ti me) ,
j ust bef or e sunset . He r et ur ned t o t he house and I went t o t he Counci l .
Q. Di d you know what he di d i n t he house?
A. I r et ur ned t o t he house at el even o' cl ock, and he was st i l l t her e.
Q. Wher e di d you spend t he eveni ng on t hat ni ght ?
A. I di d not spend t i me out si de t he house. I t i s not my habi t t o
spend my eveni ngs out si de.
Q. Di d I saac Pi cci ot t o come t o vi si t wi t h you t hat ni ght ?
A. No! he di d not come t o vi si t us t hat ni ght .

The I nvest i gat i on cl osed. I t r esumed i t s i nvest i gat i ons on Thur sday,
Muhar r am9, 1256 H. The I nvest i gat or st ar t ed by aski ng Mur ad Far hi ' s
ser vant , Shehade Adl Bal l as, what was hi s name. ( He had been br ought t o
t he i nqui r y) Then sai d:
Q. Who sent you t o cal l I saac Pi cci ot t o, and what t i me was i t ?
A. My mast er , Mur ad Far hi , sent me t o ask I saac Pi cci ot t o t o come t o
Davi d Har ar i ' s house. That was about f our o' cl ock i n t he eveni ng
( Ar abi c Ti me) . But I di d not ent er t he Har ar i ' s house. For t hi s r eason
I don' t know who was pr esent f or t he eveni ng gat her i ng. Thei r ser vant ,
Mur ad, opened t he door and I asked hi mt o t el l I saac Pi cci ot t o t hat my
mast er want ed hi mt o come by hi s house af t er t he par t y.
Q. When you went t o cal l I saac Pi cci ot t o was t hat bef or e or af t er t he
ar r est of t he Har ar i ' s br ot her s?
A. I t was bef or e t hei r ar r est .
Q. Who was spendi ng t he eveni ng wi t h your mast er when he sent you t o
cal l I saac Pi cci ot t o f r omt he Har ar i ' s house?
A. Ther e was none wi t h hi mexcept Khawaj a Bokhoor , t he t r easur y
at t endant , The ser vant s wer e i n t he ki t chen.
Q. When I saac Pi cci ot t o came t o your mast er ' s house di d he st ay l ong?
A. He st ayed about an hour . Af t er war ds he and Khawaj a Bokhoor l ef t
t oget her .
Q. At what t i me di d Khawaj a Bokhoor come t o spend t he eveni ng wi t h
your mast er ?
A. He came af t er t he I sha.
Q. How di d you go t o Davi d Har ar i ' s house t o cal l I saac Pi cci ot t o?
How di d you know t hat he was t her e? Was i t your mast er who sent you t o
I saac Pi cci ot t o' s house and when you di d not f i nd hi mt her e you went t o
Davi d Har ar i ' s house?
A. My mast er sai d t o me, " Go t o Davi d Har ar i ' s house wher e you wi l l
f i nd Khawaj a I saac Pi cci ot t o, and ask hi mt o come t o my house af t er t he
par t y. " I went t o Davi d Har ar i ' s house and I f ound hi m( I saac
Pi cci ot t o) t her e as I have t est i f i ed ear l i er .

I saac Pi cci ot t o' s ser vant , Yahya Bzai t i , was t hen br ought i n f or
quest i oni ng. The I nvest i gat or asked hi m:
Q. Who spent t he eveni ng at Davi d Har ar i ' s house t he day hi s mast er ,
I saac Pi cci ot t o, spent t he eveni ng wi t h hi m.
A. J acob Abou Al - Af h, Shehade Lazbouna, Davi d Har ar i , and my mast er
I saac Pi cci ot t o wer e al l pr esent . That was bef or e t he ar r est of t he
Har ar i ' s br ot her s.
Q. What wer e t he subj ect s of t hei r conver sat i on of t he eveni ng
meet i ng?
A. They sent me t o Khawaj a Mur ad' s house t o ask what had been
accompl i shed t hr ough communi cat i on wi t h Hi s Excel l ency Bahr i Bey. He
t ol d me t o i nf or mt hemt hat Hi s Excel l ency Bahr i Bey had not t aken any
act i ons except t o sear ch some houses t o f i nd t he cr i mi nal s. I gave t hem
hi s message. They asked me: ' I s t hat al l ?' I r epl i ed: ' Yes! ' Then I
r et ur ned and went t o t he ki t chen.
Q. When di d your mast er go t o Mur ad' s house? What happened af t er he
l ef t ?
A. My mast er , I saac Pi cci ot t o, l ef t about f our o' cl ock. Knawaj a
Bokoor , t he t r easur y at t endant was t her e. Af t er t hat my mast er sent me
t o Davi d Har ar i ' s house t o t el l t he gr oup, " not t o be wor r i ed, t hat
t her e was not hi ng except good news, God wi l l i ng. " I r et ur ned, and gave
t hemt he message.
Q. To whomdi d you gi ve t he message?
A. Ther e wer e onl y Davi d Har ar i and J acob Abou Al - Af i eh.
Q. Di d anyone come cal l i ng on your mast er t o r equest t hat he go t o
Davi d Har ar i ' s house? Or di d he deci de t o go by hi msel f ? At what t i me
di d he go?
A. He came by hi msel f t o t he Har ar i ' s house. I t was at t he begi nni ng
of t he eveni ng par t y at t he I sha t i me.
Q. Wer e you wi t h your mast er t he ni ght of t he par t y at Khawaj a
Maqsoud' s house?
A. Yes! I was wi t h hi m. Al so hi s wi f e and a nei ghbor l ady wer e
pr esent wi t h hi m.
Q. At what t i me was t he par t y?
A. I t was af t er al l had f i ni shed t hei r supper meal , i ncl udi ng t he
ser vant s. Ther e was some del ay whi l e t he mast er ' s wi f e f i ni shed wi t h
dr essi ng. Al so t he nei ghbor l ady had t o get dr essed and put her
daught er t o bed. Si nce Maqsoud' s house was f ar away we ar r i ved t her e
about one or one and a hal f hour s af t er supper .
Q. On your way t o Maqsoud' s house you pass by a nei ghbor hood al l ey.
Wer e t he gat es cl osed or opened?
A. We went by t he mai n r oad. Ther e ar e no gat es on t hi s r out e, unt i l
we ar r i ved at t he Poor s' Gat e, whi ch was cl osed. We knocked on t he gat e
f or a mi nut e or t wo, t hen t he ni ght wat chman opened t he gat e f or us.
Af t er t hat we ar r i ve at t he Gat e of Boul ad Al l ey, wher e Khawaj a Maqsoud
l i ves. I t was cl osed al so. We knocked on i t and t he ni ght wat chman
opened i t i mmedi at el y. We st ayed at t he par t y t hat ni ght .
Monday' s I nvest i gat i on Repor t Muhar r am13, 1256 H.

The I nvest i gat or began by aski ng Sol i man Sal oom, t he bar ber :

Q: " What do you know r egar di ng t he mur der of t he Pr i est ' s ser vant ?"
A: " I di d not know any or connect i on wi t h hi s sl ayi ng.
Q: I f you di d not know of hi s mur der and have no connect i on wi t h i t ,
why t hen di d you gi ve t est i mony t he l ast t i me t hat : " t he ser vant was
not wi t h hi s mast er , and t hose who mur der ed hi mwer e not t he same gr oup
t hat sl ew t he Pr i est Thomas, and t hat t he sl ayi ng t ook pl ace at a
di f f er ent l ocat i on wi t h t he knowl edge of t hat gr oup. " Thi s i ndi cat es
t hat you knew t he ki l l er s and t he pl ace wher e t he mur der was per f or med.
A: Yes! I have conf essed t o t hat , but I have no connect i on wi t h i t .
Because when t he ser vant , Mur ad Al - Fat t al , came, t he Pr i est had al r eady
been sl ai n and r emoved t o t he second r oom. I asked Mur ad why he was so
l at e? He answer ed me t hat t hey sent hi mon an i mpor t ant er r and. I asked
hi m: " What was t hi s t ask?" He sai d: " The t i me i s not appr opr i at e now t o
t al k about i t . " A shor t t i me l at er I was al one wi t h hi mwhi l e we wer e
wor ki ng t o get r i d of t he Pr i est r emai ns. I asked hi magai n and he t ol d
me t hat t hey had sent hi mt o Myer Far hi ' s house, and t o Mur ad Far hi ,
I saac Pi cci ot t o, J oseph Far hi , and J acob Abou Al - AFi eh. I do not
r emember exact l y i f he ment i oned t he name of Aar on I sl ambol i or any
ot her s. I t hen asked hi magai n: " Why di d t hey send you t o t hose men?"
He r epl i ed: " Because of t he Pr i est ' s ser vant , I br ahi mAmar ah. " Si nce we
wer e busy and ner vous, I di d not ask any mor e quest i ons. "
Q: Thi s conf essi on conf i r ms t hat you knew what happened i n det ai l .
Because you sai d t hat you di d not ask mor e quest i ons t hen of t he
ser vant . Thi s i ndi cat es t hat you knew t her e was mor e i nf or mat i on t han
what you had al r eady obt ai ned. Had you asked mor e quest i ons you woul d
have l ear ned f r omt he ser vant what you want ed t o know. Undoubt edl y, you
ar r i ved at t he answer s t o your quest i ons because you concl uded f r omhi s
answer t o t he f i r st quest i on t he i nf or mat i on you sought . Why i s i t t hat
you wer e r epeat edl y aski ng hi mquest i ons dur i ng your wor k t oget her t o
get r i d of t he r emai ns of t he Pr i est ' s body, was i t out of cur i osi t y or
j ust t o pass t he t i me? Thi s was an oppor t uni t y t o l ear n of t he met hod
whi ch was used t o di spose of t he body of t he Pr i est ' s ser vant .
A: The ser vant , Mur ad Al - Fat t al , t ol d me dur i ng t he quest i ons and
answer s t hat t hey sl ew t he Pr i est ' s ser vant , and cut hi s body and
di sposed of i t t hr ough t he out si de sewer l i ne whi ch empt i es i nt o t he
Sal t y Ri ver . And t hat t he oper at i on was compl et ed at Yehya Meyer
Far hi ' s house.
Q: Di d t he ser vant , Mur ad Al - Fat t al , say wher e t hey sl ew hi m? Wer e
t hey assi st ed by a but cher ? I f t hey wer e assi st ed by anyone, who i s i t ?
A: The ser vant , Al - Fat t al , t ol d me t hat t hey sl ew hi m( t he Pr i est ' s
ser vant ) i n t he r oomnext t o t he hal l , and t hat t hey br oke hi s bones
and t hr ew t he pi eces i n t he out si de sewer l i ne; and t hat t he ser vant ,
Al - Fat t al , was pr esent at t he sl ayi ng unt i l t he wor k was f i ni shed. Then
he came t o hi s mast er ' s house wher e we wor ked t oget her on t he
di smember ment of t he Pr i est and t he di sposal of hi s r emai ns as I have
t est i f i ed t o bef or e. I di d not ask about who wi t nessed t he act of
sl ayi ng t he ser vant I br ahi mAmar ah, or who di d t he sl ayi ng. I do not
know i f t hey wer e assi st ed by anyone. Al l I know i s t hat Yahya Meyer ,
hi s son Sal man, and Moussa, and t he ot her s whose names I ment i oned
pr evi ousl y wer e pr esent at t he sl ayi ng. He di d not t el l me who wa:
pr esent and was not . I r emember t hat he ment i oned t he names: Mur ad
Far hi , J oseph Far hi , Yehya Meyer Far hi and hi s son, Rabbi J acob Abou
Al - Af i eh ( t he br ot her of Rabbi Moussa Abou Al - Af i eh) , and t he ser vant
Mur ad.
Q: Why wer e you sat i sf i ed wi t h hi s answer s t hus f ar ? Why di d you not
ask hi mabout t he names of t hose who at t ended t he cel ebr at i on?
A: I di d not ask hi mabout t he names i n det ai l , but i n a gener al
manner . The names he ment i oned t o me, whi ch I r emember , wer e t he ones I
have al r eady ment i oned. The Ser vant , Al - Fat t al , knows t he det ai l s of
t he oper at i on because he sai d t o me: " we sl ew hi mand cut hi mt o
pi eces, br eaki ng hi s bones and t hr ew hi s r emai ns i n t he sewer l i ne of
Yehuda Meyer Far hi ' s house. " Ask t he ser vant , Mur ad Al - Fat t al , because
i t i s possi bl e t hat he may have ment i oned t o me ot her det ai l s whi ch I
have f or got t en.
The I nvest i gat or cal l ed t he ser vant , Mur ad Al - Fat t al , and r esumed t he
quest i oni ng by aski ng hi m:

Q: Tel l us what you know about t he sl ayi ng of t he Pr i est ' s ser vant
I br ahi mAmar ah i n t r ut hf ul way.
A: I amaf r ai d of get t i ng i nt o t r oubl e. Has anyone ot her t han mysel f
conf essed t o anyt hi ng?"
The I nvest i gat or r epl i ed: " Yes! We have a compl et e conf essi on. Al l you
have t o do i s t o t el l t he t r ut h.
The ser vant conf essed as f ol l ows:
I r et ur ned t o my mast er ' s house. He asked me: " Di d you t el l t he gr oup
about t he pr i est ' s ser vant ? Di d you war n t hemabout hi mas I nst r uct ed?
I sai d: yes. The he t ol d me t o go back and see i f t hey had caught hi m
or not ; and i f so, what t hey had done wi t h hi m. " I r et ur ned t o t he
Meyer ' s house. I f ound t hat t hey had l ocked t he door f r omi nsi de, so I
knocked and Mual l i mMeyer Far hi opened t he door . I i nqui r ed, i n my
mast er ' s name, i f t hey caught I br ahi mAmar ah? He r epl i ed t hat t hey had
det ai ned hi m. He asked me i f I want ed t o ent er or i f I want ed t o l eave.
I t ol d hi mt hat I woul d l i ke t o ent er , and I di d. I f ound I saac
Pi cci ot t o and Aar on I sl amboul i i n t he pr ocess of t yi ng and gaggi ng t he
ser vant . Af t er I saac Pi cci ot t o and Aar on I sl amboul i f i ni shed bi ndi ng
t he ser vant , t hey put a whi t e r ag i n hi s mout h and t hr ew hi mdown on
t he f l oor . Thi s t ook pl ace i n t he smal l hal l of t he out si de house whi ch
i ncl udes t he sewer l i ne wher e t hey l at er t hr ew hi s r emai ns. They had
secur ed t he door wi t h a bi g pi ece of wood, Meyer Far hi , Mur ad Far hi ,
Aar on I sl amboul i , I saac Pi cci ot t o, Asl an ben Rol f ael , J acob Abou Al -
Af i eh, and J oseph ben Menachi mFar hi gat her ed ar ound hi m. These seven
ar e t he ones who at t ended t he sl ayi ng. Some st ood by wat chi ng whi l e
ot her s t ook par t i n t he act . They br ought a pol i shed br ass basi n,
pl aced i t under t he ser vant ' s neck, and Far hi per f or med t he sl ayi ng
wi t h hi s own hands. As f or mysel f and Yehya Meyes, we bot h hel d hi s
head whi l e I saac Pi cci ot t o and Asl an ben Rof ael sat on hi s f eet , each
hel d one l eg and sat on whi l e Aar on I sl ambol i and t he ot her s kept hi s
back pi nned down so he woul d not move unt i l hi s bl ood was compl et el y
dr ai ned. About an hour af t er hi s sl ayi ng al l body mot i on was compl et el y
gone. Then I l ef t t hemand r et ur ned t o my mast er ' s house, and I t ol d
hi mof what had t aken pl ace. The next day, whi ch was Thur sday, l at e i n
t he mor ni ng, t he above ment i oned per sons came t o my mast er Davi d' s
house wi t h t he except i on of J acob Abou Al - Af i eh and J oseph Far hi . These
t wo di d not come.
Q: What t i me di d t he sl ayi ng of t he ser vant I br ahi mAmar ah t ake
pl ace?
A: Bef or e t he cal l of t he I sha pr ayer .
Q: Dur i ng your pr esence, di d any of t he seven l eave whi l e t he sl ayi ng
was t aki ng pl ace?
A: None l ef t dur i ng t he sl ayi ng. I l ef t t hemwhen t hey wer e st r ai ni ng
t he bl ood, al l of t hemwer e pr esent when I l ef t . I do not know who
st ayed or who l ef t af t er t hat . I l ef t t hembef or e t he cal l t o I sha
pr ayer and ar r i ved at my mast er ' s house af t er t he I sha cal l t o pr ayer .
Q: You ment i oned i n your f i r st conf essi on t hat your mast er sent you
t o Mur ad Far hi , Aar on I sl amboul i , and Yehya Far hi ; and j ust now you
have ment i oned t he names of seven per sons. Di d you go t o war n al l of
t hem? How di d t hey al l get t oget her ?
A: As I st at ed i n my pr evi ous conf essi on, my mast er sent me t o car r y
hi s message t o onl y t hr ee, but I saac Pi cci ot t o was wi t h Mur ad, and
Asl an ben Rof ael was wi t h Yehya Meyer . My mast er or der ed me t o i nf or m
Yehya Meyer . I was t o t el l t hat i t was hi s t ask t o i nf or mt he ot her s.
Yehya Meyer t ol d me " We have your message and you may go. "
Q: How was t he ser vant , I br ahi mAmar ah, t aken i nt o t he house?
A: As I have st at ed ear l i er , whi ch i s what I under st ood what Yehya
Meyer had sai d t hat " t he f i ve wer e gat her ed at t he door . When t he
ser vant , I br ahi mAmar ah, ar r i ved i nqui r i ng about hi s mast er . Yehya
Meyer t ol d hi mt hat hi s mast er had been del ayed, and t hat he was i nsi de
per f or mi ng smal l pox vacci nat i on f or t he boys. I f you want hi mcome i n.
The ser vant went i n. By t hi s met hod t hey sei zed hi mand ki l l ed hi mas I
have st at ed ear l i er .
Q: What happened t o t he bl ood? Who t ook i t ?
A: I di d not st ay t o t he end t o f i nd out who t ook t he bl ood. At t he
edge of t he st eps t her e was a l ar ge whi t e gl ass bot t l e, t o be used i n
car r yi ng t he bl ood.
Q: I t i s not l ogi cal t hat whi l e t he gr oup wer e occupi ed by t he
sl ayi ng pl an, t he ser vant had r eady t he bot t l e pr evi ousl y set out ,
because t he bl ood i s pr eser ved i n t he basi n unt i l t he compl et i on of t he
sl ayi ng oper at i on. I f you saw t he bot t l e t her e i s no doubt t hat you saw
t he f i l l i ng. Tel l what you saw t r ut hf ul l y. "
A: I n f act , Aar on I sl amboul i di d t he f i l l i ng of t he bot t l e wi t h
bl ood. He hel d t he bot t l e and t hey pl aced a t i n f unnel i n t he openi ng
( l i ke t he one used by t he sel l er s of oi l ) , and Menachi mFar hi empt i ed
t he bl ood f r omt he basi n. Af t er t he bot t l e was f i l l ed Aar on I sl amboul i
del i ver ed i t t o Rabbi J acob Abou Al - Af i eh' s hand. At t hi s poi nt I l ef t
t hem. I t was about t i me f or t he I sha cal l t o pr ayer .

The I nvest i gat or t hen quest i oned Mohammad Af andi Abou Al - Af i eh
r equest i ng t hat he conf ess as t o what he knew. Abou Al - Af i eh r esponded
as f ol l ows:
I have not hi ng t o add t o my pr evi ous conf essi on. Al l I r emember i s what
t he br ot her s sai d. Si nce I do not know t hemwel l I was sat i sf i ed wi t h
what I hear d f r omt hemdur i ng t hei r conver sat i ons. I di d not t r y t o be
a par t of t hei r pl ot . I have al r eady st at ed t hat Rabbi J acob sent me t o
br i ng t he bl ood. I t ook i t and del i ver ed i t t o Rabbi J acob. Af t er we
wer e det ai ned Davi d Har ar i came t o see us i n pr i son. He sat wi t h each
of us, ki ssed our hands and sai d t o us: " I t i s not possi bl e t hat our
gover nor ( Af andi na) woul d ki l l anyone wi t hout obt ai ni ng conf essi ons
f r omyou. I beg you t o r ef r ai n f r omconf essi ng anyt hi ng so t hat we may
not be ki l l ed. I f we ar e ki l l ed, " Al l " of us wi l l be ki l l ed. As t o t he
conf essi on of t he ser vant , say t hat you have no mor e knowl edge ot her
t han what he has ment i oned. "
Mual l i an Asl an Far hi was summoned t o t he Gover nor Gener al Of f i ce on
Wednesday, Muhar r am14, 1256 H. He was asked t o t el l al l he knew
r egar di ng t he sl ayi ng of t he Pr i est Thomas Al - Capuci ' s ser vant ,
i ncl udi ng what met hod was used. Mual l i mAsl an Far hi t r i ed t o deny many
t i mes any knowl edge of t he mat t er , but t hen he conf essed as f ol l ows' :
" I st ayed i n t he house of Hi s Excel l ency, t he Consul , and was
det er mi ned not t o become i nvol ved wi t h t hi s mat t er . But si nce Hi s
Excel l ency t he Gover nor Gener al has best owed upon me an i mmuni t y
pr ocl amat i on, I amr eady t o conf ess as t o what happened. I r equest f r om
Hi s Excel l ency, t he Gover nor Gener al t o gr ant me hi s pr ocl amat i on or der
so t hat I can t el l t he t r ut h. "
The Gover nor Gener al r epl i ed: " I t i s al l r i ght , do not wor r y, we wi l l
gr ant you saf et y. " And Hi s Excel l ency gave or der s f or t he pr ocl amat i on
t o be wr i t t en. I t was as f ol l ows:
To Muallim Aslan Ben Rofael Farhi
I n accor dance wi t h you r equest so t hat you may obt ai n a Decl ar at i on of
Saf et y, we have consi der ed t hi s mat t er . Our obj ect i ve i s t hat you
submi t your conf essi on r egar di ng t he subj ect of t he mi ssi ng ser vant of
t he Pr i est Thomas Al - Capuci about how and what happened t o t he ser vant .
To secur e t hi s Pr ocl amat i on f or your saf et y r equi r es you t o conf ess
f r ankl y and cl ear l y al l of what you know r egar di ng t he mat t er at hand.
Accor di ngl y, wi t h t hi s r el i ance on our conf i dence we have i ssued our
Pr ocl amat i on t o you. I t r equi r es of you t hat you r ecei ve and r evi ew i t s
cont ent s; t o conf ess al l what you know wi t hout t he sl i ght est
r eser vat i on or f ear . I f you conf ess i n t hi s manner , you may be assur ed
f r omus " God' s saf et y and Hi s wi t ness, " al so t he wi t ness of our mast er
Mohammad, Peace be Upon Hi m. You need not have any f ear or wor r y. No
har mwi l l bef al l you and no puni shment wi l l be awar ded, on t he
condi t i on t hat you t el l t he whol e t r ut h wi t hout cont r adi ct i on or l i es.
But i f you t r y t o l i e af t er you have obt ai ned t hi s Decr ee, you wi l l
depr i ve your sel f of t hi s pr ot ect i on, and wi l l suf f er t he consequences.
Know t hi s f or a f act and r el y upon i t .
Muhar r am14, 1256 H.

As soon as Mual l i mAsl amben Rof ael r ecei ved hi s copy of t he saf e
decr ee, he set about t o put hi s conf essi on i n wr i t i ng. I t i ncl uded t he
f ol l owi ng: Af t er t he sunset cal l t o pr ayer on Wednesday, t he Pr i est
Thomas Al - Capuci di sappear ed, I st ood f or about t en mi nut es wi t h Meyer
Far hi i n f r ont of hi s house. The ser vant of Davi d Har ar i came and
whi sper ed somet hi ng i n Meyer Far hi ' s ear , t hen t he ser vant l ef t . I
not i ced i mmedi at el y t hat a conf usi ng l ook had swept over Meyer Far hi . I
asked hi m: what was t he mat t er ? He coul d not r espond out si de t he house.
He knocked on t he door and we ent er ed hi s house. At t hat t i me J acob
Abou Al - Af i eh and Mur ad Far hi wer e st r ol l i ng and chat t i ng i n t he al l ey.
Per haps t hey wer e wai t i ng f or t he ar r i val of t he Pr i est ' s ser vant . I do
not know how t hey managed hi s ar r i val . Meyer Far hi and I ent er ed t he
i ndoor gar den of t he house. We wal ked ar ound i n t he gar den and Meyer
t ol d me: " t hey ar e pl anni ng t o sl ay a Chr i st i an. " I n a ver y shor t t i me
t her e was a knock at t he door , and J acob Al - Af i eh and Mur ad Far hi
ent er ed. They wer e f ol l owed shor t l y af t er war ds by J oseph Far hi , Aar on
I sl amboul i , and I saac Pi cci ot t o, who enj oys t he pr ot ect i on of t he
Aust r i an Consul at e. We al l went t o t he out si de gar den, wher e t hey wer e
i n t he pr ocess of pi nni ng down t o t he f l oor t he ser vant I br ahi mAmar ah,
over t he smal l hal l i n t he gar den. Due t o my age, I was not al l owed t o
see t he sl ayi ng out of f ear . I hel d down one of hi s f eet ( but t ur ned my
head i n or der not t o wi t ness t he sl ayi ng) , and I saac Pi cci ot t o hel d t he
ot her f oot . Mur ad Far hi di d t he sl ayi ng whi l e t he ot her s kept hi m( t he
ser vant ) pi nned down on t he f l oor . Ever yone hel d hi mf r omsome par t of
t he body. They dr ai ned hi s bl ood i nt o a cont ai ner , I do not r ecal l what
t he cont ai ner was. Then empt i ed i t i n a whi t e bot t l e, whi ch I saw i n
t he hand of J acob Abou Al - Af i eh. I do not know who gave i t t o hi m,
because I was not al er t . Af t er t hat t hey asked us al l t o keep t he
secr et . I l ef t and went t o my house. I wr i t e t hi s conf essi on r egar di ng
t he case of t he above ment i oned ser vant as I know t hemand submi t i t t o
our Af andi ( Gover nor Gener al ) , t he Gr eat Gover nor , I di d not hi de
anyt hi ng i n t hi s r egar d af t er r ecei vi ng Hi s Excel l ency' s Decl ar at i on of
Saf et y i n my hand whi ch guar ant ees t hat I wi l l not be a obj ect of any
i nt er f er ence. I beg of Hi s Excel l ency t o be t r eat ed wi t h mer cy, and not
t o be t r eat ed f or what I have done. The f i nal deci si on i s al l Hi s.

Si gned
Asl an Rof ael Far hi

V

THE DENIAL OF THE AUSTRIAN EMBASSY
EMPLOYEE
ISAAC PICCIOTTO

Thur sday, Muhar r am15, 1256 H ( Mar ch 19, 1840)
The I nvest i gat i on Commi t t ee sent a memor andumt o t he Aust r i an Consul i n
Damascus, on Wednesday 14t h, of Muhar r am1256 H. , r equest i ng t he
di spat ch of I saac Pi cci ot t o. On t he f ol l owi ng day t he Consul sent hi m
accompani ed by J oseph Zanani r i , t he Consul at e r epr esent at i ve. I saac
Pi cci ot t o had been cal l ed t o ascer t ai n what he knows r egar di ng t he
sl ayi ng of t he Pr i est , Thomas Al - Capuci .
The I nvest i gat or i nf or med Mr . Pi cci ot t o as f ol l ows:
" The r epor t by Mur ad Al - Fat t al , Davi d Har ar i ' s ser vant , and t he
conf essi ons of t he ot her s i ndi cat ed t hat you wer e i n t he company wi t h
t hose pr esent at t he sl ayi ng of I br ahi mAmar ah, t he ser vant of Pr i est
Thomas. I t i s r equi r ed of you t o st at e t he f act s and t el l us t he
t r ut h. "
I saac Pi cci ot t o r esponded: " I was not pr esent , and I have hear d not hi ng
i n r egar d t o t hi s mat t er . I do not know anyt hi ng about what has
happened. I t was an honor ed f or me t o accompany t he r epr esent at i ve of
t he Aust r i an Consul , Mr . J oseph Ayr out h t o vi si t Hi s Excel l ency, t he
Gover nor , at hi s of f i ce. Ther e can be no doubt s r egar di ng my
par t i ci pat i on i n t he sl ayi ng, or of my pr esence dur i ng t he sl ayi ng.
Thi s had been ment i oned by Hi s Excel l ency, t he Gover nor t o t he Aust r i an
Consul . I t i s possi bl e t hat I may have some i nf or mat i on about t he mat t er
due t o what was r epor t ed by Davi d Har ar i ' s ser vant . Especi al l y so, af t er
i t had been conf i r med t hat on t he ni ght t he Pr i est di sappear ed, I was
spendi ng t he eveni ng wi t h Khawaj a Magsoud. I amat a l oss now, because
you ar e r el yi ng on f al se st at ement s and accusat i ons r egar di ng mat t er s
beyond my knowl edge. I have pr oof and evi dence whi ch wi l l at t est t o my
wher eabout s f r omWednesday af t er noon t o t he af t er noon of Thur sday whi ch
wi l l conf i r mt hat I had not hi ng t o do wi t h t hese f al se accusat i on
agai nst me. I cannot pr ovi de answer s t o what may devel op dai l y f r om
f al se st at ement s. I can add not hi ng except my f i r st answer i n whi ch I
have expl ai ned how I spent my t i me dur i ng t he whol e per i od i nvol vi ng t he
di sappear ance of t he Pr i est , Thomas, and hi s ser vant . "

The I nvest i gat i on cont i nued as f ol l ows:
The I nvest i gat or st at ed, " I n f act , we di d not have any suspi ci on
r egar di ng I saac Pi cci ot t o i n t he begi nni ng. But our suspi ci on devel oped
l at er due t o t he conf essi ons of t he ser vant Mur ad, and t he ot her s who
wer e pr esent wi t h hi m. As t o what I saac has sai d r egar di ng hi s spendi ng
t he eveni ng wi t h Mr . Magsoud, and r egar di ng t he conf essi ons of t he
ot her s, i n addi t i on t o t he ser vant , we ar e r eady t o br i ng t hemf or a
f ace t o f ace conf r ont at i on. As f ar as di scr edi t i ng t he wi t nesses, t he
ser vant and al l t he ot her s ar e f ol l ower s of t he r el i gi ous t eachi ng of
Moses, t hey ar e al l J ews. Ther e i s no r eason t o suspect any of t hem.
Especi al l y when t hey have conf essed r egar di ng t he par t i ci pat i on of
per sons who ar e t hei r own r el at i ves of f r i ends. "
I saac Pi cci ot t o answer ed: " We went t o spend t he eveni ng wi t h Mr .
Magsoud about one o' cl ock af t er sunset ( Ar abi c Ti me) . We wer e t he f i r st
t o ar r i ve. Thi s st at ement i s i n r egar d t o t he t i me. As t o what you have
j ust st at ed r egar di ng t hose who bear f al se wi t ness, i n r egar d t o t hem
bei ng of t he J ewi sh r el i gi on, Your Excel l ency knows t hat whoever bear s
f al se wi t ness as a J ewi sh bel i ever , l eaves no doubt t hat he has
deser t ed hi s r el i gi on. Ther ef or e, as f ar as I amconcer ned, i t i s of no
val ue as t o what has been sai d f al sel y by my J ewi sh br ot her . I have
onl y one st at ement whi ch i s " I do not know anyt hi ng r egar di ng t hi s
mat t er . "
The I nvest i gat or t hen asked " Name t hose who at t ended t he eveni ng par t y
at Maqsoud' s house so t hey may be br ought f or quest i oni ng. "
Pi cci ot t o answer ed " As I have sai d, we ar r i ved bef or e anyone el se. The
ot her s st ar t ed t o ar r i ve f ol l owi ng one anot her unt i l t hr ee o' cl ock
( Ar abi c Ti me) . Those pr esent wer e: Bot r us ( Pet er ) Al - J ahi l and hi s
br ot her Gobr an, Bi shar ah Nasr - Al l ah, Fr anci s Sal i na and hi s wi f e,
Mi chael Sol a, Abdul l ah Al - Homsi , and Ant wan Swabi ni . "
The Commi t t ee i ssued a memor andumcal l i ng f or t hose named by I saac
Pi cci ot t o. They or der ed t he di spat cher t o br i ng t hemf or quest i oni ng.
The Commi t t ee al so adopt ed a deci si on r equi r i ng t hat I saac wi l l be
pr esent dur i ng t hi s quest i oni ng i n or der t o conf r ont hi mwi t h hi s
st at ement s t o t he Commi t t ee.
The I nvest i gat i on Commi t t ee cont i nued by cal l i ng Mual l i mAsl an Far hi ,
and aski ng hi m:
Q: " Yest er day you wr ot e your r epor t on t he sl ayi ng of t he ser vant of
Pr i est Thomas. I saac Pi cci ot t o has deni ed t he f act s as you st at ed
t hem. "
A: " I saac Pi cci ot t o was pr esent . "
I saac Pi cci ot t o asked Asl an: " What t i me was i t when I was t her e?" Asl an
answer ed: " The t i me was bet ween sunset and I sha. " I saac Pi cci ot t o sai d:
" I want t o see what Asl an Far hi wr ot e i n hi s r epor t . "
The r epor t was br ought i n. I saac asked t hat i t be r ead. The r epor t was
del i ver ed or al l y wor d by wor d. Af t er t he r eadi ng I saac Pi cci ot t o sai d:
Al l of what has been sai d i n t hi s r epor t i s f al se. I t has no bases f or
t r ut h. I t seems t hat Asl an Far hi has become ar r ogant af t er r ecei vi ng
hi s saf e or di nance f r omour Af andi . He i s t aki ng a shor t cut t o avoi d
bei ng beat en or t or t ur ed. . I f we wer e Egypt i an subj ect s and we wer e
accused, f aci ng t or t ur e, such as we know of , and we obt ai ned a si mi l ar
saf e conduct as he has, we mi ght bear f al se wi t ness al so t o save
our sel ves as he di d. But God f or bi d us ( t he J ews) t o do such a t hi ng
because t hi s wi l l dest r oy t he sense of t r ust and honor i n such
si t uat i ons. Upon my r et ur n t o t he Consul at e t hi s mor ni ng, I amgoi ng t o
cal l Hi s Excel l ency t he Aust r i an Consul and t wo wi t nesses t o submi t
obj ect i on agai nst t hi s f al se accusat i on di r ect ed t owar d me. I wi l l make
a cl ai mt o t hi s Di wan ( Of f i ce) and t o t he Supr eme Di wan whi ch i ncl ude
t hose who ar e r esponsi bl e over me: Hi s Excel l ency t he Gover nor Gener al ,
and Hi s secr et ar y Mansour Tayyan: Mr . Massar i , Head of t he Medi cal Cor p
of t he Gover nor Gener al ; Khawaj a Chubl i Ayoub; and Khawaj a Beaudi n, t he
Assi st ant t o t he Fr ench Consul i n Damascus.
The Gover nor Gener al , Head of t he I nvest i gat i on Commi t t ee, sai d: The
subj ect of obj ect i on does not concer n us ver y much. You shoul d know
t hat Mur ad Al - Fat t al , Davi d Har ar i ' s ser vant , has conf essed. So has t he
Bar ber Sol i man Sal oom. Thei r conf essi ons wer e i n compl et e agr eement ,
al most i dent i cal . Then came Mual l i mAsl an' s conf essi on whi ch conf i r med
t he compl et e agr eement of al l t hr ee conf essi ons, i n spi t e of t he f act
t hat t hey wer e separ at ed f r omeach ot her , i n si ngl e and separ at e r ooms.
Thi s i s t o say t hat i n t hei r sol i t ar y conf i nement wi t h no chance of
communi cat i on among t hem. I f t her e wer e f al si f i cat i on or f or ger y, t hese
i dent i cal conf essi ons woul d not have happened. I f Mual l i mAsl an i s i n
t he habi t of f al si f yi ng, and her e i n Syr i a t her e ar e many J ews, why
t hen woul d he not accuse t hemi nst ead of accusi ng hi s own r el at i ves and
ser vant s, even hi msel f . I n r egar d t o what you have sai d t hat Mual l i m
Asl an has become ar r ogant af t er he obt ai ned a saf e or di nance, and chose
a shor t cut t o avoi d a beat i ng or t or t ur e, you must know t hat t he
conf essi ons came wi t hout r esor t i ng t o beat i ng or t or t ur e. "
I saac Pi cci ot t o r epl i ed: " You have sai d t hat my obj ect i ons t o your
quest i ons do not i nt er est you ver y much, and I say t hat t he pur pose of
t he obj ect i ons ar e t o r eveal t he f al sehood. As t o t he i dent i cal
conf essi ons we do not know t hi s ki nd of f or ger y and have no exper i ence
wi t h i t . We have not hi ng except our f i r st answer r egar di ng t he hour s we
spent f r omWednesday noon t o Thur sday af t er noon.
Then t he Head of t he I nvest i gat i on Commi t t ee sai d, " We have no
knowl edge of t he f or ger y of whi ch you speak, and/ or i t s pur poses. You
must expl ai n t o us t he ai mof t hi s f or ger y. "
Then I saac Pi cci ot t o sai d: " Thi s f or ger y i s t he wor k of some enemi es. "
The I nvest i gat or added: " You must i dent i f y f or us t hose enemi es. "
Pi cci ot t o st at ed, " The enemi es ar e many. "
Those who wer e at Khawaj a Maqsoud' s par t y wer e br ought i n f or
quest i oni ng. They i ncl uded: Geor ge Maqsoud, Ant wan Swabi ni , Bi shar ah
Nasr - Al l ah, Gobr an J ahi l , and hi s br ot her Bot r us J ahi l .
The i nvest i gat i on of t hese men st ar t ed wi t h t he f ol l owi ng st at ement and
quest i oni ng t o each of t hem:
Q: Khawaj a I saac Pi cci ot t o was one of t hose who at t ended your par t y on
t he Wednesday- Thur sday eveni ng when Pr i est Thomas di sappear ed. I woul d
l i ke each of you t o t el l us when ( Mr . Pi cci ot t o ar r i ved at t he par t y.
Each man t hen answer ed:
1 - Geor ge Maqsoud. " I bel i eve he came bef or e I sha cal l t o pr ayer .
Al t hough I amnot qui t e cer t ai n as t o t he exact t i me. "
2 - Ant wan Seabi ni : " He came bet ween t wo and hal f past t wo. "
3 - Bi shar ah Nasr - Al l ah: " Pi cci ot t o came bet ween 3: 00 - 3: 15. When he
ar r i ved al l wer e al r eady t her e ( Sol a and t he ot her s) . Wi t h me wer e
Gobr an J ahi l and Abdul l ah Homsi . "
4 - Gobr an J ahi l ' s answer was exact l y l i ke t hat of Bi shar ah.
5 - Bot r us J ahi : " I went t o Maqsoud' s house bet ween hal f past t wo and
t hr ee. When I ar r i ved Pi cci ot t o was t her e. "
Once agai n t he I nvest i gat or t ur ned hi s quest i oni ng t owar d Swabi ni :
" Wer e you t her e bef or e t he ar r i val of Pi cci ot t o?" Swabi ni answer ed:
" Yes, I was t her e. " Then t he I nvest i gat or asked Geor ge Maqsoud
conf i r med by sayi ng: " Yes, he was t her e. I had al r eady sent t he ser vant
t o i nvi t e Khawaj a Sol a. The ser vant r et ur ned wi t h hi m. I t hen sent
Swabi ni once mor e wi t h t he i nvi t at i on. "

Then t he I nvest i gat or cal l ed Yehya Bzi t i , t he ser vant of I saac
Pi cci ot t o, and asked hi magai n about t he t i me t hey went t o t he eveni ng
par t y. I n t he pr esence of al l he answer ed, " We went hal f an hour af t er
I sha. The Gat es wer e cl osed and had t o be opened f or us. "

The I nvest i gat or t hen cal l ed Pi cci ot t o and conf r ont ed hi mwi t h t he
st at ement s of t hose who wer e at t he par t y about hi s l at e ar r i val , and
hi s i nvol vement wi t h t he sl ayi ng of Pr i est Thomas' ser vant . He
answer ed, " I have no answer except what I have al r eady t ol d you i n t he
f i r st quest i oni ng on Fr i day, 3r d of Muhar r am1256 H. "

Af t er t hi s event due t o t he deni al of I saac Pi cci ot t o, t he
I nvest i gat i on Commi t t ee sent a message t o t he Aust r i an Consul as
f ol l ows:
A Message t o Hi s Excel l ency t he Aust r i an Consul t o Damascus, on
Muhar r am15, 1256 H

Yest er day we sent you a memo r equest i ng t hat Khawaj a I saac Pi cci ot t o be
sent f or quest i oni ng r egar di ng t he subj ect of t he sl ayi ng of Pr i est
Thomas Al - Capuci ' s sevant . Mr . Pi cci ot t o came accompani ed by your
aut hor i zed i nt er pr et er , Khawaj a Yusuf ( J oseph) Zanani r i . The
quest i oni ng of Khawaj a I saac Pi cci ot t o t ook pl ace, and your
i nt er pr et er , Yusuf Zanani r i r ecor ded t he answer s on behal f of I saac
Pi cci ot t o, accor di ng t o hi s r equest . At t he begi nni ng of t he
i nvest i gat i on, Hi s Excel l ency t he Consul of Fr ance came vi si t i ng. He
was a wi t ness t o t he quest i ons and answer s. Then he st ar t ed t o speak
wi t h Khawaj a I saac i n Fr ench. Suddenl y, Khawaj a I saac Pi cci ot t o st ood
up, he act ed angr i l y and behaved f ool i shl y, cl ai mi ng t hat Hi s
Excel l ency t he Consul had i nsul t ed and bel i t t l ed hi mi n hi s
conver sat i ons. He sai d t hat " he was no l onger r eady t o answer mor e
quest i ons; t hat he di d not want t o l i st en t o any mor e quest i ons, t hat
he wi l l not accept t he cont i nuat i on of t hi s case except wi t h t he
pr esence and pr ot ect i on of t he Aust r i an Consul . " We sai d t o hi m, t hat
you your sel f st ar t ed t he conver sat i on wi t h Hi s Excel l ency, t he Consul
of Fr ance i n Fr ench. You cl ai mt hat he i nsul t ed and bel i t t l ed you, but
we di d not under st and anyt hi ng you t al ked about . Even i f i t i s t r ue
t hat he i nsul t ed you, t hi s has not hi ng t o do wi t h t he i nvest i gat i on. I t
i s a mat t er bet ween you and t he Fr ench Consul . The Consul l ef t t he
Di wan and I saac Pi cci ot t o r emai ned i nsi st i ng on hi s posi t i on and
r ef used t o answer any mor e quest i ons. He r equest ed t o r et ur n t o you. We
sai d t o hi mt hat t he i nvest i gat i on wi t h hi mmust cont i nue. However , he
di d not agr ee. He l ef t t o go t o your Consul at e bef or e compl et i ng t he
quest i oni ng. Ther ef or e, i t i s necessar y t o i nf or myou of t hese f act s.

The I nvest i gat i on Repor t of Sat ur day,
Muhar r am17, 1256 H
The Aust r i an Consul ' s r epl y t o t he Message f r omt he I nvest i gat i on
Commi t t ee: " We ar e r et ur ni ng I saac Pi cci ot t o, wi t h Yusuf Zanani r i , t o
compl et e t he i nvest i gat i on of t he sl ayi ng of Pr i est Thomas' ser vant . "

The Head of t he I nvest i gat i on Commi t t ee cont i nued wi t h Pi cci ot t o' s case
as f ol l ow: " You came on Thur sday, Muhar r am15, 1256 H. f or quest i oni ng.
The i nvest i gat i on ended when you wer e conf r ont ed by your ser vant , who
st at ed t hat on t he ni ght of t he sl ayi ng of t he ser vant of Pr i est
Thomas, you went t o Geor ge Maqsoud' s house about hal f an hour af t er
I sha cal l t o pr ayer . The Gat es wer e cl osed and t he ni ght wat chman
opened t hemf or you. At t hi s poi nt i n t he i nvest i gat i on you st ood up
and r ef used t o answer mor e quest i ons l eavi ng f or t he Aust r i an
Consul at e. Now, what i s r equest ed of you i s t hat you r epl y t o your
ser vant ' s st at ement . What i s your r epl y?
I saac Pi cci ot t o r epl i ed: " I amnot obl i ged t o r epl y t o my ser vant ' s
conf essi on. But I wi l l answer an or der t o expl ai n t o t hose i n
aut hor i t y, who ar e f or ei gner s i n Syr i a and do not under st and what l i f e
i n Syr i a i s l i ke.
I n t he ser vant ' s f i r st conf essi on, he sai d t hat we went af t er t he I sha
cal l t o pr ayer at about an hour or an hour and quar t er . Then i n hi s
second conf essi on he sai d t hat we went about hal f an hour af t er t he
I sha cal l t o pr ayer . The ser vant may be excused f or changi ng hi s
conf essi on af t er bei ng j ai l ed and f r i ght ened f or hi s l i f e. Geor ge
Magsoud st at ed i n hi s conf essi on on Thur sday, Muhar r am15t h t hat we
ar r i ved at hi s house at one o' cl ock af t er sunset , and t hat t her e was no
one at t endi ng t he par t y at t hi s t i me. Then Swabi ni came and he st at ed
i n hi s conf essi on t hat we ar r i ved at Geor ge Maqsoud' s house bet ween t wo
and t hr ee. Then Bot r us Hahi l sai d t hat he came at t wo o' cl ock and we
wer e i n Maqsoud' s house. Geor ge Magsoud conf i r med i n t he pr esence of
Swabi ni t hat we came t o hi s house about one o' cl ock. Lat er he sent hi s
ser vant t o i nvi t e Mi chael Sol a because he was l at e i n ar r i vi ng. The
ser vant r et ur ned wi t h Mi chael Sol a' s apol ogy f or bei ng l at e because
ShandamAzar and Mul l i mI br ahi mAyub wer e vi si t i ng hi m. Once mor e
Magsoud sent af t er hi m. Bot r us J ahi l sai d t hat he ar r i ved about t wo
o' cl ock.

I n compar i ng t hese st at ement s i t shows t he f al sehood of Swabi ni ' s
st at ement and i t s wor t hl essness. Especi al l y t he Swabi ni i s known t o be
of i l l r eput e i n publ i c and pr i vat e ci r cl es. As t o t he st at ement of
Khawaj a Magsoud, i t was obt ai ned t wel ve days af t er t he i nci dent , whi ch
i nvi t es mi st aken j udgment concer ni ng t he t i me. I r equest t he r ecal l of
Magsoud and Swabi ni f or r e- quest i oni ng. "

The Gover nor Gener al , Head of t he I nvest i gat i on Commi t t ee r epl i ed: " I t
appear s f r omyour st at ement t hat you r ef use even a r esponse t o your
ser vant ' s conf essi on on t he pr et ence t hat he gave hi s conf essi on under
pr essur e i n pr i son. I r emi nd you t hat t he ar r est of your ser vant and
hi s det ent i on f or quest i oni ng di d not t ake pl ace unt i l af t er Mur ad Al -
Fat t al ' s conf essi on r egar di ng you. And t hat on t he ni ght bef or e t he
ar r est of t he Har ar i ' s you wer e spendi ng t he eveni ng wi t h t hem. Dur i ng
whi ch t i me Mur ad cal l ed on you and you went t o vi si t hi maf t er l eavi ng
t he Har ar i s. You sent your ser vant back t o t he Har ar i ' s house t o
di smi ss t hei r wor r i es, and t o i nf or mt hemon your behal f not t o be
wor r i ed because t her e was not hi ng t o wor r y about . Your ser vant was
cal l ed f or quest i oni ng r egar di ng t hi s conf essi on and he has conf i r med
i t s val i di t y. Then he was quest i oned agai n about t he t i me of your vi si t
t o Maqsoud' s. We separ at ed hi mi n or der t o conf r ont you and cont i nue
t he i nvest i gat i on wi t hout pr ej udi ce. I n addi t i on t o t hat we l ear ned
t hat t her e wer e t wo wel l known Syr i an mer chant s who saw you when you
went t o spend t he eveni ng at t he Maqsoud' s. We cal l ed bot h of t hem
yest er day and obt ai ned t hei r st at ement s as wi t nesses whi ch we wi l l now
r ead t o you so t hat you may be i nf or med of t he t wo wi t ness st at ement s.
However , r egar di ng your r equest t hat we r ecal l Magsoud and Swabi ni f or
r e- quest i oni ng t hem, we have no obj ect i on t o t hat . Al so we wi l l cal l
t he t wo wi t nesses: Hanna Boul ad and I br ahi mGhor r ah, so t hat you may
hear t hei r st at ement s as t hey ar e wr i t t en i n t hei r r epor t .


The I nvest i gat i on Commi t t ee cal l ed t he above ment i oned wi t nesses as
r equest ed by I saac Pi cci ot t o f or r e- quest i oni ng. The I nvest i gat or
st ar t ed t he quest i oni ng of Magsoud. He asked hi mi n t he pr esence of
Swabi ni :
Q. St at e exact l y t he ar r i val t i me of I saac Pi cci ot t o t o spend t he
eveni ng par t y wi t h you.
A. I was not car r yi ng a wat ch, and do not know t he exact t i me when
Pi cci ot t o ar r i ved. The Engl i sh Consul asked me f i f t een days ago about
t he t i me and I t ol d hi mt hat Pi cci ot t o ar r i ved about t wo t hi r ds of an
hour af t er sunset cal l t o pr ayer . I di d not know t hat hi s ar r i val t i me
woul d be so i mpor t ant , so I di d not t r y t o obt ai n t he exact t i me. I t
al so happened t hat I met Hanna Fr ai h at Asa' d Pasha I nn on Wednesday,
Muhar r am14, 1256 H. and he t ol d me t hat t her e wer e f our r el i abl e
wi t nesses who wi l l conf i r mt hat t hey saw I saac Pi cci ot t o comi ng t o your
house bef or e t he I sha cal l t o pr ayer , i ncl udi ng I br ahi mGhor r ah.
Af t er war d I went t o t he mar ket - pl ace wher e I met Yusuf Ayr out h. He sai d
t o me t hat Hanna Fr ai h had t ol d hi mwhat I have ment i oned ear l i er . I
t ol d hi mt hat I al r eady knew what he was sayi ng. Thi s i ndi cat ed t o me,
f r omt he conver sat i on wi t h Fr ai h and Ayr out h t hat t hey want ed t o
suppor t hi s wi t ness.

The I nvest i gat or ask Swabi ni about hi s pr evi ous st at ement . He r epl i ed,
" I saac Pi cci ot t o ar r i ved at t he house of Khawaj a Maqsoud bet ween hal f
past t wo and t hr ee o' cl ock. When I went t o Sol a' s house t o i nvi t e hi m
t he t i me was cl ose t o hal f past t hr ee. "
I saac Pi cci ot t o r epl i ed, " I answer ed as t o what has been r el at ed i n my
ser vant conf essi on. But what i s r el at ed t o t he wi t ness of Baul ad and
Ghor r ah I say t hat t hey has cer t ai n i nt ent i ons agai nst t he J ews i n
gener al , i . e. , t o execut e t hem. Thi s i s wel l known and wi del y spr ead, I
t hi nk by bot h t he Honor abl e
Khedi vat e and t he Mi l i t ar y I nt el l egence Admi ni st r at i on. I t i s wi t hi n
t he capabi l i t y of t he r esponsi bl e guar di ans ( t he r ul er s) , wi t h t hei r
f ar - si ght ed out l ook and deep t hi nki ng, t o di st i ngui sh t he t r ut hf ul ness
or f al sehood of t he st at ement s of t hose ahawaj as. "

The Gover nor Gener al , Head of t he I nvest i gat i on Commi t t ee r epl i ed: " You
spent t he eveni ng of t he i nci dent i n t he Chr i st i an nei ghbor hood
( Quar t er ) . Those who gave t hei r wi t ness ( st at ement s) ment i oned ear l i er ,
r egar di ng t he t i me of your cr ossi ng, saw you t hem. Now you ar e
at t acki ng t hei r st at ement s. You say t hat t hei r i nt ent i on i s t o execut e
t he J ews. That t hi s i nt ent i on i s wel l known t o t he Honor abl e Khedi vat e
and t he Mi l i t ar y I nt el l i gence
Admi ni st r at i on. And I say t o you, " t hat t he Honor abl e Khedi vat e and t he
Mi l i t ar y I nt el l i gence Admi ni st r at i on have no knowl edge r egar di ng t hi s
mat t er . You must expl ai n t hi s t o us so t hat we can l ook i nt o i t . But ,
you shoul d al so r emember t hat t her e ar e some J ews who have gi ven t hei r
t est i mony agai nst you. Among t hose ar e Mur ad Al - Fat t al ( t he ser vant of
Davi d Har ar i , Mual l i mAsl an Far hi The have gi ven t est i mony on t he
subj ect of t he mur der of t he ser vant of Pr i est Thomas. I n addi t i on
Khawaj a Maqsoud gave hi s t est i mony whi ch you have r ef used t o
acknowl edge. Al l of t hese wi t nesses ar e f r omyour own peopl e of t he
J ewi sh f ai t h, wel l as t hose of t he Chr i st i an f ai t h. Gi ve us t he names
of t hose who ar e accept abl e as wi t nesses, t hose whomyou wi sh t o t ake
t he wi t ness st and on your behal f .
"

Pi cci ot t o answer ed: " The f act t hat Hi s Excel l ency, t he I nvest i gat or ,
our Gent l eman want s a r epl y t o my st at ement of obj ect i on whi ch r el at es
t o t he accusat i on r egar di ng enemi es t o t he J ews makes i t appar ent t hat
t her e i s host i l i t y t owar ds me. I t hought t hat t he Hi ghl y Honor abl e
Khedi vat e and t he Hi ghl y Honor abl e Mi l i t ar y I nt el l i gence Admi ni st r at i on
wer e awar e of t hi s host i l i t y as wel l as i t s pur pose. I t does not mat t er
whet her my bel i ef i s t r ue or not . The f act i s t hat t hi s i s what I
t hi nk. As t o t he conf essi ons of t he J ews f r ommy own r el i gi on, and t he
conf essi ons of t he Chr i st i ans, I r ej ect bot h of t hei r conf essi ons. I
have st at ed ear l i er r egar di ng t he t est i mony of Mual l i mAsl an as i t
appear ed i n t he i nvest i gat i on r epor t on Thur sday, Muhar r am15, 1256 H.
I have al r eady r epl i ed t o t he st at ement gi ven t hi r t y days af t er t he
det ent i on by Mur ad, t he ser vant of Davi d Har ar i , t hat hi s t est i mony i s
subj ect t o a l apse of memor y and a f ear of sever e beat i ng or t or t ur e.
These r easons caused hi mt o accuse me f al sel y. As I r ecal l i n hi s f i r st
r epor t he st at ed t hat he saw me wi t h Mur ad Far hi when he went t o i s
house t o war n hi m. He al so st at ed t hat he saw me t he next day, whi ch
was Thur sday, at t hr ee o' cl ock i n t he mor ni ng ( Ar abi c Ti me) at t he home
of hi s mast er Davi d Har ar i . He st at ed t hat wi t h us wer e, Asl an Far hi ,
Mur ad Far hi , Aar on I sl amboul i , and Yehya Far hi . Thi s negat es t he f act s
because I have wi t nesses who can conf i r ma t i me schedul e f or al l of my
act i vi t i es f r omWednesday on t hr ough Thur sday noon. I n addi t i on t o t hat
Asl an Far hi met wi t h Mur ad, t he Har ar i ' s ser vant , i n t he Di wan of Hi s
Excel l ency t he Gover nor , and di sput ed hi s l i es i n r egar d t o Asl an Far hi
bei ng at Davi d Har ar i ' s house. These f act s di sput e and expose t he
ser vant ' s f al se st at ement s. I f Asl an Far hi had act ual l y been pr esent at
t he Har ar i ' s house on Thur sday he had no r eason t o deny i t . And af t er
t hese t wo r epor t s by t he ser vant Mur ad agai nst us, anot her t en days
l apsed bef or e he gave hi s l ast r epor t i n whi ch he st at ed t hat we wer e
i n Yehya Far hi ' s house, and t hat we at t ended t he sl ayi ng of Pr i est
Thomas' ser vant . I t hi nk t hi s conf essi on was made as a r esul t of f ear
of bei ng beat en and t or t ur ed. I f he has not been i mpr i soned he woul d
not have changed hi s t est i mony. As t o t he t est i mony of t he Chr i st i ans,
we have pr oof of t he t i me of our ar r i val whi ch was bef or e one o' cl ock,
about t he t i me of t he I sha cal l t o pr ayer . They have t est i f i ed t hat
t hey saw us at t wo o' cl ock. Thi s conf i r ms t o us t hei r bad i nt ent i on and
i t exposes t hei r pur pose.

The Aust r i an Consul sent a message t o t he I nvest i gat i on Commi t t ee
r egar di ng I saac Pi cci ot t o.

The r epl y t o t he Consul f r omt he I nvest i gat i on Commi t t ee was as
f ol l ows:
We have r ecei ved your message on t he 16t h of Mur har r am1256 H. whi ch
cont ai ned not i f i cat i on r egar di ng t he r et ur n of I saac Pi cci ot t o t o t he
Consul at e, i n t he company of Khawaj a Yusuf Zanani r i , car r yi ng wi t h t hem
a copy of t he quest i ons and answer s. And your acknowl edgement r egar di ng
t he ar r i val of our r epor t t o you r egar di ng t he depar t ur e of I saac
Pi cci ot t o bef or e he compl et ed t he i nvest i gat i on, f or whi ch he was sent .
I n your r epor t you st at ed t hat you sent I saac Pi cci ot t o t o us t o
compl et e t he i nvest i gat i on. And t hat you under st and f r omt he r epor t
t hat t he ser vant of Khawaj a I saac Pi cci ot t o, Yehya Bi zi t i , has been
ar r est ed and det ai ned wi t hout your knowl edge.
I n answer i ng t o t hat , we convey t o you t he f ol l owi ng:
Fi r st . On t he subj ect of a copy of quest i ons and answer s, whi ch you
ment i oned as ar r i vi ng wi t h I saac Pi cci ot t o and Yusuf Zanani r i , we woul d
l i ke t o i nf or myou t hat we di d not sent t hemt o your Excel l ency.
Khawaj a Zanani r i t ook t hemwi t hout your knowl edge. Second. On t he
subj ect of I saac Pi cci ot t o, he came af t er an exchange of a number of
quest i ons and answer s t o hi m. We r equest ed f r omour Tur ki sh Cl er k t o
pr epar e a message whi ch Bahr i Bey, a member of t he I nvest i gat i on
Commi t t ee, was t r ust ed t o t r ansl at e i nt o t he Ar abi c l anguage. Suddenl y,
I saac Pi cci ot t o cr eat ed an ar t i f i ci al act of di sagr eement wi t h Bahr i
Bey and sai d t o hi m: " Ar e you t he deci si on maker or t he Pasha?" Then
Bahr i Bey r ef used t o wr i t e because Pi cci ot t o had i nsul t ed hi mi n and
i nappr opr i at e manner . We wer e f or ced t o del ay our message t o you unt i l
t he t ensi on and emot i ons cr eat ed by t hi s i nci dent had been cl ear ed up.
We t hen sent Pi cci ot t o back t o you. We do not know t he r easons f or
Pi cci ot t o' s ar gument at i ve behavi or , whet her he was act i ng on hi s own or
wi t h your per mi ssi on. We hope t o r ecei ve a r esponse i n t hi s r egar d f r om
you. Thi r d. As t o t he ar r est of I saac Pi cci ot t o' s ser vant and hi s
det ent i on wi t hout your knowl edge. We woul d l i ke t o r emi nd you of t he
cont ent s of your message dat ed t he 18t h of Zul - Hi j j ah, 1255 H. whi ch
was as f ol l ows:
" We aut hor i ze you t o br i ng ever y suspect ed per son i n t he case of t he
sl ayi ng of t he Pr i est , Thomas Al - Capuci , and hi s ser vant f r omt hi s dat e
f or war d, i ncl udi ng t hose J ews who enj oy t he pr ot ect i on of Aust r i a and
t he Toscana. " Thi s was an aut hor i zat i on f or t he ar r est and det ent i on of
whoever was a suspect i n t he case f r omt he subj ect s of Aust r i a and t he
Tuscana. The ser vant , Yehya Bi zi t i i s an Aust r i an subj ect . He was
ar r est ed due t o t he t est i mony gi ven by Mur ad Al - Fat t al , t he ser vant of
Davi d Har ar i , who i mpl i cat ed hi mi n hi s conf essi on, t hat Khawaj a I saac
Pi cci ot t o spent t he eveni ng wi t h t he Har ar i ' s, t he ni ght bef or e t hei r
ar r est , and t hat Mur ad Far hi sent hi s ser vant t o cal l Pi cci ot t o at t he
end of t he eveni ng par t y; and t hat af t er Pi cci ot t o ar r i ved at Mur ad' s
house he sent hi s ser vant , Yehya Bi zi t i t o t he Har ar i ' s house t o di spel
t hei r concer ns. We r equest ed Bi zi t i t o be bought t o us t o ver i f y t hi s
t est i mony. He agr eed dur i ng hi s quest i oni ng t hat i t was t r ue. The
quest i oni ng cont i nued i ncl udi ng t he t i me of ar r i val at t he par t y at
Moqsoud' s house. He st at ed t hat i t t ook pl ace about hal f an hour or so
af t er t he I sha cal l t o pr ayer . He was kept i n det ent i on i n or der t o
conf r ont hi s mast er Khawaj a I saac Pi cci ot t o. These ar e t he r easons f or
hi s det ent i on. Si nce he i s a subj ect of your happy St at e, and had your
aut hor i zat i on i n t hi s mat t er we say no r eason t o i nf or myou.
Pl ease be I nf or med
Sunday, Muhar r am18, 1256 H.

Hi s Excel l ency, t he Gover nor Gener al , went t o t he J ewi sh Quar t er
accompani ed by Al i Af andi , Commander of t he Caval r y Ar t i l l er y Br i gade,
wi t h t he Gover nor of Syr i a, Al i Agha Tof unkgy. He al so t ook wi t h hi m
some of hi s l ower r anki ng of f i cer s, and Asl an Fr hi and Mur ad Al - Fat t al ,
t he ser vant of Davi d Har ar i . The l ast t wo wer e separ at ed f r omeach
ot her . Upon t he ar r i val of Hi s Excel l ency at Meyer Far hi ' s house, he
f i r st cal l ed Mual l i n Asl an Far hi and quest i oned hi mr egar di ng t he
pl ace. He conf essed sayi ng t hat : " When Mur ad, t he ser vant , came and
spoke wi t h Meyer Far hi we wer e st andi ng i n f r ont of t he door of t he
house. One on each si de of t he door . Af t er t hat we went i nsi de t he
house. " Hi s Excel l ency asked Asl an wher e t he ser vant had been sl ai n,
and how he was pl aced i n t he di wan or t he r ecept i on hal l ? Asl an poi nt ed
t o t he di van wher e t he sl ayi ng had been per f or med. He expl ai ned how t he
ser vant of Pr i est Thomas was put down, f l at on t he f l oor , at t he edge
of t he di wan; how he had been sl ai n. He sai d t hat he ( Asl an) was
st andi ng at t he ser vant ' s f eet , and hel d one of t he ser vant ' s f eet when
t hey sl ew hi m. Af t er he compl et ed hi s st at ement s, t he Gover nor or der
hi mback t o hi s det ent i on pl ace, and cal l ed t he ser vant Mur ad Al -
Fat t al . Hi s t est i mony was exact l y as t hat whi ch had been gi ven by
Asl an. Thi s was t he same as t hei r pr evi ousl y r ecor ded t est i mony.
Monday, Muhar r am20, 1256 H.
Af t er t he Gover nor Gener al , Shar i f Pasha, compl et ed hi s i nvest i gat i on
he di r ect ed t hat t he f ol l owi ng message be sent t o Khawaj a I saac
Pi cci ot t o. I t was as f ol l ows:
Fi r st . You have sai d t hat you f ound i n t he cour t a del i ber at e host i l i t y
t owar d you. However , you di d not expl ai n t he t ype of t hese host i l e
act i ons, and you have not i dent i f i ed t hose who t ook t hi s st and agai nst
you. Ther ef or e, now you must expl ai n t hi s because t he quest i ons whi ch I
have di r ect ed t o you cont ai n t he essence of t hi s case.
Second. You say t hat you have r esponded t o Asl an Far hi ' s conf essi on and
t o hi s t est i mony agai nst you, but your r ecor ded answer s do not negat e
hi s t est i mony. Ther ef or e, t hi s i s t he r eason t o pr eser ve and pr esent
hi s t est i mony t o be used at t he appr opr i at e t i me.
Thi r d. You have sai d t hat t he r epor t of t he ser vant Mur ad Al - Fat t al was
gi ven t hi r t y days af t er hi s det ent i on, as a r esul t of hi s beat i ng and
t or t ur e; t hat t he accusat i ons he has di r ect ed agai nst you ar e f al se.
But t he t r ut h i s t hat he came t o t he cour t at t he begi nni ng of t he
i nvest i gat i on. He was quest i oned about t he nat ur e of t he t ask r equest ed
of hi mby hi s mast er whi ch was t he cal l i ng of t he Bar ber . He gave hi s
t est i mony wi l l i ngl y wi t hout any t hr eat , i mpr i sonment or t or t ur e. The
cont ent s of hi s t est i mony mat ched exact l y t he t est i mony by t he Bar ber .
Af t er t hi s he was r el eased. He was r ecal l ed f or t he second t i me
r egar di ng wher e he went af t er i nf or mi ng t he Bar ber . I t so happened t hat
hi s mast er , Rof ael Far hi , was al so pr esent at t he Di wan on some t ype of
busi ness not r el at ed t o t hi s case.
For t hi s t hen he deni ed hi s f i r st conf essi on whi ch caused hi mt o be
f l ogged. We t hen l ear ned t hat hi s mast er l ooked at hi mwi t h cont empt ,
so f or t hi s he t hen deci ded t o deny hi s f i r st t est i mony. He t hen r e-
conf essed as t o t he t r ut h of hi s f i r st t est i mony. He di scer ned a l ook
of t hr eat i n t he eyes of hi s mast er whi ch made hi mf ear t hat hi s mast er
mi ght ki l l hi mi n t he al l ey, i f he conf essed t o t he t r ut h. He was agai n
beat en f or t hi s r eason. Si nce t hen he has not been an obj ect of
di st ur bance of har m. You have f ur t her st at ed t hat hi s conf essi on was
t hi r t y days af t er t he sl ayi ng. The r eason f or t hi s del ay was because at
t he begi nni ng of t he t r i al I was concent r at i ng my ef f or t s i n an at t empt
t o di scover al l t he det ai l s of Pr i est Thomas' sl ayi ng. At t hat t i me i t
was necessar y t o use t he i nvest i gat i on pr ocess i n t he case of hi s
ser vant ' s sl ayi ng. Af t er I had f i ni shed wi t h Pr i est Thomas' case, I
t hen under t ook t he i nvest i gat i on of t he ser vant ' s case. When Mur ad Al -
Fat t al was asked what he knew about hi s case he accused you as you
al r eady know. You cl ai mt hat t her e i s a cont r adi ct i on bet ween what he
has sai d about Asl an' s pr esence at t he Har ar i ' s house i n t he company of
ot her s on t he second day, a day af t er t he sl ayi ng of Pr i est Thomas, and
t o what Asl an r epor t ed of t hi s mat t er , and t hat he deni ed bei ng at t hat
meet i ng. I see t hat t hey ar e bot h i n agr eement r egar di ng t he det ai l s of
t he ser vant ' s sl ayi ng at Meyer Far hi ' s house, i n whi ch you par t i ci pat ed
wi t h t he r est of t he ki l l er s, because you hel d one of t he ser vant ' s
f eet whi l e Asl an hel d t he ot her . The cont r adi ct i on of Asl an' s pr esence
on t he second day of t he cr i me does not negat e t hei r st at ement t hat you
par t i ci pat ed i n t he ki l l i ng of t he ser vant . I f you accept Asl an' s
t est i mony, you must al so accept al l of i t and not j ust what i s sui t abl e
t o you whi l e r ef ut i ng t hat whi ch i s not i n your best i nt er est .
Four t h. You have obj ect ed t o t he st at ement of t he t wo wi t nesses, cal l i ng
t hei r st at ement s f al se and per j ur y. You your sel f have est abl i shed i n
your conf essi on on Fr i day, 3r d of Muhar r am, 1256 H. , as t o how you
spent t he t i me bet ween Thur sday noon and Fr i day noon. I t woul d appear
f r omt he cont ent s of t hi s conf essi on t hat you wer e at Geor ge Maqsoud' s
house, on t he eveni ng of t he Pr i est sl ayi ng bef or e t he I sha cal l t o
pr ayer , and t hat Maqsoud has suppor t ed your st at ement i n hi s t est i mony.
You have cl ung t o t hi s t est i mony sayi ng t hat i t has mor e of t he t r ut h
t han t he t est i moni es of Swabi ni and t hat of your ser vant . I have cal l ed
bot h, Mr . Ghor r ah and Mr . Boul d who have bot h st at ed t hat t hey met you
t hat same eveni ng i n t he Koukas Al l ey, whi l e you wer e on your way t o
Maqsoud' s house, about t wo o' cl ock ( t wo hour s af t er t he sunset cal l t o
pr ayer . ) . These t wo per sons ar e mor e t r ust wor t hy t han Maqsoud f or wel l
known r easons.
1
I n accor dance wi t h your own wi shes, I have cal l ed t he
above ment i oned per son and have ar r anged a meet i ng wi t h Swabi ni . He
conf essed, as st at ed i n t he r epor t , t hat Fr ai h and Ayr out h f or ced hi m
t o f al si f y hi s t est i mony. Thi s cont r adi ct i on has
1
Geor ge Maqsoud had ear l i er exper i enced a ner vous br eakdown; he di d not r ecover
hi s ment al f acul t y compl et el y. I t i s not known i f t he conf usi on i n hi s
t est i mony was due t o l apse of memor y or f r ombad f ai t h.

caused me t o cancel hi s t wo t est i moni es, t he f i r st and t he second.
Si nce i t has become cl ear f r omt he t est i mony of t wo t r ust wor t hy per sons
t hat you went t o Maqsoud' s house at t wo o' cl ock at ni ght , i t appear s
f r omt he t est i moni es of Asl an and Mur ad t hat t he ki l l i ng of t he
Pr i est ' s ser vant t ook pl ace bet ween sunset and I sha, and t hat you wer e
among t he ki l l er s, and t hat you par t i ci pat ed wi t h t hemi n t he cr i me.
Ther ef or e, you i nsi st ence on your pr esence at Maqsoud' s house does not
cl ear you f r omt hese accusat i ons. You cl ai mt o have ar r i ved at
Maqsoud' s house one hour bef or e dar k, and you have concl uded f r omt hi s
cl ai mt hat t he t est i moni es of Ghor r ah and Boul ad ar e f al se. Your
r easoni ng f or t hi s i s cl ear because i f you accept ed t hei r t est i mony you
woul d i ncr i mi nat e your sel f .

Thur sday, Muhar r am23, 1256 H.
The I nvest i gat i on Commi t t ee cal l ed t he accused I saac Pi cci ot t o t he
Of f i ce of t he Gover nor Gener al Hi s Excel l ency Shar i f Pasha, t o gi ve hi m
t he cont ent of t he memor andumwhi ch was addr essed t o hi mear l i er i n
r esponse t o hi s behavi or and t he accusat i ons agai nst hi m.
Pi cci ot t o r epl i ed t o t hese accusat i ons by st at i ng, " I absol ut el y have
no knowl edge r egar di ng t he det ai l s of t he mur der of Fat her Thomas and
hi s ser vant . I have no knowl edge at al l r egar di ng t he f al se accusat i ons
and per j ur y agai nst me. You have r equest ed me t o expl ai n t he sour ce and
t ype of f al se accusat i ons agai nst me and t he expl anat i on i s i n t he
hands of my super i or s. I al so consi der my r epl y t o Asl an suf f i ci ent . My
super i or s ar e capabl e of j udgi ng t he t r ut hf ul ness of t hi s accusat i on or
i t s f al sehood. They al so have t he abi l i t y t o l ook i nt o Mur ad Al - Fat t al
accusat i ons, as t o t hei r val ue, because t hese accusat i ons came as a
r esul t of t or t ur e. As t o t he cont r adi ct i ons bet ween t he t est i moni es of
Asl an Far hi and Mur ad Al - Fat t al r egar di ng t he absence of Asl an on
Thur sday, t he mor ni ng f ol l owi ng Fat her Thomas sl ayi ng, i n spi t e of t he
ser vant ' s st at ement , Hi s Excel l ency, t he Gover nor Gener al has sai d
t hat , " I f I accept t he t est i mony of Asl an Far hi , I must accept t he
ent i r e t est i mony. " But t hose who f or ced Asl an t o accuse me f or got t o
mat ch hi s t est i mony wi t h t he t est i mony of t he ser vant , Mur ad Al - Fat t al ,
i n whi ch t hese f al se st at ement s and t he host i l i t y agai nst me was
di scl osed. I t i s up t o my super i or s who ar e capabl e and i nsi ght f ul
enough t o expose t he shamef ul pl ot ar r anged agai nst me, i n whi ch I have
no r el at i on t o t he case at al l . The Gover nor Gener al has al so sai d t hat
he wi shes t o cancel Geor ge Maqsoud' s t est i mony due t o t he f act t hat
when he came on Sat ur day t o gi ve hi s t est i mony he cl ai med t hat Fr ai h
and Ayr aut h f or ced hi mt o l i e i n hi s f i r st t est i mony. Af t er Magsoud
gave hi s t est i mony i n t he pr esence of t he Engl i sh Consul , about t went y
days ear l i er , he gave i t as t he t r ut h. As t o t he st at ement of Fr ai h and
Ayr out h, i t i s of no concer n t o me. My super i or s ar e abl e t o
di st i ngui sh bet ween t he t wo t est i moni es. And i f my pr esence at
Maqsoud' s house does not negat e t he accusat i on made agai nst me, t he
mat t er does not concer n me ver y much. Because t he t r ut h i s t hat on t hat
eveni ng I was at Maqsoud' s house an hour af t er dar k, and God i s wi t ness
t o t hi s t r ut h. As t o t he r est of t he accusat i ons, t hey ar e al l based an
ant agoni st i c col l abor at i ons agai nst me and my super i or s ar e not unawar e
of t he pr oof of t hat . I t i s not possi bl e f or t he Aust r i an Gover nment t o
al l ow one of t hei r subj ect s ( God For bi d) t o f al l vi ct i mt o ant agoni sm
and f al se accusat i ons. As f ar as I amconcer ned, I have no knowl edge at
al l of t hat of whi ch I amaccused. Al l of i t i s f al se and l i es. I t r ust
God t o hel p me t o uncover t he t r ut h. "

The Gover nor Gener al r epl i ed: " I have l i mi t ed my quest i ons t o t he
subj ect of t he sl ayi ng of Fat her Thomas' ser vant , and have not
ment i oned t he case of Fat her Thomas. You must r espond t o t he mur der of
t he ser vant . You cl ai mt hat al l of t hose who have accused you have
commi t t ed per j ur y. I answer you by sayi ng t hat , j ust t o say t hi s,
wi t hout any suppor t , i s not suf f i ci ent t o cl ear you f r omt he
accusat i ons agai nst you. You must est abl i sh t he f act s whi ch show
per j ur y. You al so cl ai mt hat t he accusat i on agai nst you by Asl an Far hi
i s not of hi m, t hat i t i s t he wor k of ot her s, t hose who pr essur ed hi m
t o commi t t hi s per j ur y. We cannot accept t hi s as i t i s based onl y on
your cl ai ms. You must name t hose who f or ced hi mso t hat I may be abl e
t o t ake appr opr i at e act i on agai nst t hem. " I saac Pi cci ot t o r epl i ed:
" Your Excel l ency has sai d t hat your quest i ons wer e l i mi t ed t o t he case
of t he sl ayi ng of Fat her Thomas' ser vant , and t hat you di d not ment i on
Fat her Thomas. I answer ed accor di ng t o what concer ns bot h cases. My
r eason f or t hi s i s t hat Mur ad Al - Fat t al cl ai med i n hi s t est i mony t hat I
al so knew of t he mur der of Fat her Thomas. Si nce I ami gnor ant of t he
ci r cumst ances i n bot h cr i mes, I have answer ed t hat I have no knowl edge
of ei t her case. Your Excel l ency al so sai d t hat my st at ement t hat t he
accusat i ons ar e per j ur y i s unsuppor t ed and not accept abl e, t hat I must
ver i f y what I r epl y t o t hi s by sayi ng t hat I have al r eady est abl i shed
det ai l ed i nf or mat i on of how I spent my t i me bet ween Wednesday noon and
Thur sday noon, when Fat her Thomas di sappear ed. Si nce I ami gnor ant of
t he f act s t hat t he cr i me t ook pl ace at t hat t i me I have no ot her per son
t o t est i f y r egar di ng t he t i me I went t o Maqsoud' s house. My super i or s
wi l l no doubt l ook wi t h keen and shar p eyes i nt o t he t r ut hf ul ness of
Maqsoud' s t est i mony and t he ot her wi t nesses. As f or your Excel l ency' s
st at ement t hat I must name t hose per sons who made Asl an t est i f y agai nst
me, and t hat i t i s not enough f or me t o cl ai mt hat t he accusat i ons ar e
f al se; I r epl y t hat Asl an' s accusat i ons ar e t he mai n concer n of my
super i or s, si nce t hey ar e mor e capabl e t han I , and mor e qual i f i ed t o
di st i ngui sh bet ween t he t r ut hf ul ness and f al sehood of hi s st at ement s. "
The Gover nor Gener al r esponded by sayi ng, " When t he ser vant of Davi d
Har ar i i nsi st ed t hat you had knowl edge of t he mur der of Fat her Thomas,
you r epl i ed t hat you
.
had no knowl edge of hi s case or of hi s ser vant
'
s
case. The ser vant has not accused you of Fat her Thomas
'
mur der . I have
not asked you about i t ei t her , but have l i mi t ed my quest i ons t o t he
mur der of Fat her Thomas' s ser vant . And si nce you have answer ed t hat you
have no knowl edge of t he t wo cases, I amj ust i f i ed i n my concl usi on
t hat you i nt ended t o deny ever yt hi ng. As t o t he accusat i ons di r ect ed
agai nst you, you have ment i oned how you spent t he t i me bet ween
Wednesday noon and Thur sday noon, and you cl ai med t hat your st or y i s
t r ue, t hat you have no knowl edge about t he cr i mes whi ch wer e commi t t ed,
t hus you have no one t o back up your t est i mony ot her t han t he r esi dent s
of t he house. Thi s r esponse t o my quest i ons i s not suf f i ci ent . I t does
not cont ai n what i s needed t o cl ear t he accusat i ons agai nst you,
because you ar e not abl e t o est abl i sh you pr esence at t hat house at t he
t i me of t he sl ayi ng of Fat her Thomas' ser vant . Al so you cannot r ef ut e
t he t est i moni es agai nst you except wi t h Maqsoud' s f i r st t est i mony, i n
whi ch he st at ed t hat he was not wear i ng a wat ch and di d not know t he
exact t i me. Ther ef or e, hi s t est i mony i s weak. I n addi t i on t o t he f act s,
t her e wer e ot her t r ust wor t hy and r el i abl e per sons who r ef ut e and negat e
Maqusoud' s st at ement . You r equest ed t hat Maqsoud be br ought f or f ur t her
quest i oni ng, and when we quest i oned hi mhe ut t er ed what was a negat i on
t o hi s f i r st t est i mony. I t now becomes cl ear t hat none of your answer s
ar e sound or based on t r ut h. Now you ar e sayi ng t hat your super i or s ar e
bet t er qual i f i ed t han you t o di st i ngui sh bet ween t he t r ut hf ul ness and
f al seness of t hese t est i moni es. You ar e awar e of t he f act t hat your
super i or s wer e not pr esent f or quest i oni ng; t her ef or e, t hey cannot
di st i ngui sh bet ween t he t r ut hf ul ness and f al seness of t he t est i mony i n
quest i on. The i nvest i gat i on of t hi s case i s now i n my hands. The j udges
know t he val ue of Maqsoud' s t est i mony. I see t hat i n al l you answer s
you expect your super i or s t o answer t he quest i ons whi ch ar e di r ect ed t o
you. I f you have a pur pose or an ai mi n doi ng t hi s, pl ease expl ai n i t
f r ankl y t o us. "
I saac Pi cci ot t o r esponded:
" Your Excel l ency has sai d t hat you di d not ask me about t he sl ayi ng of
Fat her Thomas, and t hat no one had accused me of i t , and t hat I want t o
cl ear mysel f of bot h cr i mes, even t hough t he ser vant of Davi d Har ar i
f i r st accused me when he sai d t hat he went on hi s mast er ' s or der f or
somet hi ng r el at ed t o t he sl ayi ng of Fat her Thomas and he f ound me
t her e. And t hat he f ound me t her e on t he f ol l owi ng mor ni ng, Thur sday,
i n hi s mast er ' s house. The f i r st t i me i n whi ch I was met wi t h your
Excel l ency was r el at ed t o t he sl ayi ng of Fat her Thomas. At t hat t i me I
t ol d t he t r ut h when I sai d t hat I had no knowl edge of t hi s mat t er , and
al l accusat i ons agai nst me wer e si mpl y f al se. I was not pr esent t hat
eveni ng at Mur ad Far hi ' s house, and I di d not go t o Davi d Har ar i ' s
house t he next mor ni ng. What ever ot her t hat t hi s whi ch has been sai d i s
f al se; t her e i s not a si ngl e wor d of t r ut h t o i t . Your Excel l ency al so
sai d t hat I was not abl e t o gi ve suf f i ci ent expl anat i ons r egar di ng t he
t i me spent bet ween Wednesday noon and Thur sday noon, t he t i me of Fat her
Thomas' di sappear ance, al t hough I have subst ant i at ed t hi s i n det ai l i n
my r epor t of Fr i day, Muhar r am3, 1256 H. Ther e i s no r eason t o r e- st at e
i t . As t o Your Excel l ency' s st at ement t hat Maqsoud' s t est i mony i n non-
val i d, I r epl y t hat t hi s mat t er i s not my concer n because my super i or s,
who wi l l quest i on me wi l l know ver y wel l t he val ue of t hi s t est i mony.
Your Excel l ency has sai d t hat I r ef er al l t he quest i ons t o my super i or s
whi ch ar e addr essed t o me i n spi t e t he f act t hat t he f i nal j udgment i s
wi t h t hem, i n spi t e of t hei r absence. They wi l l r el y on t hei r own
j udgment of t he or al r epor t and t he r epor t s by t hei r agent s who ar e
pr esent . Thei r cour t has t he f i nal wor d and cust ody over me" .

The Gover nor Gener al r esponded t o t hese st at ement s as f ol l ows: " Your
answer s t o my pr evi ous quest i ons, especi al l y t hose concer ni ng t he
sl ayi ng of Fat her Thomas, and your r esponse on Fr i day t he t hi r d of
Muhar r ami n whi ch you st at e t hat t he accusat i on agai nst you ar e not
suf f i ci ent evi dence. You have al so made obser vat i ons and obj ect i ons t o
t he i nvest i gat i on whi ch I conduct ed on Sunday, Muhar r am19, 1256 H. The
obser vat i ons and obj ect i ons ar e at t ached t o t he or al r epor t . Ther e i s
suf f i ci ent evi dence t o convi ct you of t he cr i me. I have cal l ed you t o
pr ovi de answer s t o some of my obser vat i ons so t hat you may hear some of
t he excuses and evi dence whi ch you cl ai mar e pr oof t hat you ar e not
gui l t y. Af t er you have seen my r epor t , I shal l send i t t o your
super i or s i mmedi at el y. You have r ef used t o pr ovi de answer s t o t hese
obser vat i ons, and have gi ven answer s whi ch you know t o be unr el at ed
answer s, t hat have no bear i ng on t he case. I see i t as my dut y t o
at t empt t o make you under st and t he ser i ousness of t he evi dence agai nst
you. "
At t hi s poi nt t he Gover nor Gener al handed Pi cci ot t o t he Repor t of t he
I nvest i gat i on, whi ch had been conduct ed at t he scene of t he cr i me, so
t hat he coul d r ead i t f or hi msel f . Pi cci ot t o' s r esponse was:
"
Your
Excel l ency says t hat t he pr oof s ar e suf f i ci ent . I t i s not my
pr er ogat i ve, but i t i s t he pr er ogat i ve of my super i or s, t o j udge
whet her t hey ar e suf f i ci ent or not . As f ar as t he t est i moni es gi ven by
Asl an Far hi , and t hat of t he ser vant Mur ad Al - Fat t al , t hey ar e al l l i es
and per j ur y. I t hi nk t hat t hei r t est i mony do not appl y t o Aust r i an
subj ect s. He who has t he aut hor i t y has t he wi l l t oo. "
1


Fr i day, Muhar r am24, 1256 H.

The quest i oni ng of Meyer Far hi who was not ar r est ed unt i l t he eveni ng
of Fr i day, Muhar r am24, 1256 H f ol l owed t he cr oss exami nat i on of
Pi cci ot t o.
The Gover nor Gener al : " Tel l us, cl ear l y, what happened i n your house t o
t he ser vant of Fat her Thomas, I br ahi mAmar ah. Thi s quest i on i s bei ng
addr essed t o you because i t has been est abl i shed by t he t est i moni es of
Asl an Far hi and Mur ad Al - Fat t al who wer e wi t h you; t hei r t est i moni es
wer e i dent i cal . Now t el l us t he t r ut h so t hat you may save your sel f t he
pr ospect of a beat i ng. "
Meyer Far hi answer ed, " I have no knowl edge of t hi s mat t er at al l . Al l I
know i s t hat on Fr i day, I bought a bundl e of pear l s f r omFr anci s
Far oun. He t ol d me about t he di sappear ance of Fat her Thomas and hi s
ser vant . That i s al l I know about t he case. "
The Gover nor Gener al r esponded, " What woul d be your answer i f we wer e
t o br i ng Asl an Far hi and Mur ad Al - Fat t al , t he Har ar i ' s ser vant , and
t hey t est i f y i n your pr esence agai nst you?" He answer ed by r epl yi ng, " I
woul d say t hat t hey ar e cr azy and have l ost t he
1
The upr oar of t hi s cr i me spr ead al l over Damascus t o t he poi nt t hat Davi d
Har ar i bl amed Geor ge Anj our i f or pi nni ng t he accusat i on on t he J ews by t he
Chr i st i ans, as i t was st at ed i n t he I nvest i gat i on Repor t on Fat her Thomas.

f acul t y of sound mi nd r equi r ed f or t hi nki ng. "
Then Mur ad Al - Fat t al was br ought i n and was i nf or med of Meyer Far hi ' s
deni al . The Gover nor Gener al t ol d hi m, " Meyer Far hi says t hat you ar e
cr azy and a l i ar . What i s your r epl y t o hi m?"
Mur ad Al - Fat t al r epl i ed, " I f t he event s had not occur r ed as I have
expl ai ned, I woul d have changed my t est i mony dur i ng t he f or t y days I
spent i n j ai l . The one who i s cr azy i s t he one who changes hi s
t est i mony f r equent l y. Thi s i s pr oof t hat I amnot cr azy. "
Mur ad Al - Fat t al t hen began by r e- r el at i ng t he det ai l s of t he cr i me as
t hey have devel oped, i n f r ont of Meyer Far hi , unt i l he r eached t he
poi nt when he sai d, " My mast er sent me t o t he homes of Mur ad Far hi ,
Aar on I sl amboul i , and t o your home. When I ar r i ved at your house I saw
you wi t h Asl an Far hi . He was r ecl i ned agai nst t he r i ght post and you
wer e agai nst t he l ef t post . " At t hi s poi nt Meyer Far hi i nt er r upt ed hi m
by sayi ng, " Wher e? On t he door ?
"
Mur ad Al - Fat t al r epl i ed, " Yes si r . "
Meyer Far hi r eal i zed t hat hi s quest i on i ndi cat es t hat Mur ad Al - Fat t al
was t el l i ng t he t r ut h. Mur ad Al - Fat t al cont i nued hi s det ai l ed
descr i pt i on of t he cr i me as i t had happened. When he r eached t he
subj ect of t he bl ood he sai d t hat he pi cked up a vessel cal l ed Bousah
i n Hebr ew. Af t er war d t he bl ood was t r ansf er r ed t o a bot t l e. Meyer Far hi
i nt er r upt ed hi mby obj ect i ng, " Per haps you ar e one of t hose
knowl edgeabl e of t he secr et s of t he r el i gi on. I f you know al l of t hese
mat t er s, t hen per haps not hi ng i s hi dden f r omyou. "
The Gover nor Gener al t hen asked Meyer Far hi , " Who ot her t han you woul d
be ent r ust ed t hese ki nds of r el i gi ous secr et s?" He answer ed, " Thi s man
i s not of t he cl ass t o whomsuch secr et s ar e t r ust ed. He woul d not know
about t he mur der of Fat her Thomas and hi s ser vant . "
Af t er t hi s Asl an Far hi was br ought i n and he gave hi s t est i mony i n t he
pr esence of Meyer Far hi who r eact ed t husl y, " The J udgment and t he
Di vi ne Decr ee ar e i n t he hands of t hose wi t h Absol ut e Power . As f or
mysel f , I do not know anyt hi ng about t hese mat t er s. "
The Gover nor Gener al sai d, " I see t hat you have no r espect f or t he
st at ement s of t he ser vant Mur ad Al - Fat t al . You t ake t hemver y l i ght l y.
I f you do not val ue hi s st at ement s t hen r espond t o t he t est i mony of
Asl an Far hi , whose st at ement was i dent i cal t o t hat of Mur ad Al - Fat t al ,
whi ch you have j ust hear d. " He r esponded, " I have no knowl edge of al l
t hi s, and I amcompl et el y i gnor ant of i t . " The Gover nor Gener al r epl i ed
by sayi ng, " Let us assume t hat you di d not mur der Fat her Thomas'
ser vant , and t hat you do not know anyt hi ng about t he cr i me. Now, t el l
us wher e you wer e at t he t i me of sunset on Wednesday, and Fr i day. " He
r epl i ed, " Those ar e Pr ayer Ti mes. I was i n t he Synagogue.
"

The Gover nor Gener al t hen asked, " Who was/ wer e near by you i n t he
Synagogue?" To t hi s he r esponded, " I do not r emember . "
The Gover nor Gener al per si st ed i n hi s quest i oni ng, whi l e al l t he t i me
Meyer Far hi r ef used t o answer . Fi nal l y he sai d.
"
I f you ment i oned a
per son as bei ng pr esent and t hat per son says t hat he was not pr esent ,
what woul d be t he r esul t ?" The Gover nor Gener al ' s r epl y t o t hat was,
" Let us suppose, f or t he moment , t hat what Asl an Far hi and Mur ad Al -
Fat t al have sai d ar e f al se, and t hat t hey have per j ur ed t hemsel ves; and
al l of our i nvest i gat i on i s based on f al se st at ement s whi l e you al one
ar e t el l i ng t he t r ut h. The l east you can do i s t o t el l us wher e you
wer e at t hat hour , and who you wer e wi t h. I s t hat t oo much t o ask of
you?"
However , Meyer Far hi st i l l cl ung f i r ml y t o hi s f i r st answer s. The
Gover nor Gener al r esumed by st at i ng. " I f I wer e i n your pl ace, I woul d
cer t ai nl y r emember ed t he per son who wer e pr ayi ng wi t h me on Fr i day,
even i f t wo or t hr ee weeks had passed. Even i f i t had not cr ossed my
mi nd at t he t i me t hat I woul d be asked about i t l at er as you ar e. How
i s i t t hat you do not t r y t o r emember who was wi t h you. , i n or der t o
cl ear your sel f of t he accusat i ons whi ch cast doubt s and suspi ci ons
r egar di ng your i nvol vement i n t hi s cr i me. Wer e you not awar e t hat you
woul d be asked about t he cr i me? I f what you say i s t r ue, undoubt edl y
you woul d have r emember ed t hose per sons. Si nce you do not , t her ef or e
t he accusat i on agai nst you wi l l be consi der ed as t r ue. "
Meyer Far hi answer ed, " I have sai d t hat I do not r emember even t hough
Rof ael Douk and Moussa Abou Al - Af i eh saw me at t he Synagogue. "

The r esponse by t he Gover nor Gener al t o t hi s was, " I f I now cal l t hese
t wo men and asked t hem, and i f t hey do not agr ee wi t h t hat you have
sai d, and i f t hey decl ar e f r ankl y t i l t t hey di d not go on t hat day t o
t he Synagogue, how wi l l you r espond t o t hat ?" Meyer Far hi sai d,
" Pr obabl y t hey have f or got t en, or t hey di d not pay at t ent i on r egar di ng
my pr esence. "

The Gover nor Gener al cont i nued, " On what si de of t he Synagogue wer e you
at t hat t i me? Wer e you on t he east , west , nor t h or sout h si de of t he
Synagogue?" He r esponded, " I do not r emember wher e I was. "
The I nvest i gat or t hen cal l ed Rof ael Douk and asked hi m, " I s i t your
habi t t o at t end t he Synagogue ever y eveni ng?" Rof ael Douk answer ed, " I
depends on my wor k. I f I aml at e i n l eavi ng my pl ace of wor k I do not
go. Al so, I do not go i f i t i s necessar y f or me t o go t o my shop ear l y
whi ch happens t o me t wo or t hr ee t i mes i n a week.
"
The Gover nor Gener al
asked, " Wer e you at t he Synagogue t he eveni ng of t he di sappear ance of
Fat her Thomas?" He r epl i ed,
"
Due t o a deat h i n t he f ami l y J oseph Li f yado
di d not l eave hi s house t hat day. So I went t o hi s home t hat eveni ng t o
consol e hi mf or t he deat h of hi s daught er . Due t o t he deat h I r emember
t he sunset cal l t o pr ayer as I was i n t he West er n Quar t er s at t hat
t i me. When I ar r i ved at J oseph' s house I f ound Met t a Ki br eet and
anot her per son f r omRashayya wi t h hi m. We sai d our pr ayer s i n hi s home,
under t he bal cony. I st ayed wi t h hi munt i l about t he t i me f or t he I sha
cal l t o pr ayer I t hen r et ur ned t o my house, dr ank cof f ee, smoked
Navgi l eh, and st ayed home i n or der t o r est . "
Af t er t hi s, t he I nvest i gat or cal l ed Rabbi Moussa Abou Al - Af i eh who had
conver t ed t o I sl amand had t aken t he Musl i mname of Mohammad Af andi Al -
Musl i mani f or hi msel f . The I nvest i gat or asked hi m, " Was i t your habi t
t o go t o t he Synagogue ever y eveni ng bef or e you become a Musl i mor di d
you pr ay at home?"
Moussa Abou Al - Af i eh r epl i ed, " Usual l y I pr ayed at t he Synagogue whi ch
i s as t he I f r ange ( Fr ench) Synagogue. Somet i mes I pr ay at home or at
t he I nn. "
The Gover nor Gener al t hen st at ed, " I t had been sai d of you t hat you
wer e at t he Synagogue on t he day Fat her Thomas di sappear ed.
"
He
r esponded, " I was not at t he Synagogue t hat eveni ng. However , I was at
t he house of Davi d Har ar i .
"
He r epl i ed, " Sunset , or a quar t er of an hour
af t er t he sunset cal l t o pr ayer . "
Meyer Far hi was t hen br ought i n and asked how he woul d r epl y t o t he
st at ement s of t hese wi t nesses. He answer ed, " I do not r emember t he
per sons who wer e at t he Synagogue.
"
The Gover nor Gener al r esponded by
aski ng, " How i s i t t hen t hat you have sai d t hat t hese t wo men wer e at
t he Synagogue when t hey bot h t est i f i ed t hat t hey di d not go t o t he
Synagogue, nor di d t hey see you t her e?" Far hi answer ed, " I t hought t hey
went and t hat t hey saw me. That i s why I ment i oned t hem. Per haps t hey
di d not go. What shoul d I say. " The Gover nor r epl i ed, " You cl ai mt hat
you ar e i gnor ant about t hi s case, and t hat you wer e not at home when i t
happened; now t el l us wher e you wer e?"
Meyer Far hi answer ed, " I do not r emember . I amunabl e t o r emember f r om
one day t o t he next . "
Meyer Far hi was det ai ned f or i nvest i gat i on. And on t he f ol l owi ng day,
whi ch was Monday, Muhar r am27, 1256 H. , t he Gover nor Gener al cal l ed hi m
and r equest ed hi s answer as t o hi s wher eabout s on t he eveni ng of Fat her
Thomas' ser vant di sappear ance. He cont i nued t o i nsi st on hi s st and
whi l e denyi ng al l knowl edge of t he cr i me. Yet he was unabl e t o say
wher e he was at t he t i me of t he cr i me. At t hi s poi nt i n t he hear i ng of
t hose who wer e denyi ng and t hose who had conf essed, t he Gover nor
Gener al , Shar i f Pasha f ound i t suf f i ci ent f or hi mt o i ssue a memor andum
f or t he i ndi ct ment of I saac Pi cci ot t o. The i nvest i gat i on pr oceeded by
cal l i ng ot her s i n t he case.

The I nvest i gat i on Recor d of t he 28t h of Muhar r am, 1256 H. ( f r om
Wednesday t o t he ni ght of Thur sday) .

The I nvest i gat or st ar t ed by aski ng Davi d Har ar i ,
Q. Wher e wer e t he Pr i est ' s wat ch and keys kept ?
A. I saw Moussa Sal ayankl i t aki ng t he wat ch, but I do not know
anyt hi ng about t he keys.

The I nvest i gat or asked t he Bar ber , Sol i man Sal oomt he same quest i on,
and hi s answer was, " Those who st r i pped t he Pr i est of hi s cl ot hes wer e
Davi d Har ar i and hi s br ot her s; ; t he r est wer e st andi ng by. For mysel f ,
I di d not come near unt i l he was undr essed. "

The I nvest i gat or addr essed Davi d Har ar i as f ol l ows, " You and your
br ot her s st r i pped t he Pr i est of hi s cl ot hi ng accor di ng t o t he
conf essi on of t he Bar ber , Sol i man Sal oom. Ther ef or e, hi s wat ch and keys
must be wi t h you. "

Davi d Har ar i r esponded, " The seven men wer e st andi ng by al so. The wat ch
i s wi t h t he Sal ani ki . "

The I nvest i gat i on Commi t t ee cal l ed Moussa Sal ani ki t o i nqui r e of hi m,
i n t he pr esence of Davi d Har ar i , r egar di ng t he wat ch. Davi d Har ar i
addr essed Moussa by sayi ng, " I saw t he wat ch wi t h hi m( poi nt i ng t owar d
Moussa) . "
The I nvest i gat or asked Moussa, " Do you have t he wat ch?"
Moussa Sal ani ki answer ed: I di dn' t see anyt hi ng, and I di dn' t t ake
anyt hi ng, I have not ent er ed Har ar i ' s house si nce t he f east , I wasn' t
wi t h t hemand I have no i dea about what t hey wer e sayi ng.
Davi d Har ar i sai d t o hi m: Ar en' t you who t ook t he wat ch and bl ood?
Ar en' t you who gave t he bl ood t o Moussa abou- Al - Af i a, and t he wat ch
r emai ned wi t h you?
Moussa answer ed: I di d not see anyt hi ng, and I don' t know anyt hi ng. . .
Then i t was sai d t o hi m: Mast er Moussa, t her e i s a col l ect i on of
conf essi ons agai nst you, and you ar e one of t hose who t ook par t i n t hi s
oper at i on, t hey gave evi dence agai nst you, and you ar e st i l l i nsi st i ng
on deni al . J ust br i ng us t wo wi t nesses onl y t o t el l us wher e you have
been when t he i nci dent happened.
Moussa answer ed: I was at home, and my f ami l y t est i f i es t o my
wher eabout s; and I have got no ot her wi t nesses.
The i nvest i gat or sai d: Thi s i s not enough. Moussa answer ed: I
haven' t got any one el se.
Then t he i nvest i gat or di r ect ed hi s quest i on t o Davi d Har ar i : Di d you
gi ve hi mt he wat ch, or he t ook i t by hi msel f ? Davi d answer ed: When
Fat her Thomas was undr essed, Moussa st epped f or war d and t ook t he wat ch.
But I di d not see t he keys wi t h hi m, and may be t hey mi ght have been i n
hi s hands, but I di dn' t see t hem. The i nvest i gat or asked: You have
ment i oned t hat t he ot her seven wer e st andi ng dur i ng t he t i me when t he
Pr i est ' s cl ot hi ng wer e bei ng r emoved. Di d onl y you al one see your
br ot her s when t hey per f or med t he wor k, or di d t he ot her s gi ve you a
hel pi ng hand i n t he r emoval of hi s cl ot hes?

Davi d answer ed, " We wer e al l , t he seven of us, wor ki ng t oget her i n t he
r emoval of hi s cl ot hes. We t ook t ur ns, some of us st ood by whi l e t he
ot her s di d t he wor k, and so f or t h. "

The I nvest i gat i on Repor t of Thur sday, t he 29t h
of Muhar r am, 1256 H.

I saac Har ar i and hi s br ot her Davi d wer e br ought f or quest i oni ng. I saac
was asked about t he wat ch and wher e i t was bei ng kept . He r esponded,
" I t was wi t h Moussa Sal ani ki . "
The I nvest i gat or sai d, " How was i t bei ng kept wi t h Moussa Sal ani ki ?"
He answer ed, " He r eached wi t h hi s hand f or t he wat ch and t ook i t . "
The I nvest i gat or t hen asked, " At what t i me di d he t ake t he wat ch?"
I saac answer ed, " Af t er we compl et ed r emovi ng t he Pr i est ' s cl ot hes. "

Moussa Sal ani ki was r ecal l ed and asked about t he wat ch. He i nsi st ed on
hi s pr evi ous posi t i on of deni al sayi ng, " I di d not see i t . " He was t hen
t ol d t hat " Thi s i s Davi d Har ar i , and hi s br ot her I saac Har ar i . They
have bot h t est i f i ed t hat you ar e t he one who t ook t he wat ch. "
Moussa r epl i ed, " They ar e l yi ng. " The I nvest i gat or sai d, " They swear by
t hei r own r el i gi on t hat you t ook i t . "

VI
THE MEMORANDUM OF ACCUSATION AGAINST
ISAAC PICCIOTTO*

The i nvest i gat i on of I saac Pi cci ot t o r eveal ed hi s act ual i nvol vement i n
t he sl ayi ng of t he ser vant of Pr i est Thomas Al - Capuci , whi ch t ook pl ace
i n t he house of Yehya Meyer Far hi . Seven ot her J ews wer e al so convi ct ed
i n t he r ecor ds of t he i nvest i gat i on.
First. The i nvest i gat i on of t he sl ayi ng of t he Pr i est Thomas Al -
Capuci and hi s ser vant I br ahi mAmar ah st ar t ed wi t h t he exami nat i on of
t he publ i c auct i on not i ces of t he Al - Haki mTr anoba est at e. These wer e
t he paper whi ch Pr i est Thomas t ook wi t h hi maf t er l eavi ng hi s chur ch,
t o mount t hemon cer t ai n pl aces desi gnat ed f or t hi s pur pose. Thi s was
i n accor dance wi t h what was r ecor ded i n t he i nvest i gat i ons mi nut es of
Zul - Hi j j ah 4, 1255 H. I t had been r eveal ed bef or e t hat t he Bar ber shop
keeper , Sol i man Sal oom, mount ed t he auct i on not i ce, he was ar r est ed and
t aken t o t he Gover nment Headquar t er s f or quest i oni ng. I mmedi at el y,
af t er t he Bar ber ' s ar r est , Khawaj a I saac Pi cci ot t o f r equent l y vi si t ed
t he Gover nment Headquar t er s. He had no l ogi cal or of f i ci al busi ness
whi ch
* Thi s memor andumwas f ounded i n Mansoor t i an' s paper s. He was mar r i ed t o a
r el at i ve of Hanna Al - Bahr i Conf i dent t o I br ahi mPasha dur i ng I br ahi m' s
expedi t i on t o Syr i a. Hanna Al - Bahr i had a maj or pol i cy- maki ng r ol e i n most of
Mohammad Al i Pasha schemes f or t hi s expedi t i on. Thi s memor andumwas or i gi nal l y
addr essed t o t he Aust r i an Consul i n Damascus.

r equi r ed hi s pr esence. These f r equent vi si t s i nevi t abl y dr ew t he
at t ent i on of ever yone, i ncl udi ng t he Gover nor . When t he i nvest i gat i on
pr ocedur e st ar t ed wi t h t he quest i oni ng of Sol i man, t he Bar ber , i n t he
f i r st sessi on, ( Zul - Hi j j ah 18, 1255 H) he conf essed by gi vi ng t he names
of t he seven men. He al so conf essed t hat I saac Pi cci ot t o cont act ed hi m
and asked hi m, " Di d you conf ess anyt hi ng?" When he answer ed, " No! " ,
I saac sai d, " That i s what I expect ed f r omyou, " and l ef t . Then Sol i man,
t he Bar ber , sai d, " Had I known t hat he di d not i nt end t o i nt er vene on
my behal f , as he sai d t hat he woul d, I woul d have conf essed ear l i er
bef or e I r ecei ved my beat i ng. "
Second. The i nvest i gat i on mi nut es f r omt he quest i oni ng of Mur ad Al -
Fat t al , Davi d Har ar i ' s ser vant , on Zul - Hi j j ah 26, 1255 H. i ncl uded t he
f ol l owi ng: " On t he mor ni ng of Thur sday, t he f i r st day af t er t he sl ayi ng
of t he Pr i est Thomas, f i ve men i ncl uded t he f ol l owi ng: Aar on
I sl amboul i , I saac Pi cci ot t o, Mur ad Far hi , Asl an Far hi , and Yehya Meyer
came t oget her i n Davi d Har ar i ' s house. The house wher e t he Pr i est
Thomas had been sl ai n. These f i ve ar e f r omt he gr oup of seven who wer e
f i r ml y convi ct ed of sl ayi ng t he Pr i est ' s ser vant . I saac Pi cci ot t o' s
pr esence i n t he house of Davi d Har ar i was est abl i shed. He was a member
of t he gr oup.
Third. I t was st at ed i n t he above r epor t t hat Mur ad Al - Fat t al ' s
t est i mony gave det ai l s of t he event whi ch t ook pl ace when hi s mast er
sent hi mwi t h wor ds of war ni ng t o Mur a Far hi and Aar on I sl amboul i
r equest i ng t hemt o t ake t he necessar y st eps i f t he Pr i est ' s ser vant
comes l ooki ng f or hi s mast er . Thi s was so t hat no one woul d be abl e t o
di scover t he secr et of t he Pr i est ' s mur der . When Mur ad Al - Fat t al went
t o Mur ad Far hi ' s house, he f ound I saac Pi cci ot t o t her e wi t h hi m. He
del i ver ed t he war ni ng whi l e I saac Pi cci ot t o was wi t hi n hear i ng
di st ance.
Fourth. I n t he above ment i oned r epor t , t he t est i mony of Mur ad Al -
Fat t al st at es t hat t he f i ve men, whose names ar e l i st ed above, wer e i n
hi s mast er ' s house on Thur sday, and t hat I saac Pi cci ot t o was wi t h t hem.
They wer e t al ki ng whi l e st andi ng i n f r ont of Meyer Far hi ' s house when
t he Pr i est ' s ser vant passed by i n sear ch of hi s mast er . They sai d t o
hi m, " Ent er , your mast er i s i nsi de gi vi ng smal l pox vacci nat i ons t o t he
chi l dr en. " When he ent er ed t hey t ook hi n, and sl ew hi mi n t he same
manner i n whi ch t hey had sl ai n t he Pr i est . Hi s body was di sposed of i n
t he same manner as wel l .
Fifth. The same r epor t det ai l s Mur ad Al - Fat t al ' s answer s t o Khawaj a
Beauden. He i nsi st ed t hat Pi cci ot t o was wi t h Mur ad Far hi , t hat
Pi cci ot t o wal ked si de by si de wi t h Mur ad, and he ( Al - Fat t al ) t ol d bot h
of t hemr egar di ng t he case of t he Pr i est ' s ser vant .
Sixth. The mi nut es of t he i nvest i gat i on on Fr i day, Muhar r am3, 1256
H. i ncl uded t he f ol l owi ng: Khawaj a I saac Pi cci ot t o was summoned t o t he
Gover nor Gener al ' s Of f i ce f or quest i oni ng. When he r ef used t o conf ess
he was chal l enged by t he ser vant Mur ad Al - Fat t al , and he ar gued wi t h
hi mr egar di ng al l t he occasi ons t hat he hi msel f had wi t nessed r egar di ng
Pi cci ot t o' s case. Pi cci ot t o deni ed al l accusat i ons. Then Al - Fat t al was
war ned at t he f act t hat " I t i s not our pur pose t o t hr ow wi l d
accusat i ons her e and t her e, but t o t el l t he t r ut h. " The ser vant st i l l
i nsi st ed on t he t r ut h of hi s t est i mony.
Seventh. The cont ent s of t he above r epor t , on t he same day, i nvol ved
t he quest i oni ng of Al - Fat t al as t o t he pl ace of t he di sposed r emai ns of
t he ser vant ' s body. The ser vant Mur ad Al - Fat t al i dent i f i ed t he pl ace,
and t hen he sai d, How coul d Mr . Pi cci ot t o deny, and t r y t o cl ear
hi msel f when he hi msel f was at t he eveni ng par t y on t he eveni ng of
Thur sday, onl y one day bef or e t he ar r est of t he Pr i est ' s mur der er s i n
Davi d Har ar i ' s house. He sent f or hi s uncl e Rabbi J acob Abou Al - Af i eh,
who was l at er di scover ed t o be a member of t he gr oup of seven, who
par t i ci pat ed t oget her i n t he sl ayi ng of t he Pr i est Thomas. On t he
eveni ng of t he par t y he t ol d t hemt hat , " The Bar ber has conf essed t oday
and he has ment i oned your names. I t hi nk t hat you ar e goi ng t o be
ar r est ed t omor r ow. " I saac Pi cci ot t o knew t hi s because of hi s f r equent
vi si t s t o Gover nment Headquar t er s, as has been st at ed ear l i er . At t hat
poi nt of t he ser vant of Mur ad Far hi came and asked Pi cci ot t o t o come by
hi s mast er ' s house af t er t he sl ayi ng when he woul d l eave f or hi s house.
He st ood up and headed t owar ds Davi d' s house. I t was about f i ve o' cl ock
i n t he eveni ng. The gr oup r equest ed hi mt o i nf or mt hemof t he r eason
behi nd Mur ad' s cal l and t o send hi s ser vant i n or der t o di spel t hei r
concer ns. Pi cci ot t o l at er on sent hi s ser vant back wi t h wor ds t hat
t her e was not hi ng t o wor r y about . On t he next day, Fr i day, Aar on Har ar i
went t o I saac Pi cci ot t o' s house and hi d f or t wo or t hr ee days. Thi s
caused hi s br ot her t o t hi nk t hat he had been ar r est ed. When Aar on came
back home, t hey asked hi mabout wher e he had been hi di ng. He t ol d t hem
t hat he was i n I saac Pi cci ot t o' s house. Whi l e t hey wer e t al ki ng about
t hi s t hey wer e ar r est ed, as has been st at ed i n t oday' s r epor t .
Eighth. The I nvest i gat i on Repor t of Muhar r am8, 1256 H. Mur ad Al -
Fat t al was quest i oned r egar di ng hi s mi ssi on t o war n t he gr oup t o ent i ce
t he Pr i est ' s ser vant i nt o t he house and sl ay hi m. Hi s t est i mony was
mat ched i n al l det ai l s i ncl udi ng t he st at ement t hat I saac Pi cci ot t o was
wi t h Mur ad Far hi when he del i ver ed t he war ni ng.
Ninth. The, I nvest i gat i on Repor t of Muhar r am9, 1256 H. st at ed t hat
t he ser vant of Mur ad Far hi ( I saac Al - Bul l as) was br ought f or
quest i oni ng, and he t est i f i ed t hat he came i n r esponse t o or der s f r om
hi s mast er ( Mur ad Far hi ) t o r equest I saac Pi cci ot t o t o come t o Davi d
Har ar i ' s house. Thi s t ook pl ace about f our o' cl ock or l i t t l e shor t l y
af t er . I saac Pi cci ot t o went t o t he house di r ect l y af t er t hi s message.
Tenth. On t he same day, t he r epor t st at es t hat t he ser vant of I saac
Pi cci ot t o, Yehya Bi zi t i , was br ought t o t he i nvest i gat i on and he
conf essed t hat hi s mast er , I saac Pi cci ot t o, went t o Mur ad Far hi ' s house
at f our o' cl ock, i n t he eveni ng, or shor t l y af t er , and t hat Pi cci ot t o
sent hi mback t o Davi d Har ar i ' s house t o di spel t he gr oup' s concer ns
r egar di ng t he event s whi ch had t aken pl ace.
Eleventh. Accor di ng t o t he Repor t of Muhar r am13, 1256 H. t he Bar ber
Sol i man was quest i oned as t o what he knew about t he case of t he
Pr i est ' s ser vant . He t est i f i ed t hat I saac Pi cci ot t o par t i ci pat ed i n t he
sl ayi ng of t he ser vant I br ahi mAmar ah. That he had knowl edge f r omt he
Har ar i ' s ser vant who was i nvol ved i n t he pr ocess of get t i ng r i d of t he
Pr i est ' s body ( t he ser vant had t aken par t i n t he sl ayi ng of t he
Pr i est ' s ser vant al so) . When t he conf essi on was compl et ed, t he
t est i moni es of bot h men wer e exact l y t he same i n spi t e of t he f act t hat
t hey wer e separ at ed f r omone anot her i n t hei r det ent i on pl aces dur i ng
t hei r i nt er nment .
Twelfth. I n t he r epor t of t he same dat e i t became cl ear t hr ough t he
conf essi on of t he Bar ber and t he ser vant of t he Har ar i ' s house t hat
t hey bot h knew about t he cr i me due t o t hei r par t i ci pat i on i n t he
cr i mes. The Har ar i s' ser vant was quest i oned and he conf essed t o hi s
act i ons. He al so conf essed t hat he at t ended t he sl ayi ng of t he Pr i est ' s
ser vant by assi st i ng i n hol di ng hi mdown at t he t i me of t he sl ayi ng. He
st at ed t hat Meyer Far hi and Mur ad Far hi sl ew t he ser vant wi t h t hei r own
hands. Al so he named t hose who wer e pr esent , i ncl udi ng I saac Pi cci ot t o,
who, he sai d hel d down one of t he ser vant ' s f eet dur i ng t he sl ayi ng.
Among t hose pr esent wer e Asl an, t he son of Rof ael , who hel d t he ot her
f oot as pr evi ousl y st at ed i n t he I nvest i gat i on Repor t of Muhar r am13,
1256 H. He f ur t her st at ed t hat t he sl ayi ng t ook pl ace bef or e I sha i n
Meyer Far hi ' s house.
Thirteenth. The I nvest i gat i on Repor t of Muhar r am14, 1256 H. I n t hi s
r epor t i t i s st at ed t hat Asl an, t he son of Rof ael Far hi , r equest ed f r om
Hi s Excel l ency, t he Gover nor Gener al , t o gi ve hi mi mmuni t y f r om
per secut i on and t o gr ant hi ma par don, so he coul d conf ess al l wi t hout
f ear . When he r ecei ved i mmuni t y f r omt he Gover nor Gener al he conf essed
t o hi s own par t , nami ng t hose who had t aken par t wi t h hi mi n t he
sl ayi ng of t he Pr i est ' s ser vant . He wr ot e by hi s r epor t i n hi s own
hand. I t mat ched exact l y i n al l det ai l s t he t est i mony gi ven by Mur ad
Al - Fat t al . He st at ed t hat I saac Pi cci ot t o hel d one of t he vi ct i m' s
f eet , and he hel d t he ot her . He expl ai ned t he sl ayi ng of t he vi ct i mi n
det ai l s conf i r mi ng t hat t he sl ayi ng was compl et ed bet ween t he sunset
cal l t o pr ayer and t he I sha cal l t o pr ayer , at Mual l i mRof ael ' s house,
a not abl e i n t he J ewi sh Communi t y. Al l of Pi cci ot t o' s answer s conf i r med
hi s at t empt t o escape f r omt he f act s t hat i mpl i cat ed hi mand
const i t ut ed pr oof of hi s gui l t .
Fourteenth. The Consul of Aust r i a t o Damascus, Mr . Mer l at o, had gi ven
t he I nvest i gat i on Commi t t ee wr i t t en aut hor i zat i on t o conduct i t s
i nvest i gat i on at t he t i me when t he Commi t t ee of Doct or s met t o exami ne
t he r ecover ed r emai ns of Pr i est Thomas f r omt he Bl ack ( Sal t y) Ri ver .
These had been di sposed of about t wo days ear l i er as det ai l ed i n
pr evi ous conf essi ons and t est i moni es. The Consul was i n compl et e
agr eement over what he saw and hear d, af t er seei ng t he Commi t t ee of
Doct or s' Repor t especi al l y when i t became cl ear t o hi mt he pi eces of
cl ot hi ng wer e par t s of t he r obe wor n by t he sl ai n Pr i est . These
f r agment s wer e exact mat ches of t he ki nd of mat er i al t he mi ssi ng Pr i est
was wear i ng. The Consul al so par t i ci pat ed i n t he cer emoni al bur yi ng of
t he r ecover ed bones of Fat her Thomas i n t he Chur ch. He gave wr i t t en
aut hor i zat i on t o t he Gover nor Gener al i ncl udi ng t hei r agr eement f or
i nvest i gat i ng any suspect ed per son who wer e subj ect s of Aust r i a or t he
Toscana. They wer e aut hor i zed t o ar r est and det ai n t hose suspect ed
subj ect s f or quest i oni ng i f r equi r ed t o do so. I n addi t i on, t he Consul ,
Mr . Mer l at o, and hi s r epr esent at i ve Mr . J oseph Zanani r i , conveyed
t hanks t o Hi s Excel l ency t he Gover nor Gener al f or Hi s concer n and
i nt er est i n t hi s mat t er . The Consul was i nf or med r egar di ng t he
possi bi l i t y of f i ndi ng t he bl ood i n I saac Pi cci ot t o' s house.
On t he basi s of t hi s and wi t h t he wr i t t en aut hor i zat i on i n hand, I saac
Pi cci ot t o was summoned f or hi s quest i oni ng r egar di ng t he mur der of t he
Pr i est ' s ser vant . The i nvest i gat i on est abl i shed t hat Pi cci ot t o was one
of t hose i nvol ved i n t he mur der , and an ar r est or der was i ssued t o
det ai n hi mf or i nvest i gat i on.
However , Hi s Excel l ency, t he Gover nor Gener al r ecei ved not i f i cat i on
t hat Mr . Pi cci ot t o was bei ng det ai ned i n t he Consul ' s house. Thi s was
nei t her pr oper nor l egal det ent i on because t her e wer e a l ar ge number of
J ews vi si t i ng t he Counsul ' s house, and i t i s not known whet her t hi s was
t o meet wi t h Mr . Pi cci ot t o or wi t h Assi st ant t o t he Consul , who was a
J ew hi msel f , t hus pr event i ng t he Commi t t ee f r ombei ng abl e t o ver i f y
whet her t hey woul d be abl e t o conduct t hei r i nqui r y wi t hout t hi s
i nt er r upt i on. I t was f ear ed t hat t he J ewi sh communi t y was t r yi ng t o
br i ng about t he Consul ' s i nt er vent i on t o di smi ss t he accusat i on of J ews
and decl ar e t hei r i nnocence, i n spi t e of t he cl ear f act of t hei r
i nvol vement .
The suppor t whi ch I saac Pi cci ot t o r ecei ved caused hi mt o behave i n a
ver y cr ude manner . He di smi ssed al l avai l abl e evi dence of hi s
compl i ci t y as bei ng l i es. On Fr i day he made i t known t hat he r ecei ved a
message f r omHi s Excel l ency t he Gener al suppor t i ng hi s st ance f or
di smi ssi ng t hi s case agai nst t he J ews. Hi s i nt er pr et er , J oseph Zanani r i
went t o t he J ewi sh Quar t er del i ver i ng t he good news of t hi s, and i t
become known t hat he col l ect ed money t o publ i sh and announce t he good
news. Then he r ecei ved a message f r omAl exandr i a car r yi ng a copy of t he
Gener ous and Nobl e Or der f r omHi s maj est y t he Gr eat Khedevi Mohamad Al i
Pasha i n r esponse t o t he pet i t i on pr esent ed by t he J ews of Al exandr i a.
When I saac Pi cci ot t o r ecei ved t he Khedevi ' s message he cal l ed a gr oup
of J ews t o t ake a copy of i t and pr esent i t t o t he Gover nor Gener al ,
Shar i f Pasha, so he woul d know t hat t he J ews of Damascus had l ear ned
t hat t hey had been absol ved f r omt he cr i mes whi ch i s t o say t hat t he
Khedevi di d not bel i eve t he t r ut h of t he accusat i ons agai nst t hem.
Because t he J ews of Damascus, however , wer e f ul l y awar e t hat i t was
i mpossi bl e t o r ef ut e, or chal l enge, t he est abl i shed and r ecor ded
f i ndi ngs of t he i nvest i gat i on, t hey r ef r ai ned f r omcar r yi ng t he copy of
t hat message t o t he Gover nor Gener al . But , a Rabbi vol unt eer ed t o
del i ver t he message i n r esponse t o t he " wi shes" of t he Aust r i an Consul ,
Mr . Mer l at o, af t er aski ng t he per mi ssi on of t he Engl i sh Consul , Mr .
Woody. Thi s Rabbi , t hen at t hat t i me, had wi t nessed per sonal l y t he
f r eedomenj oyed by t hose ar r est ed si nce t hei r f ami l i es, r el at i ves, and
even ser vant s wer e f r equent vi si t or s t o t he accused ones i n t hei r
det ent i on pl ace. Thi s i s what t he J ews want ed t o show f r omt hei r
movement , whi ch was desi gned t o show t hat t hey coul d achi eve t hei r
goal s over any obst acl es. Thus, i t i s not unusual t hat t hey hel d f ast
t o t hei r deni al s whi ch t hey had agr eed t o among t hemsel ves and t hus
i gnor ed t hei r conf essi ons and t est i mony even when t hese wer e i n t hei r
own handwr i t i ng because t hey knew t hat t hese deni al s wer e i n t hei r best
i nt er est s i n spi t e of t he gr eat cr i mes t o whi ch t hey had conf essed.
Accor di ng t o t hei r r el i gi on and whi ch t hey had acknowl edged t hese
cr i mes whi ch caused t hemt o be di ssent er s of t hei r own r el i gi on as had
been r eveal ed i n t hei r hol y books, whi ch f or bi ds t hemt o commi t mur der
i n accor dance wi t h t hei r own l aws.
We pr esent ed our obser vat i ons by our r el i ance on
[here the source breaks off]

VII
THE LAWFUL USE OF CHRISTIAN BLOOD AND WEALTH

Cont ent s of t he I nvest i gat i on Mi nut es of t he 13t h of Muhar r am1256 H.
The sessi on was hel d i n t he Of f i ce of t he Gover nor Gener al , Shar i f
Pasha. Those at t endi ng i ncl uded member s of t he I nvest i gat i on Commi t t ee,
Mr . Beadi n, t he Assi st ant t o t he Fr ench Consul , Khawaj a Chubl i Ayub, a
seni or of f i ci al of t he Egypt i an Gover nment , and Rabbi J acob, Chi ef
Rabbi of t he J ewi sh Communi t y i n Damascus.
The I nvest i gat or st ar t ed by aski ng, " What i s t he posi t i on of t he J ewi sh
Rel i gi on, accor di ng t o t he Tal mudi c Commandment s as t o t he st at us of
non- J ewi sh nat i ons?"
Rabbi Moussa Abou Al - Af i eh r epl i ed, " The st at us of non- J ewi sh nat i ons
i s consi der ed t o be t hat of ani mal s. Fol l owi ng t he exampl e of our
Mast er , Abr aham, t he Pr ophet of God, when he and t wo ser vant s went t o
sacr i f i ce I saac, Abr ahamsai d t o t hem, ' You st ay her e wi t h t he donkey.
I wi l l go wi t h t he l ad. ' Fr omt hi s, whi ch i s cont ai ned i n t he Tal mud,
i t i s i nt er pr et ed as cl assi f yi ng t he non- J ews as ani mal s. Thus, t he
st at us of non- J ewi sh nat i ons ar e t o be cl assi f i ed accor di ngl y. "
The I nvest i gat or asked Rabbi J acob, " And you, your honor Rabbi J acob,
what do you say on t hi s mat t er ?" Rabbi J acob answer ed, " Our Mast er ,
Fat her Abr ahamsaw God, he sai d t o hi s peopl e, ' Look! ' When t hey di d
not see anyt hi ng, he sai d t o t hem, ' st ay wi t h t he donkey. ' Thi s i s
i nt er pr et ed i n t he Tal mud as cl assi f yi ng t he non- J ews as ani mal s. "
Rabbi Moussa Abou Al - Af i eh, who was pr esent and who had conver t ed f r om
J udai smt o I sl am, adopt i ng t he Musl i mname of Mohammad Af andi Al -
Musl i mani f or hi msel f . He had br ought wi t h hi mThe Tal mud and some
ot her J ewi sh books t o deal wi t h t hese bel i ef s, as t o t hei r
j ust i f i cat i on i n ar r i vi ng at such concl usi ons. These books wer e
avai l abl e i n t he Gover nor Gener al ' s Of f i ce. Rabbi J acob pi cked up a
book t o r ead t he openi ng ver ses i n or der t o expl ai n i t t o t he Gover nor
Gener al . Mohammad Al - Musl i mani r esponded, " He want s t o r ead what t hey
have wr i t t en at t he begi nni ng of each of t hese books because t hey st at e
at t he begi nni ng of t he book what i s bei ng sai d of ot her non- J ewi sh
nat i ons, who do not know or wor shi p God, t he nat i ons of anci ent t i me.
Thi s i s what Rabbi J acob want s t o poi nt out and cl ar i f y t o you. " Al -
Musl i mani added t hat , " And i n or der t o conceal t hei r act i on or bel i ef ,
so t hey can pr i nt t hei r books i n Eur ope, t hey l eave a number of bl ank
pages i n t hei r books. I n t hi s way t hey ar e abl e t o mi sl ead t he publ i c
opi ni on i n t he West . "
The I nvest i gat or t hen asked Rabbi J acob about t he subj ect of t he
omi t t ed pages i n t hei r pr i nt ed books. Rabbi J acob r epl i ed, " Do you want
us t o put i n t hi s i nf or mat i on i ncl udi ng t he name of J esus, and what
happened t o hi m? And what shoul d be ment i oned i n t hi s r egar d?"
The I nvest i gat or cont i nued, " You have sai d t hat ' af t er t he Most
Maj est i c God r eveal ed hi msel f t o t he Peopl e of I sr ael i n t he
wi l der ness, t hat t hey bel i eved i n Hi m. And t hat t hose who f ai l ed t o
adopt t he J ewi sh Rel i gi on i t i s l awf ul f or t he J ewi sh bel i ever s t o
ki l l . ' I s t hat t r ue?"

Rabbi J acob answer ed, " I t i s t r ue, because when t he Al mi ght y God
r eveal ed hi msel f t o t he peopl e, t hey accept ed hi mby bel i evi ng i n Hi m.
Anyone who r enounces hi s bel i ef must be ki l l ed. "

The Rabbi was quest i oned f ur t her . " I s i t l awf ul t o ki l l t hose who wor k
on Sat ur day?" Rabbi J acob answer ed, " Yes! I f he i s a J ew. "

Mohammad Al - Musl i mani r esponded t o t hi s by sayi ng, " So, i t i s l awf ul t o
ki l l t he r est of t he peopl e of al l nat i ons i f t hey r ef use t o wor k on
Sat ur day because t hey have no mor e st at us t han of cat t l e and ar e not
ent i t l ed t o r est . Al l non- J ews must wor k day and ni ght . I t i s wr i t t en
i n t he book of Sanhedr i n ( f r omt he Tal mud) at t he end of page 58. " Who
wor ks on Sat ur day of ot her nat i ons must be ki l l ed wi t hout quest i on or
answer . And i f a non- J ew r eads t he Tor ah he must be ki l l ed because t he
Tor ah i s f or t he Peopl e of I sr ael . The books of ot her nat i ons must be
bur ned even t hough t hey cont ai n t he name of God. I f a per son, ot her
t han a J ew, wer e t o wr i t e t he name of God, even i n t he Tor ah. The
Tor ah, i f wr i t t en by a non- J ew, must be bur ned. "

The I nvest i gat or asked, " What i s t he posi t i on of t he J ews i n r egar d t o
t he weal t h of peopl es who ar e non- J ews?"

Mohammad Al - Musl i mani answer ed, " Ther e ar e seven Commandment s: One - Do
not wor shi p st ar s, pl anet s and const el l at i ons. Two - Do not commi t
adul t er y. Thr ee - Do not ki l l . Four - Do not st eal . Fi ve - Do not cut
t he f l esh of a l i vi ng l amb and eat i t . Si x - Do not mat e an ani mal wi t h
one of unl i ke ki nd. Anyone ( not a J ew) who does any of t hese, wi l l f i nd
t hat hi s weal t h i s l awf ul f or t he J ews t o t ake. "

The I nvest i gat or asked Rabbi J acob, " What do you say about t hat ?" Rabbi
J acob answer ed, " When t he Peopl e of I sr ael l ef t Egypt , and saw t hat
ot her nat i ons di d not appl y or pr act i ce t hese seven commandment s,
Tal mudi c l aw i t made t he weal t h of non- J ews become t he weal t h of J ews. "
The I nvest i gat or asked, " Do t he J ews deal wi t h t he ot her nat i ons
accor di ng t o t hi s l aw?" Mohammad Al - Musl i mani answer ed, " I t i s a known
f act t hat t he ot her r el i gi ons, speci f i cal l y Chr i st i ani t y and I sl amhave
si mi l ar commandment s and t hat t hey pr act i ce t hem. I n f act t hey ar e
i dent i cal t o t hose i n t he Tal mud. He who behaves t o t he cont r ar y wi l l
be t r eat ed i n t he same way whi ch appl i ed t o t he ot her non- bel i ever s. "

The I nvest i gat or sai d, " You have ment i oned i n your t est i mony t hat t he
J ews ext r act ed t he bl ood of Chr i st i ans and used i t t o make br ead. I t i s
known by your bel i ef t hat bl ood i s not cl ean, and i s f or bi dden by your
r el i gi on even when t aken f r oma l awf ul l y sl ai n ani mal s. I t i s not
l awf ul t o use bl ood. Ther e exi st s a cont r adi ct i on bet ween bl ood bei ng
i mpur e and f or bi dden, and t hat of i t s bei ng l awf ul i f t aken f r oma
Chr i st i an human bei ng, especi al l y t o make t he br ead f or t he hol y day.
I s t her e any l ogi cal or convi nci ng pr oof whi ch wi l l expl ai n t hi s
cont r adi ct i on?"

Al - Musl i mani answer ed, " The Tal mud says t hat t her e ar e t wo ki nds of
bl ood pl easi ng t o God. The bl ood of t he Passover , and t he bl ood of t he
ci r cumci si on. " Rabbi J acob added, " God l oves t wo ki nds of bl ood, t he
Passover sacr i f i ci al bl ood, and t he bl ood of ci r cumci si on. "
Chubl i Ayub r esponded, " We do not under st and ver y wel l how i t i s
per mi ssi bl e t o use human bl ood?"
Al - Musl i mani answer ed, " The Chi ef Rabbi s know by t he codes gi ven t o
t hemhow and when i t i s per mi ssi bl e t o use t hi s bl ood. "
The Gover nor Gener al asked, " I f a J ew sai d somet hi ng t hat caused har m
t o anot her J ew or t o ot her J ews, and t o t hei r r el i gi on, what woul d be
hi s case?"
Al - Musl i mani answer ed, " I t i s l awf ul t o ki l l a J ew i f he commi t s
adul t er y, or does somet hi ng whi ch vi ol at es t he bel i ef or t he t eachi ng
of t he r el i gi on. Thi s was so i n t he past , but now t hey ( t he J ews)
consi der hi mt o be a deser t er and t hey do not do anyt hi ng t o hi m,
because hi s deser t i on has pl aced hi mout si de of t he r el i gi on. Al so i f
anyone of t hemspeaks i l l about t he J ews, or causes har mt o any of
t hem, or i nsul t s t he J ewi sh Rel i gi on t hen f or sur e he must be ki l l ed.
Thi s i s done even t oday i n spi t e of t hei r weak posi t i on because t hey
consi der hi man enemy of t hei r r el i gi on. Ther e i s no si n of f er i ng f or
t hi s of f ence except deat h. The J ewi sh Rel i gi on r el i es on t hi s pr act i ce
i n t hese days. For t hi s r eason I di d not conf ess t he t r ut h, and I was
unabl e t o conf ess unt i l I had decl ar ed my conver si on t o I sl am.
The I nvest i gat or t hen asked Rabbi J acob about t hi s. He r epl i ed, " What
he ( Al - Musl i mani ) has sai d i s t r ue. The J ews woul d wor k t o ki l l hi m
di r ect l y or t o cause hi s deat h by pl ot t i ng t hr ough t he r ul er s. "
The I nvest i gat or asked, " And i f t he gover nor s or r ul er s f ound t hat t he
accused J ew or non- J ew i s not gui l t y, and t hey di d not assi st you wi t h
hi s ki l l i ng, what woul d t hey do t hen?"
Rabbi J acob answer ed, " Thi s what our r el i gi on commands us. Ther ef or e,
we must exer t al l ef f or t possi bl e t o ki l l hi m, and use what ever means
avai l abl e t o accompl i sh t hat . "


VIII

THE ROLE OF THE FOREIGN CONSULATES

The I nvest i gat i on Mi nut es of Muhar r am24, 1256 H. Dur i ng t he
i nvest i gat i on pr ocess and t he quest i oni ng of t he suspect s, a memor andum
f r omt he Fr ench Consul i n Damascus ar r i ved f or t he I nvest i gat i on
Commi t t ee cont ai ni ng t he f ol l owi ng:
" Mual l i mShehadi h Lazbouna was one of t he J ews who came t o our
Consul at e when t he case of Pr i est Thomas and hi s ser vant became publ i c
knowl edge. He pl edged t o pay 50, 000 pi ast er s t o whoever r eveal s t he
ki l l er s. I l ear ned t hat t hi s per son i s a Gover nment empl oyee.
Ther ef or e, I hope you wi l l send hi mt o me f or quest i oni ng. "
The I nvest i gat i on commi t t ee sent Shehadi h Lazbouna t o t he Fr ench Consul
f or quest i oni ng. The Fr ench Consul sent a copy of t he quest i ons and
answer s whi ch wer e used dur i ng t he i nvest i gat i on t hat t ook pl ace i n hi s
pr esence t o t he I nvest i gat i on Commi t t ee. The cont ent s of t hi s copy ar e
as f ol l ows:
The Consul sai d t o Shehadi h Lazbouna, " You came t o t hi s Consul at e wi t h
some member s of your J ewi sh communi t y - - among t hemwer e: Meyer Far hi ,
Mur ad and J oseph Far hi , Aar on I sl amboul i , and known what was r eveal ed
r egar di ng t he sl ayi ng of t he Pr i est and hi s ser vant s i n t he house of
Davi d Har ar i and t he Far hi ' s house, wi t h t hei r knowl edge. We have
l ear ned t hat you ar e st i l l commi t t ed t o pay your shar e of t he pl edged
50, 000 pi ast er s. Do you have any doubt s or suspi ci ons r egar di ng what
has happened or what has been r eveal ed?"
Shehadi h answer ed, " The i nvest i gat i on pr ocedur e i s compl et ed and has
at t ai ned i t s l egi t i mat e act i on. I have no doubt about t he honest y of
t he i nvest i gat i on whi ch was conduct ed i n t he pr esence of Hi s
Excel l ency, t he Gover nor Gener al , and Hi s Excel l ency, t he Consul . The
pl edge i s due and I wi l l pay what I have t o pay.
The Consul : " What i s r equest ed of you [ i s] t hat you wr i t e down you
answer s wi t hout f ear or par t i al i t y. Si nce you have no doubt about what
happened, and t hey ar e wel l known f act s, why ar e you keepi ng your
pl edge when i t has become cl ear t hat t hese cr i mes wer e car r i ed out i n a
wr ongf ul and cr i mi nal f ashi on? Expl ai n t o us t he nat ur e of t hi s pl edge
and do not be ashamed. " Shehadi h r epl i ed by r econf i r mi ng what he had
sai d ear l i er . The consul t hen sai d t o hi m, " Your t r ut hf ul ness i s cl ear .
Si nce you ar e i nnocent of t he accusat i ons of t he mur der of Fat her
Thomas and hi s ser vant , per haps you have l ear ned what i s bei ng sai d i n
your communi t y r egar di ng t hi s mat t er . Tel l us about i t i n det ai l s and
do not wor r y - - especi al l y si nce you wer e spendi ng t he eveni ng at Davi d
Har ar i ' s house, t he ni ght bef or e t he ar r est of t he Har ar i ' s sons. Tel l
us who spent t he eveni ng wi t h you at t he Har ar i ' s house, and what t hey
t al ked about ?"
Shehadi h Lazbouna r epl i ed, " We went t o Hi s Excel l ency' s, t he Gover nor
of Damascus, when t hi s mat t er devel oped, and pl eaded f or hi s hel p. He
r epl i ed t hat t hey woul d not i nt er f er e i n t hi s case. We r et ur ned t o t he
Har ar i ' s house, t hen went back t o vi si t Hi s Excel l ency at ni ght .
Ret ur ni ng f r omt her e t o spend t he eveni ng i n Davi d Har ar i ' s house.
Among t hose pr esent wer e I saac Pi cci ot t o, J acob Abou Al - Af i eh, and t he
Har ar i Br ot her s. Our par t y l ast ed unt i l about f our o' cl ock at ni ght . At
t hat t i me I saac Pi cci ot t o was cal l ed t o Mur ad' s house. Those of us
at t endi ng t he par t y sai d t o I saac Pi cci ot t o, ' Pl ease i nf or mus t o
di spel our wor r i es, i f anyt hi ng devel oped r egar di ng t he case. ' He l at er
sent hi s ser vant t o i nf or mus t hat t her e was not hi ng t o wor r y about .
Thi s i s what I r emember as t o what t ook pl ace t he ni ght bef or e t he
ar r est of t he Har ar i ' s sons. "

{NOTE: Sometime earlier, these men went to the French Consul, a few
days after the slaying of Father Thomas, and asked his personal help
and intervention on their behalf with the Governor General, Sharif
Pasha. They wanted him to give them additional time to find the
murderer. Then they requested from him, in order to dispel the
suspicions hovering over them, that he announce, in writing, and
through an official town caller, the allocation of fifty thousand
piasters (50,000) of a prize money to be given to whoever discovers the
Priest's body and his murderer. He accepted their wishes and ordered
the mounting of notices in Jewish, Christian, and Muslim neighborhoods,
and public calls throughout the City of Damascus.}
The Consul sai d, " I t i s not r equi r ed t hat you answer what i s not t r ue
of what you hear d of t he di scussi ons dur i ng t hat eveni ng gat her i ng, or
who was pr esent t her e. Ther e i s no accusat i on agai nst you f or you t o
deny or r ef ut e. Why di d you gi ve me t he f i ve hundr ed ( 500) pi ast er s i n
t he wr apped bundl e? What was your i nt ent f r omt hi s br i be?"
Shehadi h answer ed, " My onl y r eason f or pr esent i ng t hi s sumwas t o avoi d
f al l i ng i nt o t hi s pr obl em. "

The Consul sai d, " Di d anybody t el l you t hat , or di d you t hi nk of t hat
your sel f ? What was your r eason f or f ear i ng t o f al l i nt o t hi s pr obl em?"

Shehadi h answer ed, " Nobody asked me t o do i t . I have t he money, and I
ama man of my wor d. However , i f I amaf r ai d t o answer your quest i ons
on t hi s mat t er . I amal so af r ai d of so many quest i ons. "

The Consul r epl i ed, " By a f or mal memor andumt o Hi s Excel l ency, t he
Gover nor Gener al , I r equest ed you t o come i n or der t o quest i on you
r egar di ng t hi s case, because your name appear ed i n t he I nvest i gat i on
Mi nut es i n r egar d t o your pr esence i n t he par t y at t he Har ar i ' s house.
For t hat r eason I asked you about t he mat t er of t he sl ayi ng of t he
Pr i est and hi s ser vant , si nce you wer e among t hose who pl edged t o pay
t he r ewar d i f t he t wo mur der ed per sons wer e di scover ed i n your
nei ghbor hood. You have acknowl edged t hat you have no doubt s about t he
honest y of t he i nvest i gat i on, and i n spi t e of t hi s, you ar e det er mi ned
t o pay your shar e of t hi s pr omi sed r ewar d. You have t ol d us what you
know about t he par t y, and have sai d t hat you pai d t he f i ve hundr ed
pi ast er s ( 500) so you woul d be spar ed f r omal l t hese quest i ons. Now
t hat t he f or mal quest i oni ng sessi ons ar e over , t el l us what you wer e
af r ai d t o r eveal ? Was i t somet hi ng whi ch you l ear ned whi l e at t endi ng
t he par t y?"
Shehadi h answer ed, " Si r , I have t ol d" you what happened at t he par t y.
At t hat t i me, I di d not know i f t hose pr esent wer e t he ki l l er s or not .
Nobody i nf or med me about t hat , and I do not know anyt hi ng mor e. I amat
your di sposal . I f you know of anyt hi ng concer ni ng me, I amr eady t o
def end mysel f . "
" A mont h passed af t er t he r epor t of t he Consul . Then a message ar r i ved
t o t he I nvest i gat i on Commi t t ee cont ai ni ng t he f ol l owi ng:
I have not i f i ed your Excel l ency ear l i er , t hat t her e ar e cont i nuous
movement s advant ageous t o t he i nt er est s of t he det ai ned J ews f or
i nt er vent i on i n t he case of t he sl ayi ng of t he Pr i est and hi s ser vant .
Today we l ear ned t hat Khal i l Sai dnawi , t he ser vant of Mohammal Tal l i ,
r ecei ved a pr omi se, f r omt he J ews of Damascus, t o gi ve hi mamount of
money i n or der t o pr ovi de t hemwi t h a r epor t t hat woul d cont r adi ct al l
pr evi ous r epor t s. Al so t hey pr omi sed t o pay sums of t housands of Ri yal s
i n exchange f or bei ng gr ant ed pr ot ect i on by t he Consul at e. "

Dat e: Saf ar 20, 1256 H.
Si gned: Consul of
Fr ance i n Damascus


The Fr ench Consul di spat ched a r epor t , a f ol l ow up t o hi s message, as
f ol l ows:

" I nt r oduci ng t o your Excel l ency a Suppl ement t o our message No. 28,
dat ed 20t h of Saf ar , 1256 H, r egar di ng t he money whi ch was of f er ed by
t he J ews t o Khal i Sai dnawi , t o obt ai n f r omhi mt est i mony t hat woul d
weaken t he i nvest i gat i on, whi ch t hey cl ai m, has been conduct ed. Thi s
pl an was t aken wi t h t he knowl edge of t he Aust r i an Consul t o Damascus. I
al so submi t t o your Excel l ency what has t aken pl ace on t hi s subj ect . A
per son who i s under t he pr ot ect i on of t he Fr ench Consul at e r ecei ved a
r equest f r omone of t he r epr esent ed J ews t o secur e a meet i ng wi t h
Shubl i Ayub, who i s one of your t r ust ed publ i c of f i ci al s, f or t he
pur pose of deal i ng wi t h an i mpor t ant pr obl em. They i nf or med us of t he
mat t er , and we gave t hemour per mi ssi on i n or der t o l ear n what t he J ew,
who came wi t h a r equest of f our t hi ngs want ed.
Fi r st . Not t o i ncl ude t hei r r el i gi ous books i n t he i nvest i gat i on,
because, t hey cl ai m, t hi s woul d be i nsul t i ng and har mf ul t o t he
communi t y.
Second. To avoi d ment i oni ng t he t r ansl at i ons and t he i nt er pr et at i ons,
whi ch Abou Al - Af i eh has obt ai ned, f r omt he J ewi sh book and seek t hei r
dest r uct i on.
Thi r d. A r equest f or t he i nt er cessi on of t he Fr ench Consul wi t h your
Excel l ency f or t he r el ease of Mual l i mRaf ael f r omar r est , and t o f i nd
t he mean t o r educe t he ver di ct of t hose f ound gui l t y of t he cr i me f r om
t he deat h penal t y t o a l i ght er and l ess har sh sent ence.
Four t h. A sumof f i ve hundr ed t housand pi ast er s ( 500, 000) has been
al l ocat ed f or t he f ul f i l l ment of t he above t hr ee t er ms. The amount of
one hundr ed and f i f t y t housand pi ast er s ( 150, 000) woul d be pai d
i mmedi at el y upon t he r et ur n of t he document and t he r est , t he amount of
t hr ee hundr ed and f i f t y t housand pi ast er s ( 350, 000) woul d be pai d upon
t he execut i on of t he above ment i oned t er ms. The sumwi l l be handed t o
whomever t he Fr ench Consul chooses.
On t he second day, a bag cont ai ni ng si l ver cur r ency ar r i ved and I
l ear ned t hat t he f ami l y of Meyer Far hi , i n whose house Pr i est Thomas'
ser vant was sl ai n, sent i t . The agent , who car r i ed t hi s as a t r ust ,
sai d t hat he di d not know why t he Far hi ' s Fami l y sent t he money; and
t hat was al l t hey sai d t o hi mwas, ' car r y t hi s bag, i n i t t her e ar e
f i ve t housand pi ast er s ( 5, 000) , and del i ver i t t o Chubl y Ayub. ' He
br ought t he bag at once and del i ver ed i t t o us.
I t appear s t hat t hi s money i s what t hey had pr omi sed hi mt o hel p Meyer
Far hi . We opened t he bag and f ound i n i t f our t housand t hr ee hundr ed
and t went y- t wo pi ast er s ( 4, 322) . I t i s bei ng kept i n our possessi on.
Shubl y Ayub has asked t he J ews about t he sumof money and who ar e t hose
who obl i gat ed t hemsel ves t o pay i t . The answer t o t hat was t hat some
Rabbi ' s and Tr ust ees of t he Col l ect i on Box have agr eed on t hi s mat t er ,
and t hat t hey di d not col l ect money f r omanyone: t hat i t was f r omt he
Synagogue Chest . Ther ef or e, t her e i s no f ear of t hi s mat t er becomi ng
known. Thi s i s t he J ewi sh r epr esent at i ve, who t est i f i ed when he
pr esent ed hi s pet i t i on, as st at ed ear l i er . And Khawaj a Beaudi n, t he
Aust r i an Consul ' s Assi st ant has r ecei ved a pr oposi t i on, f r omt he J ewi sh
Communi t y t hr ough t he r epr esent at i ve hi msel f , t hat he woul d be
pr esent ed wi t h t hr ee hundr ed bags f or hi s per sonal ef f or t s t o r educe
t he penal t y of t he convi ct ed per sons accused i n t he sl ayi ng case of t he
Pr i est and hi s ser vant . The r epr esent at i ve sai d, " t hi s sumof money may
be i ncr eased i f he ( Mr . Beaudi n) t hi nks i t i s t oo l i t t l e. "
These t wo subj ect s show t he st r ong movement s by t he J ews, whi ch I f eel
compel l ed t o br i ng t o your Excel l ency' s at t ent i on.

Dat e: Saf ar 20, 1256 H.
Si gned: The Fr ench
Consul i n Damascus

Due t o t hi s devel opment , t he I nvest i gat i on Commi t t ee cal l ed bot h,
Mohammad Tal l i and Khal i l Sai dnawi . Mohammad Tal l i came al one, and he
was asked about t he t r ut h of t he mat t er whi ch was cont ai ned i n t he
Fr ench Consul ' s r epor t . He conf essed t o i t . And because Khal i l Sai dnawi
di d not come, Mohammad Tal l i was di smi ssed on t he condi t i on t hat he
come t omor r ow mor ni ng wi t h Khal i l Sai dnawi . The t wo came on Thur sday
mor ni ng, t he 21st of Saf ar , 1256 H. and wer e quest i oned.

The I nvest i gat or asked Khal i l Sai dnawi f i r st , and he conf essed by
sayi ng, " I amr ent i ng a l i quor st or e i n t he J ewi sh Quar t er , near
El i ahou Nahmed' s house. Nahmed was i n my shop on Monday, Saf ar 16, 1256
H. He sai d t o me, ' What i s t hi s mat t er and what i s t he or i gi n of i t ?' I
sai d, ' What mat t er do you mean?' He r epl i ed, ' When you wer e det ai ned i n
t he pr i son, your wi f e sai d, ' I f my husband i s beat en I wi l l di scl ose
t he secr et of t he Pr i est . ' I t ol d hi mt hat my wi f e di d not say such a
t hi ng and woul d not say i t . She does not know anyt hi ng about t he case.
Then he sai d t o me, ' Thi s case i s f i ni shed. How woul d you f eel about
maki ng some money out of i t , pl us get t i ng pr ot ect i on? Woul d not t hat be
bet t er f or you t han movi ng t o Al exandr i a and becomi ng a t ar get f or
accusat i on and your f ace bei ng beat en, even bei ng ki l l ed? {NOTE: It
became publicly known that the Austrian Consul had let it be known in
Damascus that the Khedevi of Egypt, Mohammad Ali Pasha had decided to
study the case himself.}
We want ed you t o have t he benef i t s f r omt hi s case, si nce you ar e among
us and i n our nei ghbor hood, and wor k wi t h us as i s known. Someone ot her
t han you woul d be subj ect t o quest i oni ng and i nvest i gat i on. Al so, a
message has been r ecei ved f r omt he Pasha, Mohammad Al i , f or bi ddi ng t he
beat i ng of t he J ews or har mi ng t hem, st at i ng t hat t hei r case wi l l be
handl ed by t he Aust r i an Consul i n Al exandr i a, and t hat t he Fr ench
Consul i s not per mi t t ed t o deal wi t h or t o l ook i nt o t he mat t er . So,
t he i nvest i gat i on wi l l be handl ed onl y by t he Aust r i an Gover nment
of f i ci al s. Tal l i , Mansour Tayyan, Moussa Sadaqah, Chubl i Ayub, Fr anci s
Sal i na, and you wi l l be cal l ed. Tal l i wi l l be beat en unt i l he admi t s
what he has been t ol d t o say, whi ch i s t hat Tal l i asked you t o t hr ow
t he bones i n t he cour se of t he Sal t y Ri ver . Then t hey wi l l beat t he
Bar ber and he wi l l say t hat Tal l i i s t he one who asked hi mt o get r i d
of t hese not abl es, and t he case wi l l end i n t hi s manner .
I f you do not bel i eve me, I wi l l swear by your Chr i st and our Lady
Mar y. And i f you do not bel i eve t hen, I wi l l al so swear t o you by t he
Taghal i n. And he swor e t o me, t hat no har mwoul d bef al l me. A moment of
si l ence passed, t hen he sai d, ' Tel l me. ' I r epl i ed, ' What shoul d I say
t o you?' He sai d, ' I know t hat you ar e st i l l hesi t ant and not sur e.
Come wi t h me and I wi l l show you a document t hat wi l l guar ant ee you
saf et y and pr ot ect i on, and a passpor t f or you pl us t he money you need. '
I got up and went wi t h hi mt o t he Aust r i an Consul ' s r esi dence. They
br ought a chai r f or me t o si t on. I sat wi t h t he Consul , Pi cci ot t o,
El i ahou Nahmed, and t he Assi st ant t o t he Consul . I saac Pi cci ot t o pl ayed
t he r ol e of t r ansl at or bet ween me and t he Assi st ant t o t he Consul , who
st ar t ed t he conver sat i on by sayi ng t o me, ' Tel l me what you ar e goi ng
t o say i n or der t o deser ve t he Consul at e' s pr ot ect i on and t he money?' I
sai d t o hi m, ' What do you want me t o say t o you? Do you want me t o
i nvent somet hi ng f or you?' He sai d, ' Why t hen di d you come her e?' I
sai d t o hi m, ' Mr . El i ahou Nahmed br ought me her e so t hat I woul d say
what you want . Wr i t e i t down f or me and I wi l l memor i ze i t . ' Then I saac
Pi cci ot t o sai d t o me, ' Tel l us and t ake f our t housand ( 4, 000) ghazi s,
( one hundr ed t housand pi ast er s) . ' And he r eached wi t h hi s hand, f or hi s
wal l et , i nt o a pocket under hi s shi r t , i n or der t o show me t hat he was
r eady t o gi ve me t he money. I sai d t o hi m, ' Thi s i s a ver y l ar ge sumof
money, and your wal l et i s not bi g enough t o cont ai n i t . ' I saac
Pi cci ot t o r epl i ed, ' You wi l l r ecei ve t he money ei t her f r omme or
somebody el se, and we ar e r eady t o gi ve you t he money now. ' I answer ed
hi m, ' I amnot i n a hur r y t o r ecei ve t he money. I want a per i od of
t hr ee days t o t hi nk. ' They sai d t o me, ' Ar e we women or chi l dr en i n
your eyes? He who want t o t al k af t er t hr ee days can t al k now. I f you
ar e st i l l not sur e or comf or t abl e, Hi s Excel l ency' s Assi st ant i s r eady
t o gi ve you hi s wor d of honor . You and your f ami l y can al ways st ay wi t h
hi m. I f you woul d l i ke t o go t o Al exandr i a or Al eppo, he can send you
t o wor k as an i nt er pr et er . {NOTE: The Consul of Aleppo was an Austrian
Jew named Elyan Picciotto.}

' Al so i f you want you can go t o Beyr out h ( Bei r ut ) . ' I answer ed hi m,
' Del ay t he mat t er unt i l t omor r ow because he who has no mast er has a
par t ner . ' He sai d t o me, ' My son, t he t ai l of happi ness i s a sl i ck one.
Do not cat ch t he t ai l , but cat ch t he head. ' {NOTE: A folk saying
meaning take a chance quickly, catch it before it disappears.} Af t er
t hat t hey t r i ed me ver y har d, and I do not r emember what was sai d t o
me. Fi nal l y, I sai d t o t hem, ' Ni ght t al k i s bad, gi ve me t i me unt i l
t omor r ow t o consul t wi t h my par t ner . ' {NOTE: Saidnawi wanted to bring
in another witness.} They r epl i ed, ' We wi l l gi ve you a per i od of si x
days but you must answer us pr oper l y and cl ear l y. ' The f ol l owi ng day
was Tuesday. I met wi t h El i ahou Nahmed i n hi s house and he sai d t o me,
' Who i s your par t ner ?' I sai d t o hi m, ' Mohammad Tal l i . ' He sai d, ' What
Tal l i knows you know your sel f . ' I r epl i ed, ' Tr ue. ' He sai d, ' But I say
t o you t hat we ar e af r ai d of hi m, and ar e not comf or t abl e about hi m. ' I
answer ed, ' Don' t you wor r y about hi m. I guar ant ee you t hat . You al so
sent f or Tal l i and pr omi sed hi ma r ewar d of f our t housand Ghazi s. ' He
r epl i ed, ' Yes, but we coul d not t r ust hi m. ' I sai d t o hi m, ' Don' t
wor r y, I guar ant ee you t o convi nce hi mt o say f or you what you want , so
do not be af r ai d of hi m. ' I got up and l ef t hi s house, and went
i mmedi at el y t o Mohammad Tal l i ' s house and t ol d hi mwhat we t al ked about
i n det ai l . At t he same t i me Nahmed went t o br i ng t he money. When I
f i ni shed t al ki ng, Mohammad Tal l i got up and went t o t he house of t he
Fr ench Consul and t ol d about our conver sat i on. The f ol l owi ng day, whi ch
was Wednesday, t he Fr ench Consul cal l ed me and quest i oned me. I
admi t t ed t o hi mal l what had happened. He t ol d us, ' You go, and t r y
your best t o obt ai n f r omhi m( Nahmed) a wr i t t en document of what i s
r equi r ed of you, t ake what money t hey gi ve you and come t o me, and I
wi l l t ake you t o t he Pasha, t he Gover nor Gener al . '
We l ef t t he house of t he Fr ench Consul . Mohammad Tal l i sent me t o
El i ahou Nahmed t o i nf or mhi mt hat ' I had been abl e t o convi nce Tal l i ,
and t hat he, El i ahou Nehmad, shoul d go wi t h me t o Mohammad Tal l i ' s
house, and t hat he shoul d br i ng t he money, so t hat I coul d gi ve Tal l i
t he money i n your pr esence, and you t ake f r omhi mwhat you want . ' I
went t o El i ahou Nahmed' s house and t ol d hi mof t he pl an. He r epl i ed,
' t hen you appoi nt or choose someone t o r epr esent you t o r ecei ve t he
money. He wi l l t ake t he money t o t he Aust r i an Counci l ' s house t o
deposi t i t i n a box t her e, and keep t he keys wi t h you unt i l you gi ve us
t he pr oof . Af t er we have t he pr oof you may come t o t he Consul ' s house
and t ake your deposi t ed money; and t he Consul ' s pr ot ect i on you ar e
pr omi sed. Do not be af r ai d, bot h of you, f or we wi l l r ef use t he mat t er
al l t oget her i f you ar e successf ul i n your t ask. At t hi s poi nt t he
Aust r i an Consul wi l l obt ai n sol di er s f r omt he Pasha and t hey wi l l be
sent t o t he pl ace you r eveal as t he pl ace wher e t he r emai ns of t he
Pr i est ar e hi dden. No one wi l l ment i on your names. '
I r epl i ed t o hi m, ' I know of no agent or box. My pocket i s t he pl ace
wher e I deposi t my money. I f you want us t o wor k wi t h you, gi ve us t he
money, ei t her at my house or at Tal l i ' s house. Af t er t hat you t ake
what ever paper s you need. '
The money was kept wi t h Nahmed on t he condi t i on t hat I wi l l r et ur n t o
hi s house, af t er sunset , and br i ng Tal l i wi t h me. However , I di d not
f i nd Tal l i i n hi s house, and when I r et ur ned t o Nahmed' s house he met
me wi t h anxi et y sayi ng t o me, ' I r equest of you by your your s, and your
f ami l y' s honor t o t el l me t he t r ut h. You have now become a member of my
f ami l y, we shar ed t he meal of br ead and sal t t oget her . Do you know t hat
t he Gover nor , t he Pasha, has cal l ed Mohammad Tal l i t o meet wi t h hi m?' I
answer ed hi m, ' I di d not know t hat t hi s had happened. The r eason f or
t hi s coul d be r el at ed t o t ax mat t er s. Anyway, he wi l l be r et ur ni ng t o
hi s house. I wi l l go t o hi mand i nqui r e of hi mwhat has happened, and
br i ng hi mt o you. ' I went t o Mohammad Tal l i ' s house at I sha t i me. He
was t her e. I met wi t h hi m, and sai d t o hi m, ' t he peopl e ar e ver y
r est l ess because you went t o t he Pasha. They want you t o come t o t hem. '
He r epl i ed by sayi ng, ' See peopl e i n t he mor ni ng, and do not see t hem
at . ni ght . I f i t i s necessar y f or me t o compl y wi t h t hei r wi shes t o see
me t oni ght , t hey ar e wel come t o come t o my house. Let t hembr i ng t he
money wi t h t hem, so we may gi ve t hemt he desi r ed r epor t . '
I went back t o El i ahou Nahmed' s house, car r yi ng t hi s message of
Mohammad Tal l i , wi t h what he want ed me t o say. Nahmed sent me back, and
f or t he second t i me he r equest ed t hat I br i ng Tal l i wi t h me t o hi s
house. When I r et ur ned, I f ound t hat Tal l i had l ef t hi s house and had
gone t o Hanna Taweel ' s house. I f ol l owed hi mt her e, and t ol d hi m, ' The
peopl e want you i n t hei r house. ' Whi l e we wer e t her e, di scussi ng t hi s,
t her e was a knock on t he door , and Geor ge Hamami ent er ed by sayi ng,
' Ther e ar e t wo J ews i n Tal l i ' s house, and t hey want hi m. We l ef t
Taweel ' s house f or Tal l i ' s house. We f ound El i ahou Nahmed t her e wi t h
hi s ser vant . The ot her J ew who was wi t h Nahmed was a Eur opean, by t he
name of I saac Zal t a. He and t wo or t hr ee ot her s l ef t i n t he di r ect i on
of t he Si l ver Gat e. We al l went i nsi de Tal l i ' s house and he began t o
t al k wi t h hi mr egar di ng t hi s mat t er . "
The above i nf or mat i on was t he t est i mony of Khal i l Sai dnawi t o t he
I nvest i gat i on Commi t t ee. The Commi t t ee next cal l ed Tal l i i n r equest i ng
t hat he r ead t he cont ent s of t he t est i mony of Sai dnawi . When he
f i ni shed r eadi ng t he t est i mony he agr eed t hat t he cont ent s of t he
t est i mony wer e accur at e as t o what had occur r ed.
He sai d, " Al l of t he cont ent s of t hi s r epor t ar e accur at e. Yest er day,
Hi s Excel l ency, t he Gover nor Gener al , i nqui r ed of me r egar di ng t hi s
mat t er . I i nf or med hi m, ver bal l y, as t o what had happened. Then I t ol d
hi mt hat I had been pr omi sed t hat I woul d get t he money t oni ght . I have
come t oday i n or der t o pr esent t o you what has occur r ed. El i ahou Nahmd
came t o my house. He was seen ent er i ng my house by Geor ge Hamami ,
Mohammad Har i ss, and t he son of Baqsi mawi Mohammad. And when I bu Zal t a
saw me comi ng f r omTaweel ' s house he l ef t i n t he di r ect i on of t he
Si l ver Gat e. We t hen ent er ed t he house. Af t er war ds, af t er we sat down
and El i ahou Nahmed sai d t o me, " We have t al ked t o you of t he mat t er
bef or e. But nei t her of us had t r ust i n t he ot her unt i l Khal i l came as
an i nt er medi ar y whi ch br ought us t oget her . Ther e i s not hi ng l ef t
bet ween us except what God has f or bi dden. I ent er ed your house
mot i vat ed by t he l ove bet ween us, i n or der f or you t o benef i t f r omt hi s
case, whi ch i s no l onger a pr obl em. Have no f ear s because Hi s
Excel l ency, t he Aust r i an Consul , has guar ant eed your compl et e
pr ot ect i on. I f you t ake r ef uge i n hi s house not hi ng wi l l get t o you,
not even r ai n f r omt he sky. We have l ear ned t hat t hey have pr omi sed you
t he sumof f i f t y t housands, and have guar ant eed your pr ot ect i on. Have
t hey gi ven you anyt hi ng, or has i t al l been f al sel y pr omi sed? They have
cheat ed you, deser t ed you, and di d not gi ve you anyt hi ng. But we wi l l
gi ve cash money, and we ask of you not hi ng unt i l you get t he pr ot ect i on
whi ch we spoke about . Al so, I saac Pi cci ot t o sends hi s gr eet i ngs t o you,
hopi ng t hat you wi l l f or get al l t r aces of t he ar gument bet ween t he t wo
of you. He pr ai ses your st and t owar d hi m, because you have not sai d
anyt hi ng t o har mhi m. Af t er he l ear ned t hat you di d not get anyt hi ng he
want s you t o benef i t f r omt hi s case. I f you do not bel i eve me, or t r ust
me, l et us go. I wi l l accompany you t o t he Assi st ant of t he Aust r i an
Consul , who wi l l swear t o you on hi s honor , t hat al so Pi cci ot t o wi l l
pr omi se you f ai t hf ul commi t ment ; t o be t r ue t o you and gi ve you
what ever i s due. "

Then I r epl i ed t o hi mt hat I want ed t o hel p t hem, and t hat he was bei ng
t r ut hf ul i n hi s wor ds and deeds; " t hat we t oo woul d be t r ut hf ul t o you
i f you wi l l show us t he way you ar e goi ng. Thus I made a pr omi se wi t h
Khal i l . I wi l l not go t o t he Assi st ant of t he Consul . J ust gi ve me a
copy of what you want , so t hat I can wr i t e f or you, i n my own
handwr i t i ng, and st amp i t wi t h my seal . " He answer ed me, " We have no
copy or a wr i t t en f or mat t o di ct at e. What we want f r omyou i s t hat you
do i t ? I sai d, " By God, t he onl y t hi ng I know i s what has become cl ear
t o al l peopl e as t he shi ni ng sun. The r ope of l i e i s shor t . I f I
st ar t ed wi t h a made up st or y, and i t i s shown t o be f al se, t he bad
r eper cussi on wi l l be r ef l ect ed on you and me, because t he i nvest i gat i on
and exami nat i on wi l l sor t out t he t r ut h f r omt he f al sehood. And as I
under st and, you have submi t t ed compl ai nt s, t hat you have suf f i ci ent
pr oof s about t he di sposal of t he Pr i est Thomas, and t hat you have what
i s needed t o r ef ut e t he accusat i ons agai nst you. I f you have a met hod
t hat woul d benef i t me and you, or an accept abl e l ogi cal expl anat i on,
whi ch one can depend on, gi ve me some di r ect i on or gui de l i ne whi ch I
can keep and f ol l ow. " He sai d t o me, " What we want f r omyou i s t o t el l
t he t r ut h, because i f we had any of t he t r ut h we woul d not have needed
you. " I r epl i ed, " I f I had t he t r ue f act s of t he cr i me I woul d have
submi t t ed t hem' t o you f r eel y, i n or der t o have benef i t ed f r omi t . "
Khal i l i nt er r upt ed by sayi ng " He di d not speak wi t h me about t hat , but
he di d say t o me, " Gi ve me t he money, and I wi l l t el l you wher e hi s
r emai ns ar e, suppor t i ng t hi s wi t h r el i abl e pr oof s. " He sai d t o me, " So,
you r eal l y do not t r ust me, I want t o t ake you t o t he Consul . " I sai d,
" I do not go, and i f you do not have t r ust i n me, t hen l et me go t o
sl eep. "

I r epeat ed my sayi ng t hat " I can not l i e about anyt hi ng. I f Khal i l t ol d
you somet hi ng whi ch i s not t r ue, Khal i l i s her e i n f r ont of you. "
Khal i l r esponded, " You di d not say t hat . I say t oday, and I wi l l say
t omor r ow, br i ng t he money and I wi l l t el l wher e t he r emai ns of t he
Pr i est Thomas ar e. I amr eady t o t est i f y t o t hi s i n t he pr esence of t he
Gover nor Gener al , t he Pasha, as I have pr omi sed t o convi nce Mohammad
Tal l i . I f he i s convi nced, t hat wi l l be good. I f he i s not , t hen I can
onl y say t o you, gi ve me t he money. " Wi t h t hi s, El i ahous Nahmed l ef t .
Af t er war ds I asked Khal i l , " How can you say t hat you know t he pl ace of
t he Pr i est ' s r emai ns, and t r y t o convi nce me of t hat ?" He r epl i ed,
" Tr ue, you al so know wher e t he Pr i est ' s bones wer e, and f r omwher e we
sal vaged t hem, and when t hey went wi t h us. Al l I want ed was t o get t he
money f r omt hemf i r st , t hen conf ess t o what i s al r eady known. " So, I
deci ded t o come and gi ve my t est i mony.
Af t er t hi s, t he I nvest i gat i on Commi t t ee met t o r evi ew t he case. The
number bei ng accused i n t hi s case i ncl uded si xt een per sons. Among t hem
wer e: t wo, J oseph Aar on and J oseph Li f yado, who di ed dur i ng t he
i nvest i gat i on. Four ot her s, Moussa Abou Al - Af i eh, Asl an Far hi , Sol i man
Sal oom( t he Bar ber ) , and Mur ad Al - Fat t al , wer e acqui t t ed and par doned
because of t hei r cooper at i on i n pr ovi di ng val uabl e i nf or mat i on whi ch
hel ped t o r eveal t he ot her s i nvol ved i n t he case.
Of t he r emai ni ng t en, t he Gover nor Gener al , Shar i f Pasha, i ssued hi s
j udgment , based on t he ver di ct r eached by t he I nvest i gat i on Commi t t ee,
t hat t hey be execut ed. The t en convi ct ed per sons wer e: Davi d Har ar i ,
Aar on Har ar i , I saac Har ar i , Meyer Far hi , Rabbi Moussa Bokhoor Yehuda
( Sal ani ki ) , Mur ad Far hi , Aar on I sl amboul i , I saac Pi cci ot t o, J acob Abou
Al - Af i eh, and J oseph MenachemFar hi .
The execut i on of t he t en men was t o t ake pl ace af t er t he Gover nor
Gener al ' s appr oval and publ i c announcement . However , t he Fr ench Consul ,
Mr . Comt e De Rat t i - Ment on, succeeded i n obt ai ni ng an or der t o r ef er t he
j udgment t o I br ahi mPasha, t he Commander Gener al of t he Egypt i an Ar mi es
f or hi s appr oval . Thi s del ay was suf f i ci ent t i me f or savi ng t he l i ves
of t hose who had been condemned t o di e. Because dur i ng t hi s t i me, t wo
pr omi nent J ewi sh l awyer s, sent by Eur opean J ews t o save t hese member s
of t he J ewi sh communi t y ar r i ved i n Al exandr i a, r equest i ng f r omMohammad
Al i Pasha t hat he i ssue an or der f or a new i nvest i gat i on. Khedavi
Mohammad Al i Pasha r eal i zed t hat t hi s woul d cr eat e a f i er y hat r ed
bet ween Chr i st i ans and J ews. Yet he pr omi sed t hemt hat he woul d i ssue
hi s or der t o par don t he convi ct ed J ews.
The l awyer s poi nt ed out t o hi m, t hat t he wor d " par don" meant an
acknowl edgement of t he " cr i me" . They r equest ed hi mt o r el ease t hem, and
t o per mi t t he r et ur n of t hose who had f l ed. He submi t t ed t o t hei r
r equest .

{NOTE: Political and financial factors played a significant role in
convincing Mohammad Ali Pasha to forgive these criminals. He was in
dire need of money, and the friendship of European Governments, who
were pursuing the English policy in order to remove the Syrian region
from his rulership. He also saw sixty thousand bags of gold (300,000
gold liras) as being more valuable to the government than the execution
of the ten Jews. Thus, he issued his order for their pardon and their
release. Most of these men and their families moved to Egypt, where
they remained, fleeing from the anger of the Christians and Muslims in
Damascus. In Egypt, some became very rich and successful in the region
economic and financial life, like the Hararis, Lifyado, and Abou Al-
Afieh.}

As soon as Shar i f Pasha r ecei ved t he or der s f r omt he Khedavi , he
r el eased t he convi ct ed, on t he 15t h of Sept ember , 1840, when t he
cur t ai n was dr awn on t hi s cr i me.



READINGS



1. Abou Al - Af i eh' s Repor t af t er hi s Conver si on t o I sl am.

2. A Document i n Dr . Mi chael Mashaqah' s Paper s.

3. Sur vey of t he Weal t h of t he J ews who t ook par t i n t he sl ayi ng of
Fat her Thomas and hi s ser vant .

4. The J ews At t empt t o Decl ar e t hei r I nnocence.

5. Chubl i Ayub' s Response t o t he J ews.

6. The J ews Per mi t t he Ki l l i ng of Chr i st i ans.




1 - Abou Al-Afieh's Report after his Conversion to Islam

I her ewi t h submi t t o your Honor abl e Cour t , i n accor dance wi t h t he
Gover nor ' s Or der , as t o what I know r egar di ng t he Pr i est Thomas'
sl ayi ng, whi ch caused me t o become a Musl i m. Bei ng a bel i ever i n God,
t he Most Hi gh, and i n our Pr ophet Mohammad, Peace be upon Hi m, I
her ewi t h gi ve a wr i t t en conf essi on, whi ch i s r i ght f ul l y t r ue.
The Chi ef Rabbi , J acob I nt abi , spoke wi t h us bef or e t he i nci dent , whi ch
was bet ween t en t o f i f t een days pr i or t o t he event . He t ol d us t hat he
needed human bl ood i n or der t o compl y wi t h t he t eachi ngs of our
r el i gi on. He advi sed us t hat Davi d Har ar i and hi s br ot her s wer e t o
commi t t hi s act of dut y i n one of t hei r houses, and t hat he had
obt ai ned t hei r sol emn oat h of commi t ment t o f ul f i l l what was r equi r ed
under al l ci r cumst ances. I was obl i gat ed t o be pr esent , i n or der t o
t ake t he bl ood t o hi m. I sai d I cannot st and t he si ght of bl ood. He
r epl i ed t hat , " You may st and out si de, but you must come wi t h Moussa and
J oseph Li f yado. " We agr eed t o hi s r equest i n t he bel i ef t hat t he Har ar i
Fami l y woul d r ef use t o commi t t hi s act i n t hei r house. When Wednesday,
Mar ch 1st , ar r i ved ( accor di ng t o t he Hebr ew Cal endar ) , we l ef t t he
house on our way t o t he Synagogue f or pr ayer . We saw Davi d Har ar i
st andi ng near by. He sai d t o me, " I need you; come wi t h me t o t he
house. " I r esponded, " What do you want ? Al l ow me [ t o] pr ay, t hen I wi l l
come t o you. " He t hen sai d, " Let us go now and I wi l l t el l you. " I
wal ked wi t h hi m. He cont i nued t al ki ng t o me unt i l he f i nal l y t ol d me
t hat t he Pr i est was i n hi s house, and t hat he was t o be sl ai n af t er
dar k.
I sai d t o hi m, " Di d t he Rabbi r equest t hi s or does he onl y want bl ood?"
He r epl i ed, " Thi s i s what i s t o t ake pl ace, do not be af r ai d, we wi l l
do t he sl ayi ng. " When we ent er ed t he house, we saw t hemsi t t i ng i n a
newl y f ur ni shed r oom. The Pr i est , Thomas was bound. Lat er on, bet ween
sunset and I sha t i me, we moved t o t he second r oom, a deser t ed and
unf ur ni shed r oom. Davi d wal ked t owar d hi mand sl ew hi m. He was assi st ed
by hi s br ot her s Aar on and I saac Har ar i . Toget her t hey dr ai ned hi s bl ood
i n t he basi n. When t he bl ood had compl et el y dr ai ned f r omt he body, t hey
put t he bl ood i n a whi t e gl ass bot t l e, t hen t hey i nst r uct ed me t o t ake
i t t o Rabbi J acob i mmedi at el y. I t ook t he bot t l e and went t o Rabbi
J acob' s house. I f ound hi mwai t i ng f or me i n t he gar den, out si de t he
house. When he saw me he ent er ed t he l i br ar y r i ght away, and we
f ol l owed af t er hi m. I sai d t o hi m, " I t i s ver y l at e, pl ease t ake what
you have r equest ed. " He t ook t he bot t l e and put i t behi nd t he desk, and
we r et ur ned, each of us t o hi s own house. I n r egar d t o t he mat t er of
t he cl ot hes, and t he body of t he Pr i est , we l ef t t hemi n t he house.
They had not done anyt hi ng wi t h t hemyet . I had t ol d t he Har ar i
br ot her s, ear l i er , t hat t hi s wi l l be f ol l owed up by ver y car ef ul
i nvest i gat i on, and t her e wi l l be many headaches t oo! , t hat i t was
mandat or y t hat t hey shoul d avoi d t hi s act . They r epl i ed, " Ther e i s t o
be no ment i on of t hi s. No one i s t o know about i t . Ther e i s t o be no
t r ace of i t . We have deci ded t o bur n hi s cl ot hes unt i l al l t r aces of
t hemar e l ost . As f or t he body, we wi l l cut i t t o pi eces and t hr ow i t
i n t he r i ver t unnel s. Ther e wi l l be no t r aces l ef t of i t ei t her . I have
a l ar ge hi di ng pl ace under t he st ai r way, wher e we can pl ace i t unt i l we
get r i d of i t pi ece by pi ece. Do not be af r ai d. And pl ease do not br i ng
f ear t o our hear t s. " As t o t he quest i on of t he Pr i est ' s ser vant ,
I br ahi mAmar ah, God knows t hat I knew absol ut el y not hi ng at al l about
hi s sl ayi ng unt i l j ust bef or e noon on Thur sday. I l ear ned about i t f r om
Davi d, I saac and J oseph Har ar i as t hey wer e t al ki ng i n f r ont of a smal l
wi ne st or e, at t hat t i me. I saac was speaki ng wi t h Davi d about what had
been t aki ng pl ace, and t hey wer e whi sper i ng t o each ot her . Af t er t hat ,
each of us l ef t f or hi s busi ness. We have no cl ose r el at i on wi t h t he
' gr andees, ' and t hose of t he Har ar i house ar e ' gr andees. ' Thus we don' t
have much cont act wi t h t hem. They have par t i es, send i nvi t at i ons, and
or gani ze si ngi ng cel ebr at i ons, whi ch we do not at t end, nor ar e we
i nvi t ed. As t o t he quest i on of t he bl ood, and t he J ews need f or i t t o
make unl eavened br ead f or t he eveni ng of t hei r f east , i t i s exact l y as
we have st at ed ear l i er . They have r equest ed t hi s of t en, and t hose who
wer e i nvol ved wer e ar r est ed and del i ver ed t o t he cour t . The J ews have a
book cal l ed ' Si r f Hodovot . ' I t cont ai ns many i nci dent s i n whi ch cour t
cases have been br ought agai nst t he J ews, and t hey al ways cl ai mt hat
t hese cases ar e not hi ng but l i es and accusat i ons. I n t hei r book t hey
pr esent t he det ai l s of t he cases agai nst t he J ews over t he mat t er of
t he bl ood. Thi s i s al l t hat I know about t he Pr i est ' s case. Now, I am
your ser vant , who i s t aki ng r ef uge i n God, t he Most Hi gh, and Hi s
Pr ophet - Messenger , our Pr ophet Mohammad, who has been a gui de f or us t o
t he t r ut h i n t he Musl i mRel i gi on. I pl ead f or your Excel l ency' s
ki ndness and f or gi veness. The Command i s f or He who has t he Command.
Si gned

Muhammad Al - Musl i mani

The Pat r i ar chat e Magazi ne, VI I , Vol . 1, J anuar y 15, 1933, pp. 113- 115,
st at es t hat Moussa Abou Al - Af i eh t hr ew hi s headdr ess at t he f eet of t he
Mi ni st er and sai d, " Because t he J ewi sh Rel i gi on i s l i ke t hi s, I
r enounce i t and wi l l accept I sl amand become a Musl i m. " He was r ecei ved
wi t h r espect and was gi ven a whi t e t ur ban.



2 - A Document in Dr. Michael Mashaqah's Papers


{NOTE: These documents were found in Dr. Michael Mashaqah's Papers, in
his own hand-writing, and were copied by his son Dr. Ibrahim Mashaqah
in Damascus. }

I was among t hose i nvi t ed t o per f or mt he exami nat i on of Fat her Thomas'
r emai ns, i n t he i nt er est of t he Fr ench Consul , and t he Aust r i an Consul
Mr . Mer l at o. When t he exami nat i on of t he bones was per f or med, ani mal
bones wer e f ound among t he human bones. I separ at ed what was j udged t o
be of human t ype and f ound a pi ece of an upper j aw wi t h a l ock of hai r
f r omt he bear d. Af t er t he compl et i on of t hi s exami nat i on, anot her
exami nat i on was conduct ed t o det er mi ne t he t ype of cl ot hes f ound; a
pi ece of Fat her Thomas' bl ack cap was f ound. Mr . Mer l at o wr ot e hi s
wi t nessed st at ement , t hat he was sur e t hat t hi s was of t he Pr i est ' s
cap. Then a wool pi ece f r omt he Pr i est ' s r obe was f ound. When I t ook a
l ook at i t I was cer t ai n t hat t hi s t oo was of t he Pr i est ' s r obe. Al so,
I f ound anot her pi ece of t he same mat er i al , f r omt he shoul der par t ,
wi t h a par t of coni cal shape used by t he pr i est s as a head cover , t o
pr ot ect hi mf r omcol d weat her . Thi s made me even mor e cer t ai n of t he
r eason t hat I r emember ed, si nce mont hs bef or e t he di sappear ance of
Fat her Thomas I had st opped at a wool cl ot hi ng st or e and bought what my
f ami l y and mysel f needed f or wi nt er . The sal esman showed me a t hi ck
pi ece of wool , as t hi ck as f el t , sayi ng t hat i t came wi t h t he wool
mat er i al he had r ecei ved l at el y. Because he di d not want t o buy i t , he
t hought of r et ur ni ng i t . But he i ndi cat ed t o me t hat he woul d r educe
t he pr i ce i f I want ed i t . I t hought i t was good f or t r avel i ng i n col d
and snowy weat her condi t i ons, so I bought a pi ece, l ar ge enough t o make
t r ouser s and a j acket f or me. Dur i ng t hi s t i me, Pr i est Thomas came by,
he asked me what I was doi ng, and I t ol d hi m. Then he sai d, " Thi s
mat er i al sui t s me wel l f or t he wi nt er season. " He t ook t he r est of t he
mat er i al and asked i f t her e was mor e of i t . The sal esman sai d no. And
si nce t her e was not hi ng l i ke t hi s i n Damascus, he made a wi nt er r obe
f r omi t . Ther ef or e, t he t wo pi eces of wool whi ch wer e f ound wi t h t he
bones shoul d have been of t he mat er i al whi ch we bot h bought and whi ch
coul d be f ound nowher e el se i n Damascus.
Among t he paper s t he f ol l owi ng document was al so f ound:
The J ews r emai ned under det ent i on f or mont hs unt i l Mont ef i or e, t he
f amous I sr ael i , came f r omEngl and t o Al exandr i a. He obt ai ned a
Pr ocl amat i on Or der f r omMuhammad Al i Pasha t o Shar i f Pasha, t o par don
t he convi ct ed J ews, and t o decl ar e t hemnot gui l t y. I t [ i s] sai d t hat
t he cost was si xt y t housand bags of gol d pai d t o Muhammad Al i Pasha, an
equi val ent t o 300, 000 gol den l i r as, i n addi t i on t o t hr ee t housand bags
f or hi s admi ni st r at i on. We coul d not di scover t he t r ut h of t he mat t er .
The convi ct ed mur der er s of t he Pr i est and hi s ser vant wer e set f r ee.

3 - Survey of the Wealth of the Jews who took part in the slaying of
Father Thomas and his servant


Name Number of bags

Mur ad Far hi 5, 000
Davi d Far hi 500
I saac Har ar i 500
Aar on Har ar i 5, 000
J oseph Har ar i 300
J oseph Li f yado 100
Moussa Abou Al - Af i eh 50
Moussa Sal ayankhi 500
Asl an Far hi 50
J oseph Far hi 2, 000
Yehya Meyer Far hi 300
J acob Abou Al - Af i eh 100
Aar on I sl amboul i 2, 000
J acob I nt abi ( The Rabbi has no weal t h of hi s own.
He l i ves on t he cont r i but i ons of hi s
communi t y. )


One bag equal s f i ve gol d l i r as, or f i ve hundr ed Tur ki sh pi ast er s; or
125 gol d f r ancs. Thi s shows t hat t hese men wer e among t he weal t hi est i n
Damascus at t hat t i me.



4 - The Jews Attempt to Declare their Innocence

A Repor t submi t t ed by I saac Bar ouch and Leon Seedi , i n t hei r own names
and i n t he name of some member s of t he J ewi sh communi t y i n I zmi r , on
Apr i l 17, 1840. Thi s was publ i shed i n I zmi r Gazet t e; i t cont ai ns t he
f ol l owi ng:
We wer e ver y sur pr i sed upon r eadi ng t he r epor t of our Chi ef Rabbi , our
spi r i t ual l eader , whi ch was publ i shed i n your magazi ne on Mar ch 28,
1840, [ t hat ] he deci ded, by hi s own di l i gence, t hat " our r el i gi on i s
based on t he Tor ah. " Mi st akes of t hi s ki nd ar e t he cause of our mi ser y.
What t hey t hemsel ves ( our spi r i t ual l eader s) deci ded i s t he r eason of
our oppr essi on. Because t hey pr event us f r omopeni ng our eyes t o t he
t r ut h, and seei ng t he l i ght . We bel i eve t hat i t i s our dut y t o i nf or m
t he wor l d about t he pr act i ce of our r el i gi on, whi ch t hey f or ce us t o do
unwi l l i ngl y. Thi s i s t r ue, i n t he exampl e of what our Rabbi j ust di d.
Al l t hat we want f r omever y per son, who knows t he Tor ah i s t o
appr eci at e t he i nt ent i on of our Rabbi Benhas Skour ah, who publ i shed hi s
above ment i oned r epor t . I n f act , wi t h t he acknowl edgement t hat t he
J ewi sh Rel i gi on i s based on t he Tor ah, as st at ed by our Chi ef Rabbi ,
but he di d not show or poi nt [ out ] t o us t he added cor r ect i ons and
comment ar i es i n t he Tor ah t hat pr ovi de adequat e suppor t f or t he
f ol l owi ng act s:
" Fi r st . Wher e i s t he pr oof whi ch makes i t unl awf ul t o eat beef , goat ,
and sheep meat unl ess sl ai n by t he hand of a Rabbi ?"
" Second. Fr omwhat sour ce does t he f ol l owi ng der i ve, t he f or bi ddi ng of
t he wi ne i f i t i s made or t ouched by a per son ot her t han a J ew?"

" Thi r d. I n what chapt er or book of our Law i s t hi s cont ai ned, whi ch
pr event s an I sr ael i f r omwal ki ng on Sat ur day whi l e car r yi ng a key, a
wat ch, t wo handker chi ef s, a needl e, or anyt hi ng t hat i s not necessar y
t o have?"
" Four t h. I n what chapt er of t he Tor ah i s t her e a speci f i c r ef er ence
r el at i ng t o t he pr ot ect i on of t he most abl e and weal t hi est of t he any
pr of essi on f r omt he l osses of t he communi t y, or of maki ng t he poor pay
f or t hem, pr ovi di ng f or t he secur i t y and f r eedomof t he Tal mudi c
r eci t er s, as wel l as f or many ot her t hi ngs of t hi s t ype whi ch we do not
have enough t i me t o expl ai n. And i f t her e was not a t r ace of r eason f or
such a Commandment i n t he Mosai c Law, how t hen coul d our r espect ed
Chi ef Rabbi conf i r mt hat al l t he Commandment s of t he Mosai c Law ar e
based on t he Tor ah? I s i t not bet t er f or hi mt o admi t t hat t he
Di l i gence Associ at i on publ i shes l i es and decept i on of t he r i ch? Do you
want t o know what woul d happen t o us, t he poor er of t he J ews, i f we
r ef used t hese myt hs of our Rabbi s? I f we have l i t t l e money, t hey st eal
i t ; i f we do not have money, t hey excommuni cat e us or del i ver us t o t he
r ul er s t o be t or t ur ed l i ke cr i mi nal s. Let us t ake our case t o t he
Cour t . We know t hat t hey have or gani zed commi t t ees of wi t nesses t o
t est i f y agai nst us; t hat t he Rabbi ni c Law per mi t s act s of decept i on,
cheat i ng, and per secut i on unt i l deat h f or any per son who obj ect s t o t he
act s of t he Rabbi s, whi ch t hey cal l t he " J ewi sh Rel i gi on. " We r emember
an i nci dent of t hese r el i gi ous act s, whi ch wer e desi gned by our mast er
Rabbi Benhas. One day, i t was Sat ur day, i t happened t hat he met a J ew
who f or got hi s shop key i n hi s pocket . He t or t ur ed hi munt i l he opened
hi s money bag and he st ol e what he had. Ther e ar e a gr eat many
mi ser abl e peopl e who have been subj ect ed t o si mi l ar puni shment f or t hi s
" gr ave si n. " We asked t hose r i ght eous ones, " Ar e t hese r eal r el i gi ous
act s?" " I s t hi s a Di vi ne Law?" Ar e t hese Rabbi s t oo i gnor ant t o see
t hat t hese act i ons ar e cont r ar y t o t he pol i ci es of our mast er s, and
cont r ar y t o t he honor abl e way of our count r y? How l ong wi l l Rabbi s be
abl e t o cont i nue vi ol at i ng our r i ght s agai nst t he wi l l of our mast er ,
who want s equal i t y f or hi s subj ect s wi t hout di scr i mi nat i on, as t o
st at us or di f f er ence of r el i gi on. We ask t he Royal Cour t t o put an end
t o t hi s si t uat i on. They ar e myt hs pr escr i bed by our Rabbi s, who make
l awf ul t he ki l l i ng of human bei ngs.


5 - Chubli Ayub's Response to the Jews

{NOTE: Chubli Ayub, Hadaya Al-Massarrah, Historical Documents of the
Royal Patriarchate, St. Paul Printing Press, 1937, pp. 73-84. This also
covers the next section. }
Some J ews i n I zmi r came f or war d and pr esent ed a r epor t t o be publ i shed
and di st r i but ed t hr oughout t he wor l d. Pr obabl y, t hi s act i on has t wo
si des, ei t her an al ar mi ng t r ut h, f or mul at ed by t hemt o t el l what t hey
have l ear ned about t hei r Rabbi ni c Law, or i t may be based on decept i on
and cheat i ng, as t hey t hemsel ves have t est i f i ed agai nst t hei r Rabbi ni c
Law. I t i s possi bl e t hat t he f r ank t one of t hi s r epor t was t he r esul t
of t he i gnor ance of t hose who wr ot e t he r epor t i n I zmi r , about t he
t r ut h. Thi s t r ut h i s t hat t he secr et s of t hei r r el i gi on ar e not
cont ai ned i n t he books, but ar e kept wi t h t he Rabbi s and t he not abl es
of t hei r r el i gi on, i nher i t ed by t hemt hr ough t r adi t i on. Thi s i s one
si de. On t he ot her si de, i t i s qui t e possi bl e t hat t he r epor t i s based
on decept i on and cheat i ng. Because, i n spi t e of what t hey have
i nt r oduced of t he Commandment s, t hese ar e of secondar y i mpor t ance
compar ed t o t he ot her s. Thi s cr i t i ci smof t hei r Rabbi s i s ugl i er t han
what has been r eveal ed of t he J ewi sh Rel i gi on i n Syr i a. I t i s possi bl e
t hat t he J ews i n I zmi r di d what was pl anned by t hei r Rabbi s t o decei ve
and mi sgui de wor l d opi ni on, and t o i ndi cat e t hat t hei r r epor t i n t he
magazi ne i s a t r ue r epor t . Due t o what i t cont ai ned of cr i t i ci smof
t hei r Rabbi s, so t he peopl e may bel i eve i t . Thei r ai mf r omt hi s i s t o
r ecor d t he case of t he mur der , whi ch has r eveal ed t hei r secr et , and
t hei r i ncl usi on i n t he book ( Si d Hedr out ) , whi ch i ncl udes al l t hei r
char act er i st i cs, and t o say t hat t hese char act er i st i cs ar e accusat i ons.
But t he cl ear t est i mony of Rabbi Moussa Abou Al - Af i eh has unvei l ed
t hem.
We asked I saac Bar ouch and hi s f r i ends, who pr esent ed t hi s r epor t i n
I zmi r t o be publ i shed and ci r cul at ed t hr oughout t he wor l d, t hi s
quest i on: " I f t he Tor ah does not cont ai n any of t hese ugl y
commandment s, and i f t hi s i s f or cer t ai n, di d you l ook i nt o al l
Rabbi ni c Laws and t hei r pr eser ved document s?" We ar e now cer t ai n t hat
i t i s i mpossi bl e t o unvei l t hese l aws t o t he publ i c. No one can r each
t hi s knowl edge except t hose who have achi eved t he hi ghest degr ee f r om
t he Rabbi s of t hi s l aw. I f you have achi eved t hi s l evel , i t i s
i mpossi bl e t o bel i eve what you pr esent ed of cr i t i ci smagai nst t hem.
Because i f you have r eached t he Rabbi ni c st at us, you ar e bound t o
behave as t hey do, ot her wi se you wi l l be decl ar ed t o be a deser t er of
your r el i gi on. Then t hey woul d have i ssued a l egi t i mat e cal l t o ki l l
you i n any way, as i t has been conf i r med r egar di ng t hose who cause har m
t o a J ew or t o t he J ewi sh Rel i gi on. But because you ar e a ' poor J ew' ,
as you have i ndi cat ed, i t may be due t o your i gnor ance of t he secr et ,
as t o t he l awf ul ki l l i ng of human bei ngs, because i t was di scl osed f r om
your Rabbi ni c l aw t hat : " The non- J ewi sh nat i ons ar e not humans i n t he
same way t he J ews ar e. But t hey bel ong t o t he ani mal t ype, and must be
t r eat ed as such. " We gi ve you pr oof of t he f act ual exi st ence of t hi s
secr et wi t h your Rabbi s and your r el i gi ous not abl es i n what now has
become cl ear . Because i t i s a sol i d bel i ef , i t cannot be negat ed by
l i es and decept i on, l i ke t he sl ayi ng of t he Pr i est Thomas and hi s
ser vant i n Damascus. [ I f i t i s] your st at ement t hat t he Tor ah does not
per mi t such act s, act s not appr opr i at e as r el i gi ous act s, t hen by what
l aw di d you ki l l J ohn and Zakar i ah bef or e? I t i s a known f act t hat t hey
wer e Pr ophet s. Expl ai n t hi s t o us. Ot her wi se, you ar e al l decei ver s,
and I concl ude t hi s by sayi ng " peace" .



6 - The Jews Permit the Killing of Christians

I had hoped t o r evi ew t he Repor t of Rabbi Benhas Seekl or ah, The Gr and
Rabbi of t he J ews, i n or der t o be abl e t o t hi nk and r espond t o t he
cont ent s, wi t hi n t he scope of my l i mi t ed knowl edge of t he J ewi sh
Rel i gi on and t hei r basi c bel i ef s. Now t hat I have been abl e t o t ake a
l ook at t he r epor t , I f i nd mysel f obl i gat ed t o r espond, especi al l y
si nce no one el se has t ook t he i ni t i at i ve t o do so. I t i s t he dut y of
ever y i nf or med per son because of t he hor r or s cont ai ned i n t he J ewi sh
Rel i gi on t o r espond i n or der f or peopl e t o know especi al l y t he evi l s of
t hei r bel i ef s so t hat t hey wi l l no l onger be hi dden f r omt hose who have
t he i nt el l ect t o under st and, and t hose who wer e not pr ovi ded t he means
[ by] whi ch [ t o] sear ch f or t hese bel i ef s.
I was i n Damascus dur i ng t he i nci dent of t he sl ayi ng of t he Pr i est and
hi s ser vant . Thr ough t he i nvest i gat i on i nt o t he causes of t he cr i me, I
l ear ned what wi l l be st at ed l at er on, as t o t hei r f al se bel i ef s. I
wonder about t he communi t y i t sel f , and t hose who gr ew up st udyi ng t hese
decept i ons and secr et s as t o whet her t hey wer e among t hose who have
r ead t he Tal mud. Thei r r epor t whi ch was ment i oned ear l i er , whi ch
cont ai ned t hese unwor t hy and r i di cul ous vi ews, i s subj ect t o t hei r own
evi l s, and wi l l ul t i mat el y conci ve [ sic; deceive?] and enci r cl e i t s own
maker s. They have di spl ayed t o t he whol e wor l d some of t hei r l ess
har mf ul decept i on whi l e l eavi ng t he gr eat hor r or s hi dden. How pl ent i f ul
ar e t he hor r or s commi t t ed agai nst ot her nat i ons, whi ch ar e par t of t he
Tal mud? I f t hey ar e not among t hose who have r ead t he Tal mud, and do
not know i t s sour ce, t hey ar e obl i ged t o i nf or mus as t o t he manner i n
whi ch t hey have r esponded t o t hei r Rabbi i n r egar d t o t hese ut t er ance,
whi ch t hey pr esent ed t o hi mi n t he f or mof a quest i on. How coul d t hey
st at e, at t he end of t hei r r epor t , t hat t hey have not r ead, and t hat
t hey have never hear d of t hei r r el i gi on per mi t t i ng t he ki l l i ng of human
bei ngs? I n addi t i on t o t hat , i f t hey r ead t he Tal mud, t he pr oof s whi ch
we ar e goi ng t o st at e, woul d r eveal t hei r ai mas conni vi ng and
decept i on as ment i oned i n t he r epor t . However , i f t hey wer e not
i nf or med of i t , why? Accor di ng t o t he J ews, peopl e of t he ear t h ar e
peopl e. As st at ed by Ruby Al i azar i n Sameem' s book of t he Tal mud, whi ch
st at es of t hem" peopl e of t he ear t h" r egar di ng t hei r sacr i f i ce at Yum
Ki pper , t he day of f or gi veness. I t i s t he f i r st of t he New Year when
t he J ews f ast f or t went y- f our hour s, even i f i t occur s on a Sat ur day.
He was asked by hi s st udent s, " You sai d t hei r sacr i f i ce, why di d you
not say t hei r sl ayi ng?" He sai d, " The sl ayi ng r equi r es a bl essi ng, but
t he sacr i f i ce does not need a bl essi ng. " Lat er on ot her Rabbi s adopt ed
hi s ver si on and compl et ed t hei r sayi ng, " I t i s per mi ssi bl e t o spl i t
open t he peopl e of t he ear t h, i n t he same way you spl i t open t he f i sh. "
I f t hi s i s t hei r concept , i t i s per mi ssi bl e t o execut e t hose who do not
r ead t he Tal mud, t o al l ow t hemt o be sacr i f i ced and spl i t t hemopen. I t
[ i s] i mper at i ve upon t hose who submi t t ed t he r epor t t o ask of t hei r
Rabbi , Benhas Seekl or ah, wher e t hi s l aw came f r om. And i f t hi s i s t o be
appl i ed t o t hese who do not r ead t he Tal mud, I wonder what l aw t hey
have r eser ved f or t he r est of t he nat i ons of t he wor l d?
Rabbi Benhas Seekl or ah i s t he one who i s r esponsi bl e f or a r epl y t o
t hose who have t he r epor t i n or der t o convi nce t hem. I amnot obl i gat ed
t o r epl y t o t hem, even t hough what i s about t o occur shor t l y wi l l
expl ai n i t . But I di d f i nd i t i mper at i ve f or me t o r epl y t o some of
what was i n t hei r r epor t . For i nst ance, " I f t hey have a smal l amount of
money, t hei r Rabbi wi l l st eal i t f r omt hem, and i f t hey had none t hey
woul d be excommuni cat ed or del i ver ed t o t he r ul er s t o be t or t ur ed l i ke
t he cr i mi nal s. " Thi s st at ement has no f oundat i on at al l , as i t i s
st at ed i n t hei r r el i gi ous t eachi ng, nor accor di ng t o t hose who pr epar ed
t he r epor t . But t he basi c t r ut h of t hei r r el i gi ous t eachi ng does st at e
t hat , " I f a per son col l abor at ed wi t h t he gover nment agai nst anot her
J ew, or ot her t han a J ew, and causes physi cal har mt o t he J ew, t hen i t
i s l awf ul t o ki l l t he col l abor at or , " such a per son i s r egar ded by t hem
as an enemy, as ment i oned i n t he Tal mud, and t he i nt er pr et at i ons of t he
sayi ng. One of t hese i nt er pr et at i ons, accor di ng t o Rabbi Sol i man Rashi ,
who i s r ecogni zed by t he J ews f or hi s sayi ngs and i nt er pr et at i ons i n
t he book " Kamar at Abbour ah Zadah, " on page 26. Al so Hassan Mi shbat ' s
book, " Shal ha and A' r oukh, " page number 380 of t he " Awani " i s
i nt er pr et ed as f ol l ows, " I mean t he one who causes hi s J ewi sh f r i end t o
pay money t o someone ot her t han a J ew, or i dent i f i ed hi mt o t he
gover nor , whi ch woul d expose hi m, causi ng hi mt o pay money f or a
beat i ng or even a mur der . Even i f hi s J ewi sh f r i end had commi t t ed my
si ns, or was hat ed by hi m, or had caused hi mmany i nj ust i ces, i n spi t e
of al l t hat , i f he col l abor at ed, t he col l abor at or must be ki l l ed, and
he woul d have no chance of ent er i ng heaven i n t he next l i f e. And i f he
di d not cooper at e except wi t hi n t he spher e of t he use of wor ds agai nst
hi s J ewi sh br ot her , i n or der t o obt ai n some per sonal gai ns, or t o wi n
money, r egar dl ess of how t hat came about , t hen t hi s per son has
j ust i f i ed hi s own mur der . I t i s t o be enj oi ned on any per son who hear s
hi s voi ce t o at t empt t o ki l l hi m. The per son who i s t he f i r st t o
succeed i n t he act wi l l have gr eat r ewar ds. I f he needs money i n or der
t o ki l l hi m, t he J ewi sh communi t y of t hat t own ar e obl i gat ed t o pay t he
expenses, each accor di ng t o hi s shar e.
I t i s cl ear , t hat t hei r cont ent i on t hat t hei r Rabbi s st eal t hei r money
and hand t hemover t o t he r ul er s t o be t or t ur ed l i ke cr i mi nal s, ar e
f al se and basel ess cl ai ms. Thi s has been st at ed i n t hei r books i n
addi t i on t o what t hey know. However , we have no knowl edge of i t
our sel ves. Thi s pr oves a si ngl e f act , whi ch i s t o say, " How easy i t i s
f or t hemt o ki l l a human bei ng. "
Second. They have st at ed i n t hei r above ment i oned r epor t t hat hundr eds
of wi t nesses ar e r eady t o t est i f y t hat t he Rabbi ni c Laws j ust i f y
decept i on, cheat i ng, di scr i mi nat i on, and even deat h t o ever y human
bei ng who opposes t he Rabbi ni c Laws and t hei r act i ons, whi ch t hey cal l
t he J ewi sh Rel i gi on, accor di ng t o t hei r sayi ngs, " Do not concl ude f r om
t hi s t hat i t j ust i f i es t he ki l l i ng of human bei ngs, because t hi s
accusat i on i s voi d; " yet now t hey say t hat t her e i s no such t hi ng, and
t hat t hey never hear d of i t !
The compar i son of t hese t wo st at ement s i n a cl ear r epor t shows t he
f act s whi ch t hey t hemsel ves ar e t r yi ng t o r ef ut e. Accor di ng t o t hei r
r el i gi on, t hey bel i eve t hat t he human r ace i s onl y t he Peopl e of
I sr ael , and al l ot her s, f r omal l nat i ons, ar e mer el y ani mal s. I n t he
book " Abour a Wudah" , page 35 we f i nd st at ed t hat t he Tor ah does not
f or bi d t he J ews f r ommar r yi ng women f r omot her nat i ons. However , i t
f or bi ds t he J ewi sh women f r ommar r yi ng men f r omot her nat i ons. I t
appear s t hat t hese l ear ned men have l i t t l e r espect f or J ewi sh women. Do
t hey t hi nk t hat t hey ( t he men) ar e t he onl y ones capabl e of knowi ng t he
di f f er ence bet ween t he ani mal nat i ons and t he human J ews? Thi s i s one
poi nt . The ot her i s st at ed i n t he book of " Ar oubeen" t hat i t i s not
per mi ssi bl e f or a J ew t o r esi de i n a house wi t h a per son f r omot her
nat i ons, and t hat t he J ew must st r i ve t o evi ct such a per son. I t says
t hat t he homes of t he ot her nat i ons ar e l i ke ani mal st abl es, and t hat
t hey ar e not homes at al l .
Thi r d. I t st at es i n t he book " Bar akhout , " t he f i r st par t of t he Tal mud,
on page 53, i n r ef er ence t o what happened t o one of t hei r l ear ned men
i n Egypt , who st r uck a J ew because he met wi t h an Egypt i an woman. The
J ew went t o t he gover nor compl ai ni ng, " Ther e ar e l ear ned J ews who
l egi sl at e l aw cont r ar y t o t he l aws of t he gover nment . " The gover nor
summoned t he l ear ned man and asked hi mt he r eason f or beat i ng t he man.
He answer ed t hat he has beat en hi mbecause he met wi t h a f emal e donkey.
The gover nor asked hi mt o pr oduce wi t nesses. And Behol d! The Khodr ,
peace be upon hi m, appear ed and t est i f i ed agai nst t he man. Then t he
gover nor asked hi m, " Why di d you not ki l l hi m?" He r epl i ed, " When we
l ef t our count r y, we l ef t wi t h no per mi ssi on t o ki l l . " On l eavi ng t he
gover nor ' s of f i ce, t he J ew sai d t o t he l ear ned man, " You l i ed t o me,
may God t ake you f or your l i e. " The l ear ned man r esponded, " You cur sed
one! Thi s i s not t hei r name. To us, t hei r names ar e donkeys, and t hei r
f l esh i s t he f l esh of a donkey. " The J ews want ed t o go back t o t he
gover nor t o compl ai n agai nst t he l ear ned man. Then t he l ear ned man
r ai sed hi s st i ck and st r uck and ki l l ed hi m.
Four t h. I t i s st at ed i n Ar t i cl e si x of t he book " Bi amout , " t hat t he
Tor ah st at es t hat whoever si t s by a gr ave wi l l be f oul ed by i mpur i t y
and become uncl ean. Thi s i s t r ue f or t he gr aves of t he J ews because
t hei r name i s Adam, and t hat t he r est of t he nat i ons ar e not of Adam,
t her ef or e, t he i mpur i t y does not bef al l on whoever t ouches t hei r
gr aves.
Fi f t h. I t al so st at es on page 25 of t he book " Raf out , " t hat a l ear ned
man st at es t hat i f a per son of anot her nat i on i s naked, i t i s not
l awf ul f or a J ew t o pr ay i n f r ont of hi m. Thi s [ i s] because i t [ i s]
per mi ssi bl e t o l i ken t hei r f l esh t o t he f l esh of [ t he] donkey. Because
t hi s i s i ndecent exposur e, as st at ed i n t he Tor ah i n r egar d t o Noah' s
sons when t hey saw t hei r f at her ' s i ndecent exposur e. These pr oof s
cl ar i f y what has been st at ed by t hose who made t he r epor t . Because i n
t hei r eyes onl y t he J ews ar e f r omt he human r ace, si nce t he peopl e of
ot her nat i ons ar e l i ke ani mal s, and ar e not a par t of t he human r ace.
I t i s possi bl e f or me af t er t hi s t o expl ai n t he pr oof s, whi ch I have
l ear ned r egar di ng t he l awf ul ki l l i ng of peopl e f r omot her nat i ons, t he
non- J ews. Whoever r eads t he Tal mud wi l l di scer n a wi de and spaci ous
f i el d of t r easur y and hor r or , whi ch t he J ews use i n t he name of t hei r
r el i gi on.

Ar t i cl e seven, page 58 of t he book " Si nhar een, " st at es, " Ever y i dol
wor shi pper must be ki l l ed i f he st r i kes anyone f r omt he peopl e of
I sr ael . " Thi s i s based on t he st at ement , " When t he Pr ophet Moses saw an
Egypt i an quar r el l i ng wi t h an I sr ael i t e he st r uck t he Egypt i an and
ki l l ed hi m. "
Thi s i s one. The second i s, " I f an i dol wor shi pper want ed t o r est on
Sat ur day, he must be ki l l ed, because God says, " They ar e not t o r est
ni ght or day. " I f an i dol wor shi pper r eads t he Tor ah, he must be
ki l l ed, because t he Tor ah i s onl y f or t he Peopl e of I sr ael . The t hi r d
i s st at ed i n Ar t i cl e 158 of t he book " Tour boudah dasah, " t hat " I t i s
not per mi ssi bl e f or a good J ewi sh doct or t o t r eat anyone f r omt he ot her
nat i ons, even f or pai d ser vi ces. But i f t he J ewi sh doct or i s not good
i n t he medi cal pr act i ce, he must l ear n by t r eat i ng onl y peopl e of ot her
nat i ons. I t i s f or bi dden f or hi mt o t r eat any J ew as l ong as he
r emai ned unski l l ed. "
Al so, i t st at es l i kewi se on page 26 of t he book " Abour Zadah" .
The Four t h. I t i s st at ed i n Rabbi Sol i man Rashi ' s book, on i nt er pr et i ng
t he Tor ah, " When t he Peopl e of I sr ael deci ded t o l eave Egypt , Moses
asked hi s God t o br i ng col d weat her over Egypt i n or der t o dest r oy al l
t he ani mal s. God r esponded t o hi s r equest . Then t he Peopl e of I sr ael
asked t he per mi ssi on of t he Phar aoh t o l eave Egypt , and he gr ant ed t hem
hi s per mi ssi on. Af t er war ds he was sor r y, and he r eadi ed hi s hor ses,
t ook hi s peopl e, and al l t he hor semen of Egypt , and t r i ed t o f ol l ow
t hemt o br i ng t hemback. " The i nt er pr et er wonder s by aski ng, " Fr om
wher e di d t he Phar aoh br i ng t hese hor ses, si nce t he col d weat her had
al r eady ki l l ed al l t he ani mal s of Egypt ?" He r epl i ed t o hi msel f , " These
hor ses bel ong t o t he Egypt i ans who f ear God, who hear d t he wor ds of
Moses. They hi d t hei r hor ses unt i l t he col d waves passed by, and t hei r
hor ses wer e not af f ect ed. " As f or Phar aoh and hi s men, we saw how t hey
ent er ed t he sea, and God dr owned t hemand t hei r hor ses, ki l l i ng al l of
t hem. Accor di ng t o what Rabbi Shamoun has sai d, " The one who i s good,
vi r t uous of ot her nat i ons you ki l l , and t he ni ce one f r omt he snakes,
you cr ush hi s head. "
What i s st at ed above i s onl y some of t he mul t i t udes of t hei r t eachi ngs.
But t hi s i s enough t o move t owar ds some st at ed i nf or mat i on r egar di ng
t he mur der i nvest i gat i on of t he Pr i est Thomas and hi s ser vant , and what
accompani ed t he i nvest i gat i on of t he ar gument wi t h Rabbi J acob I nt abi ,
t he Chi ef Rabbi of t he J ewi sh Communi t y i n Syr i a, wi t h Rabbi Moussa
Abou Al - Af i eh, and Khawaj a Meyer Far hi .
The I nvest i gat or began by sayi ng, " The mur der of t he Pr i est and hi s
ser vant was not a per sonal act of your sel f , but one i n accor dance wi t h
t he r el i gi on. You execut ed your act , not r equi r ed by t he commandment of
your r el i gi on. Thi s i s i n l i ne wi t h what Mohammad Af andi Al - Musl i mani
( pr evi ousl y Rabbi Moussa Abou Al - Af i eh) t r ansl at ed f r omyour books,
when he expl ai ned t hat , " t he per mi ssi on t o ki l l , accor di ng t o t he
Tal mud, i s appl i cabl e t o t he i dol wor shi pper s and nat i ons of t he past ,
and not of t hose who ar e Musl i ms or Chr i st i ans. " And so i t was sai d t o
hi mt hat t he nat i ons of t he past wer e subj ect t o ki l l i ng because t hey
wer e i dol wor shi pper s. I wonder i f you now bel i eve i n what our Mast er
J esus br ought f or t h and of t he Most Nobl e Bi bl e, and of what our Mast er
Mohammad and t he Most Nobl e Qur an br ought f or t h. I f you bel i eve i n t hat
and acknowl edge i t , t hen t he wor ds of t he Tal mud woul d be accur at e
about t hose nat i ons of t he anci ent past . But i f you do not bel i eve
t hese Pr ophet s, and t hei r Books, t hi s means t hat you r egar d t hemt he
same as t he r est of t he nat i ons. What i s your opi ni on? Rabbi Moussa
answer ed, " What i s st at ed i n t he Tal mud appl i es t o t he i dol
wor shi pper s. As f ar as t he Chr i st i ans and Musl i ms, t hey ar e not i dol
wor shi pper s, because t hey r enounced i dol wor shi p. "
The I nvest i gat or asked, " We suppose t hat al l Chr i st i ans deser t ed i dol
wor shi p, i n spi t e of t he f act , t hat some of t hemwer e J ews and some
wer e i dol wor shi pper s. You must make cl ear t o us, whi ch of your books
f or bi ds t hei r ki l l i ng, because t hey deser t ed i dol wor shi p and became
Chr i st i ans or Musl i ms?"
Meyer Far hi r esponded, " I do not have an answer . " Rabbi Moussa sai d, " I
do not have an answer . " The I nvest i gat or t hen sai d, " I f you do not have
an answer , t hi s means t hat you per mi t t he ki l l i ng of al l , wi t hout
separ at i ng t he Chr i st i ans and t he Musl i ms f r omt he i dol wor shi pper s. "
Meyer sai d, " Thi s quest i on i s f or t he Chi ef Rabbi of Rel i gi on. " Thus,
Rabbi J acob, t he Chi ef Rabbi was cal l ed, and was asked about t hat , and
t hey r ead t o hi mwhat was l awf ul . He r epl i ed, " I cannot answer now. I
need t o consul t t he books and t he sour ces. " They sai d t o hi m, " Request
t he books whi ch you need, and we wi l l br i ng t hemt o you. " He sai d, " I
do not r emember any par t i cul ar book now. When I r et ur n t o my house, I
wi l l sear ch and gi ve t he needed answer . " Then Rabbi Moussa Abou Al -
Af i eh asked, " i f t hi s was appl i cabl e t o t he i dol wor shi pper s, why do
whom[ si c] you dest r oy f or [ si c] t he wi ne of a J ew i f i t has been
t ouched by a Chr i st i an or a Musl i m[ ?] . Why i s i t f or bi dden f or a J ew t o
eat br ead or any f ood f r omt he house of a Chr i st i an or a Musl i m? The
Tal mud f or bade t he[ m] r egar di ng i dol wor shi pper s. I t i s cl ear l y shown
what t he Tal mud has f or bi dden r egar di ng i dol wor shi pper s. Thi s i s st i l l
appl i cabl e t o al l nat i ons al so. "
Rabbi J acob r epl i ed, " I f we know t hat a Chr i st i an or a Musl i mr eal l y
and t r ut hf ul l y knew God as we know Hi m, t o eat or dr i nk wi t h hi mwoul d
be l awf ul . However , our knowl edge of t he nat i ons, whi ch ar e mi xed
t oget her , makes i t necessar y f or us t o f or bi d eat i ng and dr i nki ng wi t h
t hem. " Then Rabbi J acob was addr essed as f ol l ows, " Look at t he Musl i ms
and t he Chr i st i ans l i vi ng al l over Syr i a, t hey bel i eve i n God and know
Hi mas you do. I s i t l awf ul t o eat and dr i nk wi t h t hemi n accor dance
wi t h t he r equi r ement s of your r el i gi on?"
Rabbi J acob answer ed, " Ther e ar e many of t hem. Al so among t hemar e
Dr uzes, Nussi r i yeh, and Tayamni h. Ther ef or e, we cannot separ at e t hose
who bel i eve i n God f r omt hose who do not . "
Then t hey addr essed hi maccor di ngl y, " I n Syr i a t her e ar e many l ear ned
men, wel l known Musl i mshei ks, who ar e t r ue bel i ever s of I sl amand who
hol d t r ue bel i ef of God. They ar e ver y f ar apar t i n t hei r bel i ef s f r om
t he Dr uzes, Nussi r i yeh, or Tayamni h; woul d you eat and dr i nk wi t h
t hem?" Rabbi J acob answer ed, " I f we at e wi t h some of t hem, and r ef used
t o eat wi t h ot her s, t hi s woul d cause hat e and ani mosi t y bet ween us. For
t hi s r eason we ar e f or bi dden t o eat wi t h al l of t hem. " Then i t was sai d
t o hi m, " Ther ef or e, by t hi s vi ew you ar e seeki ng j ust i ce ( f or al l )
t hr ough your enmi t y t owar ds al l and not t owar ds some. "
These sayi ngs r equi r e much obser vat i on and ser i ous t hought f r omus. The
answer s of t hi s Rabbi i ndi cat e t hat t hey want t o conver t al l t o
J udai sm. We must al l become l i ke t hem, i n or der t o l awf ul l y par t i ci pat e
i n al l t hei r af f ai r s. Al so what he has sai d i s t hat t her e ar e among t he
ot her nat i ons Dr uzes, Nussi r i yeh, and Tayamni h whi ch woul d i ndi cat e
t hat t he J ewi sh l aw woul d per mi t t he l awf ul ki l l i ng of t hose i n t he
same way t hat i s l awf ul f or i dol wor shi pper s. Because t hey st at e t hat
what has been ment i oned i n t he Tal mud i s appl i cabl e t o t he i dol
wor shi pper s and t o t he f ol l ower s of anci ent r el i gi ons and bel i ef s. I t
has become cl ear dur i ng t he t r i al of Fat her Thomas and hi s ser vant how
t hey ( t he J ews) f eel r egar di ng t hese cr i mes. They woul d not have deni ed
t hei r j ust i f i cat i on f or t he ki l l i ng of al l Chr i st i ans or Musl i ms.


DOCUMENTS

[Editor's Note: The French text has not been exhaustively proofread]
The House f or St udy, Tr ansl at i on and Publ i shi ng obt ai ned t he
f ol l owi ng document s concer ni ng t he mur der of Fat her Thomas. These wer e
t he of f i ci al Messages bet ween t he Fr ench consul i n Damascus, and t he
Fr ench consul Gener al i n Al exandr i a, and t he Fr ench Gover nment i n
Par i s, dur i ng t he t i me of t he cr i me, i t s ambi gui t y and of t he
ci r cumst ances.
We have af f i xed t o each document , i t s number , dat e, and sour ce as i t i s
l i st ed i n t he pr eser ved r ecor ds of t he Fr ench For ei gn Mi ni st r y.

Damas, le 21 dcembre 1839
Ratti-Menton au ministre, le marchal duc de Dalmatie,
Prsident du Conseil, ministre d'tat des Affaires Etrangres
Objet: Le Pre Thomas, religieux franciscain et se demande de pension pour ses vieux jours.
Le Pre Thomas, aujourd'hui presque septuagnaire, s'est rendu en Syrie, il y a presque 30 ans, d'aprs la
promesse que lui fit le cardinal Fesch que le gouvernement imprial pourvoirait son sort. Il est certain que
cette promesse n'obtint jamais sa ralisation et que le religieux dont il s'agit s'est u rduit aux ressources les
plus exigus.
D'aprs les renseignements pris par moi auprs de Mr Beaudin et qui concordent avec ceux de nos pres
lazaristes, le Pre Thomas a t toujours un homme paisible, remplissant sans fanatisme les devoirs
sacerdotaux et s'tait concili ici l'estime et l'affection des chrtiens et des musulmans.
Mais un fait qui, selon moi, doit lui mriter la bienveillance du gouvernement du Roi et de tous les amis de
l'humanit, c'est l'introduction de la vaccine que lui doit les populations de Damas et qu'il a propag avec
un zle louable.
Il fonde d'autant plus d'espoir pour sa demande d'une pension que son grand ge ne lui permettra pas d'en
jouir longtemps. J e dois ajouter qu'il est presque aveugle et que l'existence Damas d'une cure (paroissiale)
desservie par les moines de Terre sainte le prive des moluments qu'il aurait eus comme chapelain de la
nation.
J e suis...

Source: Archives Affaires Etrangres
Direction commerciale et du contentieux Consulat de Damas, Vol. 1 (1839-1844), rapport n.12, fol.24-25.

Damascus, December 21, 1839
Fr om: Rat t i - Ment on
To: The Mi ni st er , t he Mar shal Duke of Dal mat i e, Pr esi dent of t he
Counci l of Mi ni st er , Mi ni st er of For ei gn Af f ai r s.
The Subj ect : Fat her Thomas, t he Fr ench r el i gi ous man, who i s r equest i ng
a r et i r ement sal ar y i n hi s ol d age.
Fat her Thomas i s sevent y year s ol d t oday. He came t o Syr i a about t hi r t y
year s ago. The Car di nal had pr omi sed hi mi n t he name of t he I mper i al
Gover nment at t he t i me of hi s mi ssi on. Cer t ai nl y, t hi s pr omi se has not
been f ul f i l l ed. And t hi s man of r el i gi on i s l ef t wi t h t he mi ni mum
r equi r ement f or hi s l i vi ng needs.
My per sonal i nvest i gat i on of t hi s mat t er was i n agr eement wi t h t hat of
Mr . Beaudi n and t he Lazar i st Fat her , conf i r mi ng t hat Fat her Thomas was
a man of gent l e char act er , and has pr act i ced hi s sacr ed r el i gi ous
obl i gat i on wi t h t ol er ance and wi t hout di scr i mi nat i on, whi ch has made
hi man obj ect of l ove and r espect f or bot h Chr i st i ans and Musl i ms.
Fat her Thomas i nt r oduced t he smal l pox vacci ne, whi ch was badl y needed
by t he peopl e of Damascus. He ut i l i zed i t wi del y wi t h gr eat ent husi asm
whi ch deser ves our gr at i t ude. Thi s act , i n my opi ni on, deser ves t he
at t ent i ve at t ent i on and car e of t he Royal Gover nment , and al l f r i ends
of humani t y. He cher i shed hi gh hopes f or t he f ul f i l l ment of hi s r equest
f or a r et i r ement sal ar y i n hi s ol d age, whi ch does not al l ow hi mt o do
much wor k. I f i nd i t necessar y t o al so st at e t hat he has ver y poor
si ght , bei ng al most bl i nd. And t hat t he pr esence of t hi s r el i gi ous man
i n Damascus who has ser ved t he cause of t he Hol y Land, whi l e depr i vi ng
hi msel f of a sal ar y he deser ves and whi ch he woul d have r ecei ved as a
Pr i est f or hi s count r y, had he wor ked i n hi s count r y.
Fai t hf ul l y
The Sour ce: Pr eser ved Document s of t he For ei gn Mi ni st r y Depar t ment of
Tr ade and Cont i nent al Af f ai r s Consul at e of Damascus Vol . I ( 1839- 1844) ,
Repor t No. 12, pp. 24- 25.

Paris. le 10 Avril 1840
Rponse cette demande.
Thiers, Le Prsident du Conseil, ministre des Affaires trangres.
Objet: Allocation au Pre Thomas.
!!...
.....
La demande adresse mon prdcesseur, en faveur de ce religieux...
L'ordre des Franciscains auquel appartient le Pre Thomas n'tant pas au nombre de ceux auxquels le
gouvernement du Roi alloue une subvention au Levant, il n'y a aucun moyen de donner suite la
demande...
Quant aux rparations que parat rclamer le couvent des Capucins Damas, il ne saurait y tre pourvu
qu'aux frais de cet ordre qui jouit d'ail-leurs d'une allocation annuelle sur les fonds de mon Dpartement.

Source: Mmes archives-mme consulat de Damas. vol.1 (1839-1844), instructions 4, fol. 38.
Commentaire: Cette rponse n'avait aucune raison d'tre, puisque le Pre Thomas avait t assassin
entretemps.

Par i s, Apr i l 10t h, 1840
Response t o t he Message
To: Thi er s; The Pr esi dent of t he Counci l of Mi ni st er s, Mi ni st er of
For ei gn Af f ai r s.
Subj ect : Al l ocat i on of Sal ar y f or Fat her Thomas

Regar di ng t he r equest whi ch was t r ansf er r ed t o me by my pr edecessor i n
r egar d t o t he above ment i oned man of r el i gi on.
The or der of t he Fr ench Chur ch, t o whi ch Fat her Thomas i s a member , di d
not ment i on hi mamong t hose who wer e sent by t he Royal Gover nment t o
t he East . Ther e i s no way t o f ul f i l l hi s r equest .
But t her e ar e compensat i ons al l ocat ed t o t he Capuci ns Convent s i n
Damascus, t hese ( compensat i ons) ar e awar ded f or such pur poses. However
t hese ar e pr esent ed onl y as annual awar ds, and ar e f r ommy depar t ment
al l ocat i ons.

Sour ce - Same Document s
Consul at e of Damscus Vol . I ( 1839- 1844) , I nst r uct i ons No. 4, p. 38.

Not e: Ther e was no need f or t hi s r esponse, because Fat her Thomas was
mur der ed dur i ng t hi s per i od.

Alexandrie, le 5 mars 1840
Cochelet au ministre, le marchal duc de Dalmatie, Prsident du Conseil, ministre lai des Affaires
Etrangeres.
Objet: L'assassinat du Pre Thomas.
!!...
.....
Il y a eu Damas un assassinat qui a constern la ville. Un religieux franciscain, protg de la France a
disparu. Et d'aprs les rvlations d'un bai hier juif qui a dclar avoir t appel chez un ngociant isralite
pour couper la gorge de ce prtre, on suppose qu'il a t la victime du fanatisme des juifs.
Le consul de France et le gouverneur gnral se sont parfaitement entendus pour taire arrter ceux que l'on
suppose coupables de ce crime, et l'affaire sera poursuivie avec actis it. Mehemet Ali vient, d'aprs mes
reprsentations de donner les ordres les plus svres pour que la punition des coupables ait lieu.

Source: Archives Affaires trangres.
Consulat gnral d'Egypte et dpendances.
Egypte, vol. 9 (1839-1844) Direction politique, rapport n.170, fol.321.

Al exandr i a, Mar ch 5t h, 1840
Fr om: Cochel et .
To: The Mi ni st er Mar shal Duke of Dal mat i e, Pr esi dent of t he counci l of
Mi ni st er s.
Subj ect : The Assassi nat i on of Fat her Thomas.
A cr i me was commi t t ed i n Damascus, t he cause of gr eat al ar mi n t he
ci t y. A r el i gi ous Fr ench man, r espect ed by Fr ance, has di sappear ed. The
i nvest i gat i on has r eveal ed t hat a J ewi sh bar ber conf essed t hat he was
cal l ed by a J ewi sh Mer chant , who r equest ed hi mt o cut t he t hr oat of
t hi s Pr i est . I t i s assumed t hat he was a vi ct i mof J ewi sh Fanat i ci sm.
Ther e i s a compl et e under st andi ng bet ween t he Fr ench Consul and t he
Gover nor Gener al t o ar r est t hose who supposedl y commi t t ed t he cr i me.
The mat t er wi l l be pur sued r el ent l essl y. I t was r el at ed t o me, by t hose
who r epr esent ed me t o Mohamad Al i , t hat he gave hi s st er n or der s t o
puni sh t hose who ar e gui l t y.

Sour ce: Pr eser ved Document of t he Fr ench For ei gn Mi ni st r y, t he Gener al
Consul at e i n Egypt .
Egypt . Vol . I X ( 1839- 1844) The Pol i t i cal Admi ni st r at i on Repor t No. 170,
p. 321.

Alexandrie, le 2 avril 1840
Cochelet Thiers, le Prsident du Conseil, ministre des Affaire. Etrangres.
Objet: L'assassinat du Pre Thomas.
L'affaire relative l'assassinat du Pre Thomas, gorg Damas par les juifs... a t poursuivie par le comte
de Ratti-Menton qui a t parfaitement second par le gouverneur gnral de la Syrie avec beaucoup
d'activit et d'nergie.
J e laisse ce consul le soin de vous rendre compte de toutes les circonstances de cet assassinat qui aura un
grand retentissement, si, comme on l'assure et ce qu'on a peine croire, il a t caus pour un motif
religieux. Mais je ne crois pas pouvoir me dispenser de mettre sous vos yeux la copie d'une dclaration
envoye Mehemet Ali et qui a t faite par un rabbin qui s'est fait musulman, de laquelle il semblerait
rsulter que le sang humain est ncessaire aux juifs pour clbrer leur Pque et qu'il en manque Damas.
Cette dcouverte inattendue a donn lieu de supposer que des individus qui ont disparu depuis longtemps,
sans qu'on ait su ce qu'ils taient devenus et entr'autres des esclaves grecs qui avaient t achets par les
juifs lors de la guerre de More, ont t victimes du fanatisme de ces derniers.
Mehemet Ali a ordonn de faire des recherches pour se mettre sur les traces de ces disparitions et il tient de
prescrire son fils Ibrahim Pacha d'agir sans empressement, avec prudence et discernement, afin d'arriver
la connaissance de la vrit dans une affaire qui intresse le monde entier et qui va soulever de nouvelle et
grande animosit contre les juifs.
Le retentissement qu'elle a dj eu Smyrne a donn lieu quelques excs et a mis le grand rabbin Pencas
de Segura dans la ncessit de dsavouer par une note qui a t rendue publique, la supposition que les juifs
se servent de sang chrtien dans la solennit de leur Pque.
Les poursuites qui seront exerces Damas contre le grand rabbin Racoub d'Anteb qui a t accus par le
rabbin Moussa Abou Afieh d'avoir reu le sang du Pre Thomas feront sans doute connatre la vrit.

Annexe: la dclartion de Moussa Abou Afieh.
Source: La mme que sopra, fol.9-10 et pour l'annexe, fol.11-13.

Al exandr i a, Apr i l 2nd, 1840
Fr om: Cochel et .
To: Thi er s, The Pr esi dent of t he Counci l of Mi ni st er s, Mi ni st er s of
For ei gn Af f ai r s. Subj ect : The Assassi nat i on of Fat her Thomas.

Count Rat t i - Ment on cont i nued t o pur sue t he assassi nat i on case of Fat her
Thomas, who was sl ai n by t he J ews i n Damascus. He was gr eat l y assi st ed
by t he Gover nor Gener al of Syr i a, who was al so pur sui ng t he
i nvest i gat i on wi t h f i r mness and ener gy.
I have assi gned t o t hi s Consul t he t ask of r epor t i ng t o you t he ent i r e
ci r cumst ances concer ni ng t he assassi nat i on oper at i on whi ch has caused a
gr eat upr oar , when i t became absol ut el y cer t ai n t hat t he cause of t he
cr i me was r el i gi ous whi ch was har d t o bel i eve. I bel i eve i t i s my
obl i gat i on t o submi t t o you a copy of t he conf essi on sent t o Mohamad
Al i , cont ai ni ng t he t est i mony of t he Rabbi , who decl ar ed hi s conver si on
t o I sl am, whi ch i ndi cat es t hat t he J ews need human bl ood f or t he
cel ebr at i on of YumKi ppur , t he r emembr ance of t he J ews depar t ur e f r om
Egypt . Thi s year t hey di d not have bl ood avai l abl e t o t hemi n Damascus.
Thi s unexpect ed di scover y has opened up a wi de r ange of specul at i on and
suggest i on t hat per sons who have di sappear ed a l ong t i me ago, wi t h
unknown ci r cumst ances sur r oundi ng t hei r di sappear ance, may have been
vi ct i ms of t hi s J ewi sh f anat i ci sm. And among t hose who have di sappear ed
ar e t he Gr eek sl aves who wer e bought by t he J ews dur i ng t he Mur ee War .
Mohamad Al i or der ed a sear ch and an i nvest i gat i on of t hose who had
pr evi ousl y di sappear ed. He wr ot e t o hi s son, I br ahi mPasha, t o move
sl owl y and car ef ul l y, and t o wor k i n a secr et i ve manner i n or der t o
r each t he t r ut h about a case whi ch was hi ghl y i mpor t ant t o t he wor l d,
and whi ch mi ght st i r a new, gr eat hat r ed agai nst t he J ews.
These r epent ant echoes i n I zmi r opened t he way f or some r adi cal
sent i ment s, whi ch caused t he Gr and Rabbi Pencas Segur a t o i ssue a not e
openl y decl ar i ng hi s di sappr oval of t he cr i me. Thi s al so l ed t o t he
assumpt i on t hat t he J ews used Chr i st i an bl ood f or t he cel ebr at i on of
YumKi ppur .
The i mmedi at e cont i nuance of t hese i nvest i gat i ons i n Damascus whi ch
wer e conduct ed agai nst t he Gr and Rabbi , Moussa Bokhour Yehuda, known as
t he Sal ahi ki , who was accused by Rabbi Mussa Abou Al Af i eh of r ecei vi ng
t he bl ood of Fat her Thomas, woul d cer t ai nl y uncover t he t r ut h.

Annex: The decl ar at i on of Musse Abou Al - Af i eh.
Sour ce: I bi d. , pp. 9- 10, f or annex, pp. 11- 13.

Alexandrie, le 6 avril 1840
Cochelet Thier, le Prsident du Conseil, ministre des Affaires Etrangres.
Objet: L'assassinat du P.Thomas-Les juifs de Damas et l'Autriche (extrait).
Mr de Ratti-Menton me rend compte de quelques discussions assez vives qu'il a eues avec le consul
d'Autriche Damas et qu'il vous fera sans doute connatre, l'occasion de la procdure relative
l'assassinat du Pre Thomas, d'aprs laquelle il semblerait que le consul d'Autriche cherche drober
quelques coupables, qui sont sous sa protection, l'action de la justice dans des vues que l'on suppose
sordides.
J e viens d'apprendre que Mr le consul gnral d'Autriche Alexandrie devait crire son gouvernement
dans des termes peu modrs pour se plaindre de la conduite de Mr Ratti-Menton. Il est probable que le
Cabinet de Vienne vous soumettra cet gard une reprsentation.
J e vous prie, Mr le Ministre, d'ajourner votre rponse jusqu' ce que Mr le consul du Roi A Damas vous ait
donn tous les claircissements qui pourront vous mettre mme de fixer votre opinion. J e crois pouvoir
vous assurer d'avance qu'ils auront lieu de vous satisfaire.

Source: Archives Affaires Etrangres
Consulat gnral d'Alexandrie- Direction commerciale et du contentieux. vol.28, fol.511, (nr.179).
Remarque: Le mme document, mimes archives- Consulat gnral d'Egypte et dpendances, vol.10 (1840),
fol.17-18.

Al exandr i a, Apr i l 6t h, 1840
Fr om: Cochel et .
To: Thi er , The Pr esi dent of Counci l of Mi ni st er s and For ei gn Mi ni st er .
Subj ect : The Assassi nat i on of Fat her Thomas and t he J ews of Damascus
and Aust r i a.
I was i nf or med by Rat t i - Ment on of a shar p ar gument bet ween hi mand t he
Consul of Aust r i a r egar di ng t he pr oceedi ngs of t he assassi nat i on of
Fat her Thomas. I t appear s t hat t he Consul of Aust r i a i s t r yi ng t o
secur e t he pr ot ect i on of some of t he gui l t y ones who ar e under hi s
pr ot ect i on, and t o i nt er vene wi t h j ust i ce, and t o di sr egar d opi ni ons he
assumes t o be st upi d. Mr . Rat t i - Ment on wi l l i nf or myou r egar di ng t hi s.
Al so, I happen t o know, at t hi s moment , t hat t he Gener al Consul i n
Al exandr i a, submi t t ed t o hi s gover nment a r epor t cont ai ni ng ver y st r ong
wor ds, expr essi ng hi s i r r i t at i on wi t h Mr . Rat t i - Ment on. And i n al l
pr obabi l i t y t he Gover nment of Aust r i a wi l l send i t s obj ect i on of t he
mat t er .
Pl ease, Mi ni st er Si r , you may del ay your r esponse unt i l t he Ki ng' s
Consul pr esent s al l cl ar i f i cat i on and i nf or mat i on whi ch wi l l enabl e you
t o make your deci si on. I amver y sur e bef or e hand t hat t hese
cl ar i f i cat i ons wi l l wi n your sat i sf act i on.
Sour ce: Pr eser ved Document s of t he For ei gn Mi ni st r y, The Consul Gener al
i n Al exandr i a, Depar t ment of Commer ce and Gl obal Af f ai r s. Vol . XXVI I I ,
p. 511.

Paris, le 28 avril 1840
Le ministre Thiers Cochelet.
Objet: Assassinat du P.Thomas et mission d'enqute de Mr Desmeloizes.
Vous avez t inform par la correspondance du roi Damas des circonstances relatives la disparition
d'un missionnaire catholique plac sous sa protection et qu'on suppose avoir t assassin...
... (insuffisance du rapport de Mr Ratti-Menton).
Cependant des bruits gnralement rpandus en Europe et qui tendent prsenter sa conduite sous les
couleurs les plus dfavorables me font un devoir de faire clairer sur les lieux mmes et le plus
promptement possible l'obscurit qui enveloppe pour moi les circonstances de ce malheureux vnement.
D'o la ncessit de l'envoi de Mr Desmeloizes, par la voie la plus prompte Damas, avec mission de
vrifier l'ensemble des faits, tant l'gard de Mr Ratti-Menton qu' celui des autorits locales et de me
transmettre le rsultat de cette enqute par votre intermdiaire...

Source: Archives Affaires Etrangres
Consulat gnral d'Alexandrie- Direction commerciale et du contentieux, vol.28, fol.438 (nr.63).

Par i s, Apr i l 28, 1840
Fr om: Mi ni st er Thi er s.
To: Cochel et .
Subj ect : The Assassi nat i on of Fat her Thomas and t he I nvest i gat i on
Commi t t ee, Mr . Desmel oi zes pr esi di ng.
The Repr esent at i ve of t he Ki ng' s Consul i n Damascus had i nf or med you
about t he ci r cumst ances sur r oundi ng t he di sappear ance of a Cat hol i c
Mi ssi onar y among t hose who wer e under hi s pr ot ect i on, and i t i s assumed
t hat he was assassi nat ed.
( Def i ci ency i n Mr . Rat t i - Ment on' s Repor t )
A Gener al upr oar has been hear d i n Eur ope dur i ng t hi s per i od, t r yi ng t o
pi n al l ki nds of accusat i on, and i n an i nappr opr i at e manner , agai nst
Mr . Rat t i - Ment on, whi ch makes i t ur gent f or me t o expl ai n t he si t uat i on
as soon as possi bl e i n or der t o cl ar i f y t he sur r oundi ng obscur i t y
r egar di ng t hi s evi l i nci dent .
Due t o t hi s ur gent necessi t y, I have sent Mr . Desmel oi zes, t o ar r i ve i n
Damascus wi t h due hast e, t o assume t he t ask of i nvest i gat i ng t he
happeni ngs, wi t h what ever i s avai l abl e t o Mr . Rat t i - Ment on, or by
cooper at i on wi t h t he l ocal aut hor i t i es, pendi ng t he r esul t s of t hi s
i nvest i gat i on whi ch he wi l l del i ver t o me t hr ough your of f i ce.

Sour ce: I bi d. pp. 438.

Paris, le 9 mai 1840
Le ministre Cochelet.
Objet: Assassinat du P.Thomas et mission d'enqute de Mr Desmeloizes.
... (Raison de cette mission: insuffisance des rapports du consul).
La prudence de cet lve-consul me persuade d' ailleurs qu'il saura apprcier la nature dlicate de cette
mission confidentielle et concilier l'obligation qu'elle lui impose d'puiser tous les moyens d'information
pour clairer les faits avec les mnagements que rclame la position du consul du roi...

Source: mme archives- Alexandrie, vol.28, fo1.454 (nr.64).

Par i s May 9t h, 1840
Fr om: The Mi ni st er .
To: Cochel et .
Subj ect : The Assassi nat i on of Fat her Thomas and t he I nvest i gat i on
Commi t t ee Mr . Desmel oi zes pr esi di ng.

The r eason f or t he f or mat i on of t hi s Commi t t ee i s due t o i nsuf f i ci ent
i nf or mat i on i n t he Consul ' s r epor t s.
The r eser voi r of i nt el l i gence and caut i on possessed by t he Assi st ant
Consul convi nced me t hat t he nat ur e of t hi s del i cat e and secr et mi ssi on
demands t he ut most concer n, and commi t ment f or what ever i s needed i n
t hi s i nvest i gat i on i ncl udi ng ut i l i zi ng of al l avai l abl e means i n or der
t o obt ai n t he i nf or mat i on whi ch wi l l shed l i ght on t he event s of t he
i nci dent , and t o t ake t he appr opr i at e measur es needed, i n accor dance
wi t h t he st at us and opi ni ons of t he Ki ng' s Consul .

Sour ce: I bi d. p. 454.

Constantinople, le 21 avril 1840
Reprsentants des isralites de Damas l'ambassadeur de France.
Objet: Ptition en favour des juifs de Damas, au sujet de l'assassinat du Pre Thomas.
Monsieur l'Ambassadeur,
Les soussigns, agissant au nom de la Communaut isralite de Damas, ont l'honneur d'exposer votre
Excellence, que d'aprs l'absence du P.Thomas, capucin protg franais et son domestiqe, dans la dite
ville, sur des soupons levs seulement d'avoir vu le dit capucin dans le quartier des isralites et de ne pas
l'avoir vu sortir, Mr le comte de Ratti-Menton consul de France la rsidence de Damas, a fait arrter et
conduire dans les prisons du gouvernement local plusieurs isralites, qu'on a horriblement tourments,
lequel, au milieu de ses souffrances dans l'espoir de s'en librer, a dpos que les 7 ngociants isralites de
premire classe l'ont fait appeler pour gorger le dit capucin, que, d'aprs son dire ont t arrts les dits
respectables 7 individus dont la probit est connue encore en France par les premires maisons de
commerce avec lesquelles ils sont en relation d'affaires depuis de longues annes. Et sur cette calomnie on
les a horriblement tourments, que deux de ces ngociants ont succomb, ainsi que 4 des principaux arrts.
Les restants, prfrant la mort aux horribles tourments se sont dclars coupables. Mais, aussitt qu'on leur
accorda un moment pour respirer, ils juraient ne rien savoir et protestaient de leur innocence.
Et comme, d'aprs la loi, les accuss ne peuvent tre interrogs qu'aprs avoir entendu les dpositions de
tmoins charge et dcharge et jamais mis la torture, les ptitionnaires se croient en raison de recourir
l'quit de Votre Excellence, sachant qu'elle propose (sic) des sentiments philanthropiques pour requrir
ainsi qu'ils requirent que lui plaise inter-venir auprs de Mr le consul Damas pour le sommer d'agir avec
humanit et suivent le, institutions de procdure criminelle adoptes par les nations cis ilises.
Ils ont l'honneur d'tre...
Signature: Abrahan Asquenaze- Isaac Becar Mosh- Hanna Becar Isaac.

Const ant i nopl e, Apr i l 21, 1840
Fr om: The Repr esent at i ves of t he J ews i n Damascus.
To: The Ambassador of Fr ance.
Subj ect : Pet i t i ons pr esent ed by t he J ews of Damascus r egar di ng t he
assassi nat i on of Fat her Thomas.
Mr . Ambassador ,
The under si gned, on behal f of t he J ewi sh communi t y i n Damascus, ar e
honor ed t o pr esent t o your Excel l ency, t hese f act s r egar di ng t he
di sappear ance of Fat her Thomas Al - Capuci , a Fr ench subj ect , pr ot ect ed
i n hi s per son and r esi dence i n t he ci t y of Damascus by Fr ance, causi ng
a wave of suspi ci ons t owar d t he J ews, sol el y because someone saw Fat her
Thomas ent er i ng t he J ewi sh Quar t er s and di d not see hi ml eave
i mmedi at el y f ol l owi ng t hi s, Comt e Rat t i - Ment on, t he Fr ench Consul who
r esi des i n Damascus, ar r est ed a number of J ews, det ai ni ng t hemi n t he
l ocal pr i sons of t he Gover nment . Some of t hemwer e subj ect ed t o
t or t ur e.
Among t hose ar r est ed was a bar ber , who was f r i ght ened by t he t or t ur e.
I n hopes of wi nni ng hi s f r eedom, and t o save hi msel f t he pai n of
t or t ur e, he accused seven not abl e J ews f r omt he communi t y. He sai d t hat
t hey cal l ed hi mt o sl ay t he pr i est . Rel yi ng sol el y on hi s t est i mony,
t he seven most r espect ed member s of t he J ewi sh communi t y, who enj oy
hi gh r eput at i ons i n Fr ance, and ar e wel l known by t he hi gh commer ci al
houses, who have wor ked wi t h t hemf or many year s, wer e ar r est ed. They
wer e subj ect ed t o f r i ght f ul t or t ur e, because of t hese f al se
accusat i ons. Two of t hembr oke down and f our ot her s f ol l owed. The r est
pr ef er r ed deat h t o t hi s f r i ght f ul t or t ur e and have conf essed t hat t hey
wer e gui l t y. But t he mi nut e t hey f ound t he oppor t uni t y t o r ef l ect on
t he mat t er , t hey have swor n t hat t hey knew not hi ng r egar di ng t he cr i me
and hol d f ast t o t hei r i nnocence.
The l aw demands t hat t he accused shoul d not be i nt er r ogat ed unt i l t hey
ar e i nf or med about t he t est i moni es of t he wi t nesses, t hose t o t hei r
advant age as wel l as t hose agai nst t hem, and t hey must not be subj ect ed
t o t or t ur e.
The par t i es pr esent i ng t hi s pet i t i on on t hei r behal f ar e wi t hi n t hei r
r i ght s i n pr esent i ng t hemsel ves t o your Excel l ency' s sense of j ust i ce.
We know t hat t hey ar e pr oposi ng a humane r equest f or i nt er vent i on wi t h
Mr . Consul of Damascus, ur gi ng hi mt o wor k i n t he spi r i t of humani t y,
and t o f ol l ow t he di r ect i ves i ncl uded by t he cr i mi nal j ust i ce codes,
whi ch have been adopt ed by ci vi l i zed nat i ons.
We have t he honor t o si gn:
I br ahan Asquenazo, I saac Becar Moshe' - Hanna Becar I saac.

Constantinople, le 25 avril 1840
Le comte de Pontois au consul de Ratti-Menton.
Monsieur le consul,
J e crois devoir vous transmettre copie d'une requte qui vient de m'tre adresse au nom de la communaut
isralite de Damas, concernant les poursuites judiciaires auxquelles a donn lieu la disparition du Pre
Thomas.
J e suis persuad d'avance que votre conduite, en cette circonstance, loin de mriter les inculpations dont
elle est l'objet de la part des rclamants, a t de tout point, conforme l'esprit d'quit et de philanthropie
qui doit caractriser les actes de tout agent franais. Mais comme je n'ai reu de vous jusqu' prsent
aucune information sur les dtails de cette affaire et la part que vous y avez prise. Et comme, d'un autre
ct, il me parat malheureusement certain qu'on a, en effet, employ, pour venir la dcouverte de la
vrit, des moyens odieux que l'humanit repousse, et que la lgislation turque a elle-mme abolis, je vous
serai oblig de me mettre, aussi promptement que possible, en mesure de rpondre la requte qui m'est
adresse et de repousser formellement, dans l'intrt du gouverne-ment du roi, les allgations qu'elle
contient.
Recevez...

Source: Archives Affaires Etrangres
Ambassade, Turquie, Direction politique. vol.280, fol.224-225 et 226, (nr.38).

Const ant i nopl e Apr i l 25, 1840
Fr om: Comt e de Pont oi s.
To: Consul Rat t i - Ment on.
Mr . Consul :
I see i t as my dut y t o t r ansmi t t o you a copy of t he pet i t i on pr esent ed
t o me i n t he name of t he J ewi sh communi t y of Damascus. I t i s a pet i t i on
r el at ed t o t he j udi ci al f ol l ow up i n t he case of t he di sappear ance of
Fat her Thomas.
I amconvi nced bef or ehand t hat your behavi or i n t hi s case, i s f ar f r om
t he accusat i ons cont ai ned i n t hi s pet i t i on, and t hat you have behaved
i n a manner bef i t t i ng t o t he spi r i t of j ust i ce, l ove, and humani t y,
whi ch char act er i zes t he behavi or of ever y Fr ench ci t i zen. However ,
si nce I have not r ecei ved f r omyou any det ai l ed i nf or mat i on i n t hi s
case and t he pr oceedi ngs you have f ol l owed I suspect peopl e i n t he
gover nment used t or t ur e and bad pr ocedur es t o get at t he t r ut h. These
ugl y met hods ar e unaccept abl e t o humani t y i n or der t o obt ai n t he t r ut h.
Even Tur ki sh Laws f or bi d t he use of t hese met hods. I f i nd mysel f
compel l ed t o ask you t o pr ovi de me, as soon as possi bl e, wi t h t he
pr oceedi ngs whi ch wi l l al l ow me t o r epl y t o t he cont ent s of t he
pet i t i on whi ch was pr esent ed t o me, and t o r epl y i n a deci si ve manner .
Thi s i s i n t he i nt er est of t he Ki ng' s Gover nment t o expel t he cl ai ms of
t he pet i t i on.

Sour ce: Ar chi ves, Fr ench For ei gn Mi ni st r y, The Embassy, Tur key,
Di r ect or y of Pol i t i cs. Vol . 280 pp. 224- 226 ( No. 38) .

Alexandrie, le 30 avril 1840
Cochelet au Prsident du Conseil, ministre des Affaires Etrangres.
Objet: L'assassinat du Pre Thomas.
Rsum de l'introduction: rappel du rapport du 4 avril- Rception du rapport du consul de Damas contenant
les procs- verbaux des interrogatoires relatifs au P.Thomas, dans l'attente de ceux de son domestique...
On a dj cherch cependant jeter des doutes tant sur le crime que sur les causes. On a voulu mme
incriminer les actes et le caractre de Mr Ratti-Menton.
Ce fonctionnaire honorable, justement bless du reproche que l'on a fait son humanit et du soupon
qu'on a os lever sur sa dlicatesse, m'a crit la lettre en date du 24 avril, nr.II, accompagne de deux
pices, avec prire d'adresser copie Paris.
Vous penserez sans doute qu'il n'y a pas lieu autoriser l'enqute sol-licite par Mr Ratti et vous
reconnatrez par la lecture de toutes les lettres et pices l'injustice de l'accusation porte contre lui.
J e regrette toutefois que des amis imprudents des juifs ou des avocats maladroits, gagns dj sans doute
par leurs largesses, cherchent altrer ou dnaturer les faits, car ils mettent ceux qui les connaissent
parfaite-ment dans la necssit de les publier, en les appuyant de toutes les preuves qui peuvent faire jaillir
la vrit et convaincre les consciences les plus timores.
La vrit, une fois connue et rpandue, peut rveiller toutes les haines contre les juifs et donner lieu de
grands excs. Ce qu'il y aurait eu de plus prudent et de plus sage de la part des juifs et t de laisser
considrer le meurtre de Damas comme l'action d'un rabbin fanatique qui avait excit quelques-uns de ses
coreligionnaires. Mais, en voulant nier le crime et l'usage du sang, on s'est expos une controverse qui va
donner lieu des graves ressentiments. On a dj fait circuler en Syrie et ici une copie de quelques
paragraphes du Talmud contre les chrtiens.
Quant moi, j'ai vit, autant que possible, de me prononcer dans une affaire dont la poursuite appartient
exclusivement Mr le consul du roi Damas qui est entirement indpendant dans l'excercie de ses
fonctions judiciares.
J e me suis born, jusqu' prsent, lui envoyer le 10 mars l'ordre de Mehmet Ali qui ordonnait Chrif
Pacha, gouverneur gnral de Syrie, d'activ* les dmarches relatives la dcouverte de l'assassinat. En
l'envoyant Mr Ratti-Menton, j'ai ajout:
Vous veillerez seulement ce que la poursuite et les arrestations qui auront lieu pour arriver connaire la
vrit soient faites avec les mnagements qui sont dans notre lgislation et que l'on doit observer envers de
simples accuss. Il faut que la vrit se dcouvre sans que l'on soit oblig d'employer des mesures qui
rpugnent nos moeurs et qui ne sont pas de notre poque.
J 'ai crit aussi particulirement Mr Ratti-Menton de laisser au seul consul d'Autriche la responsabilit de
ses actes, s'il ne punit pas ceux de nos nationaux que la procdure signale comme coupables, en ajoutant
qu'ils seraient justiciables de l'opinion publique qui les fltrirait, si leur gouvernement ne svissait pas.
Mais, en traant Mr le consul du roi Damas une ligne de conduite sage et prudente, je pense que Votre
Excellence qui a sous les yeux les pices du dossier et qui doit encore en recevoir d'autres, repoussera les
allgations de ceux qui exploitent les affaires de Damas dans le sens de leurs intrts et de leurs passions et
qui cherchent reprsenter la conduite du consul du roi comme illgale et arbitraire et mme vnale,
lorsque l'opinion publique rend heureusement son caractre ferme, humain et intgre une entire justice.
J e suis...

Annexe: le rapport du consul Ratti-Menton. Voir page suivante.

Al exandr i a, Apr i l 30, 1840
Fr om: Cochel et .
To: The Pr esi dent of t he Counci l , Mi ni st er of For ei gn Af f ai r s.
Subj ect : The Assassi nat i on of Fat her Thomas.
A Br i ef I nt r oduct i on: Ref er r i ng t o t he r epor t of Apr i l and t he r epor t
whi ch we r ecei ved f r omt he Consul i n Damascus, whi ch cont ai ned t he
mi nut es of i nt er r ogat i on r egar di ng t he case of Fat her Thomas, we ar e
awai t i ng t he l at est devel opment s.
At t hi s t i me t hey ar e t r yi ng t o cast doubt s, r egar di ng t he quest i on of
t he cr i me, and t he subj ect of i t s cause. They al so want t o accuse Mr .
Rat t i - Ment on, as t o hi s act i ons and hi s char act er .
Thi s honest publ i c of f i ci al has been wounded by t he accusat i ons whi ch
quest i on hi s humani t y, and t he doubt s whi ch t hey have dar ed t o cast
agai nst hi s f i ne behavi or . He sent me a message on Apr i l 24t h,
accompani ed by t wo document s, and he r equest ed of me t o send hi ma copy
of i t t o Par i s.
You must cer t ai nl y be t hi nki ng t hat t her e i s no r oomt o al l ow cr i t i ci sm
agai nst t he i nvest i gat i on conduct ed by Mr . Rat t i . You wi l l under st and
af t er r er eadi ng al l messages and r epor t s t he dept h of t hese unj ust and
f al se accusat i ons whi ch have been di r ect ed agai nst hi m.
At t he same t i me, I f eel sor r y f or t he way t he f r i ends of t he J ews have
behaved and t he behavi or of t hei r l awyer who has been l acki ng i n a
pr oper and upr i ght manner , i n or der t o r ecei ve t he spoi l s gi ven hi m.
They have at t empt ed t o f or ge and change t he nat ur e of t he event s,
subj ect i ng t hose who knew t hemwel l t o a char act er assassi nat i on
campai gn. They have r el i ed upon any pr oof capabl e of hi di ng t he t r ut h
i n or der t o convi nce, t o t he cont r ar y, t hose who have a cl ean and pur e
consci ence.
The mer e di scl osur e of t hese f act s may i gni t e pr ej udi ces agai nst t he
J ews and, pr epar e t he way f or wi de r eact i ons agai nst t hem. However , t he
J ews have suf f i ci ent caut i on, and cl ever ness t o avoi d a sl i p up i n t hi s
mur der case i n Damascus. Thi s case i s t he scheme of a f anat i c Rabbi who
managed t o st i r up a number of hi s r el i gi on br ot her s. I n t hei r at t empt
t o deny t he cr i me, and t hei r deni al of t he use of bl ood, t hey have
become subj ect t o cont r adi ct i ons whi ch have pr ovi ded an oppor t uni t y f or
ser i ous consequences. Pr esent l y t her e ar e some peopl e i n Syr i a and i n
Egypt who ar e di st r i but i ng ver ses f r omt he Tal mud whi ch ar e ant i -
Chr i st i an.
For me per sonal l y, I t r i ed i n ever y way possi bl e t o avoi d becomi ng
i nvol ved or i nt er veni ng i n a case t hat was consi der ed t o be wi t hi n t he
spher e of t he j ur i sdi ct i on, of t he Ki ng' s Consul i n Damascus. He i s
compl et el y i ndependent i n t he pr act i ce of hi s l egal act i vi t i es.
I l i mi t ed mysel f unt i l Mar ch 10t h, f r omi nvol vi ng hi munt i l Mohamad
Al i ' s or der t o t he Gover nor Gener al of Syr i a, Shar i f Pasha was
r ecei ved, an or der whi ch r equest ed hi mt o wor k har d i n or der t o
di scover t he mur der er . I al so at t ached t o t hi s or der , whi ch I sent t o
Mr . Rat t i - Ment on, t he f ol l owi ng message,
" Make sur e t hat t he pr oceedi ngs of t hi s case, and t he ar r est s t hat t ake
pl ace as a r esul t ar r i ve onl y at obt ai ni ng t he t r ut h i n accor dance wi t h
our l aws, and j ur i spr udence, pr ot ect i ng t he l ess i mpor t ant ( secondar y
st at us) of t he accused. The di scover y of t he t r ut h i s a must , however ,
wi t hout t he use of met hods whi ch ar e not i n agr eement wi t h our
t r adi t i ons and whi ch ar e i nappr opr i at e t o our age. "
I al so wr ot e i n a per sonal manner t o Mr . Rat t i - Ment on t o hol d t he
Aust r i an Consul r esponsi bl e f or hi s act s i f t hose per sons pr oved t o be
gui l t y ar e not puni shed, t hen publ i c opi ni on had t he r i ght t o abhor and
t o di sappr ove of t hi s act .
Wi t h wi se and car ef ul behavi or by t he Ki ng' s Consul i n Damascus, I am
of t he opi ni on t hat your Excel l ency may wor k t o di spel t he f al se
accusat i ons of t hose who ar e t r yi ng t o expl oi t t he si t uat i on i n
Damascus f or t hei r own i nt er est t hr ough t hei r use of emot i onal i smand
t he f al si f i cat i on of t he behavi or and act i ons of t he Ki ng' s Consul ,
i nst ead of accusi ng hi mof bei ng unj ust and heavy handed. Wi t hout
r egar d t o l egi t i macy, or even br i ber y, j ust i ce can pr evai l compl et el y
when a sense of sat i sf act i on has been r est or ed and t he publ i c bel i eves
t hat t hese peopl e have been deal t wi t h i n an honest and humane manner .

Annexe au rapport du consul Cochelet du 30 avril 1840
Rapport du consul Damas Ratti-Menton. le 24 avril 1840
Objet: le consul autrichien el ses tentatives de dfendre les responsables juifs.
Monsieur le Consul gnral,
Nia lettre nr.l0 venait d'tre expdie, lorsqu'il m'est tomb entre les mains un document dont je ne veux
pas tarder vous donner communication. Ce document se trouve ci-joint. C'est la traduction d'une lettre
crite en dernier lieu par Mr Laurin (Consul gnral d'Autriche Alexandrie) Mr Merlato (consul
d'Autriche Damas). J 'ignore si avant sa dmarche auprs du vice-roi et surtout avant son invitation Mr
d'Appony (ambassadeur d'Autriche Paris) il y a eu sur cette affaire quelque confrence avec vous. Il n'en
parle et je conclus que Mr Laurin a t en cette occasion ce qu'il devait tre aprs nos prccents mutuels en
Sicile.
Mr le consul gnral d'Autriche se plaint sans doute, d'aprs le rfr de Mir Merlato de mes actes
arbitraires a l'gard de Mr Picciotto et de Mr Ayrout. Ce dernier est qualifi de ngociant autrichien. Et
d'abord, Mr Ayrout est un arabe. Il tait crivain d'Ihrahin Pacha. Le gnralissime le chassa de son service
pour cause d'inconduite. En second lieu, Mr Ayrout, comme je l'ai crit au consul d'Autriche n'est point
propritaire de la maison o j'ai t faire une perquisition. Cette maison appartient au beau-pre de Mr
Ayrout, le Saydha (Saydah), Raya, lequel l'habite avec toute sa famille. Il y logeait son gendre, en passant.
Depuis cette visite, Mr Ayrout a quitt la chambre qu'il occupait et s'en est all habiter autre part. Peut-on
d'aprs cela qualifier raisonnablement d'arbitraire mon entre dans une maison de Raya avec le
consentement exprs de l'autorit locale qui me faisait assister par ses agents de police'?
Pour ce qui concerne Mr Picciotto, il m'est impossible de ne pas tre un peu plus long. Et encore, hien des
incidents doivent tre passs pour ne pas tre interminables.
Dans le principe de cette affaire du Pre Thomas, cet individu se trouvait un soir chez Mr Beaudin, o il y
avait, outre les chrtiens du pays, Mr le consul d'Angleterre, le l'rre Eustet, lazariste, et Mr Santi, sujet
franais et pharmacien de l'hpital de Damas. La question tait tombe sur la nouvelle du jour. Mr Santi
apostropha avec une telle violence le Mr Picciotto et menaa avec une si vhmente nergie de se porter
des excs contre les juifs vis--vis desquels il prtendait que j'usais de faiblesse que je le fis conduire
immdiatement dans la prison du consulat d'o il ne sortit que le lendemain, par considration pour sa
famille dont il est l'unique soutien et d'aprs la promesse formelle qu'il me fit de s'abstenir dsormais de
toute activit illgale.
Le 10 fvrier, un franais, dlgu par moi, devait continuer avec le consentement du consul d'Autriche et
l'assisstance de son 'chancelier, qui est juif ionien, quelques visites domiciliaires dans des maisons de
protgs autrichiens ou toscans. Mr Picciotti vient me trouver pour me demander d'exempter sa maison de
toute perquisition, parce que, disait il, cela ferait un mauvais effet dans le public et sa maison ne fut pas
visite.
Pendant que le barbier juif Soliman restait chez moi o j'esprais l'amener des rvlations, en lui
promettant son pardon, Mr Pissiotti se prsenta encore au consulat avec le chancelier de Mr Merlato et
j'tais si peu dispos agir arbitrairement vis--vis de lui que par un excs de con-fiance aveugle et
contrairement aux usages judiciaires, sur sa demande expresse faite devant plusieurs tmoins, je consentis
ce qu'il eut un entre-tien particulier avec le barbier. Le mme jour, j'ai su qu'il avait profit de cet entretien
pour engager le barbier persister dans ses dngations. Et pourtant je ne l'ai pas fait citer comme
suborneur de tmoins.
J 'ai eu tort, je l'avoue, de lui avoir appliqu le qualificatif d'assassin avant une dcision judiciaire sur cette
question. Mais, la rtractation que je fais ici, je l'ai faite Mr Merlato dans ma lettre. Cette expression tait
le rsultat d'un mouvement de vracit que Mr Picciotto avait provoqu par son apostrophe hors de saison,
ses menaces du consulat et du gouverne-ment autrichien et l'talage pompeux de sa gnalogie. A propos
de gnalogie, je vous demanderais le consul gnral, de faire ici une digression la lettre de Mr Laurin.
J 'apprends, de source certaine, que Mr Eliaou Picciotto, oncle du prsident et consul gnral d'Autriche
Alep, s'est plaint au gnralissime (Ibrahim Pacha) de ce que, sans gard pour son nom et sa qualit
consulaire on avait agi si lgrement envers son neveu. Mr Eliaou Picciotto qui veut aujourd'hui que les
vertus sortent de leur caractre d'individualit pour s'tendre la famille, co'_sentirait-il pareillement ce
que les crimes perdissent leur caractre de peronnalit? Que peut signifier cette prtention de faire rentrer
dans la balance de la justice le poids d'un nom quel-conque? Mr Eliaou Picciotto a-t-il fait valoir un pareil
argument devant te tribunal toscan qui a condamn aux galres de Livourne, pour cause d'assassinat d'un
capitaine, un autre de ses neveux, cousin de celui que l'on poursuit ici? Et le frre de celui-ci n'a-t-il pas t
oblig de quitter Alexandrie pour cause d'escroquerie et n'a-t-il pas abandonn lestement Constantinople o
il allait tre poursuivi la suite d'un vol de schales? Pour que toutes choses fussent gales, il faudrait que la
famille Picciotto, qui veut que l'on tienne compte de ses vertus ses membres gangrens, consentit en
dernire analyse subir la clause d'ignominie pour les vices de ces derniers. Mais je reviens la lettre de
Mr Laurin.
J e passe d'abord l'accusation des actes arbitraires contre les juifs en gnral, accusation qui, d'aprs les
termes de cette lettre, doit tre l'objet d'une ngociation spciale d'ambassadeur souverain. Il faut me
connatre bien peu (et Mr Laurin me connat assez) pour me lancer une pareille accusation. Qu'entend-il par
actes arbitraires? Sont-ce de visites domiciliaires dans des maisons dnonces comme suspectes? Tous les
jours et dans tous les p'ays du monde de pareilles visites ont lieu. Et, ayant lieu par l'entremise de l'autorit
constitue, elles n'ont jamais t qualifies d'arbitraires. Sont-ce les arrestations prventives sur
dnonciation de tmoins? Mais tous les jours aussi, dans les affaires criminelles comme dans les questions
de complot, nos procureurs du roi en France et ailleurs les magistrats spciaux font oprer des arrestations
qui n'amnent d'autres rsultats dfinitifs que la mise en libert pour cause de non lieu? Est-ce l de
l'arbitraire?
Ah, si ce mot a t employ dans l'intention de faire comprendre par son usage vague et indtermin que
j'ai exerc ou fait exercer des actes de violence quelconque. Alors, je ne mnage pas l'expression quelque
adresse qu'elle doive aller et je donne un dmenti formel l'accusateur.
Si j'avais t le partisan de la violence, je ne serai pas intervenu d'une manire nergique auprs des
populations musulmanes et chrtiennes. Et peut-tre aujourd'hui il n'existerait pas un juif Damas. Mille
tmoins pourront attester ce que j'avance. Ils pourront dire que pendant plusieurs jours et plusieurs nuits les
cawas du consulat ont d rester avec la patrouille dans le quartier juif pour empcher les chtiens et les
turcs de se porter des actes de violence contre des hommes du peuple que je n'ai jamais con-fondu dans
l'accusation avec les vritables coupables. Et les enfants arrts par ordre de Schrif Pacha, dans l'espoir
que les parents feraient quelques rvlations, n'ont-ils pas t rendus leurs familles sur ma demande?
Le Sieur Schehad Stambouli, frre d'un des assassins contumaces, n'est-ce pas moi qui lui ait fait donner
1a libert dont il n'a profit que pour se livrer de nouvelles intrigues auprs de Mr Pretz, juif allemand
converti. N'ai-je pas depuis trois semaines adress inutilement plusieurs demandes, tant verbales qu'crites,
au gouverneur gnral pour l'engager relcher le Sieur Moussa Farhi, pre d'un autre accus contumace et
dans l'arrestation duquel je ne suis entr pour rien?
J e dirai plus. J 'ai cherch, en cas o la chose serait possible, faire ouvrir la porte de la prison au Malien
Raphal qui a t l'un des premiers a entrever dans le principe la marche de l'affaire et dont le fils, sans
aucun mauvais traitement quelconque, s'est dclar un des complices dans l'assassinat du domestique. Mr
Beaudin, ayant t all le voir dans la prison et ne le trouvant pas convenablement log, n'a-t-il pas
demand, aprs m'avoir consult, qu'on lui donnt une meilleure chambre? Sont-ce tous ces actes qui
constituent des actes arbitraires? Oh, alors oui, je me dclare coupable et que Mr Laurin prononce.
Encore un mot sur cet objet.
Le 29 fvrier, la culpabilit des prvenus, tant constate par la dcouverte des restes du P.Thomas et des
circonstances en dpendant, Schrif Pacha me fit dire par Mr Beuadin que les accuss tant condamns.
Mais que si j'y consentais, il croyait que ce serait bien de surseoir leur excution jusqu' l'arrive des
ordres du gnralissime. Ma rponse ne fut pas douteuse. Et si j'avais t tellement altr du sang de mes
semblables, ces hommes n'existeraient pas aujourd'hui.
Il reste traiter la question relative la jalousie qu'inspirent les richesses des juifs. Est-ce moi qui en suis
jaloux? Mr Laurin ne le dit pas formellement. Mais, comme dans l'ensemble de sa lettre mon nom seul se
trouve nonc, je dois m'appliquer l'accusation.
Si Mr Laurin avait t loyalement inform, il aurait su que les juifs de Damas eussent pay de tout l'or
qu'ils possdaient une transaction sur l'assasinat du Pre Thomas. Ils savent que depuis longtemps ils
mettent sur leur responsabilit la disparition d'une foule d'individus appartenant d'autres croyances. Vous
comprenez, ds lors, Mr le consul gnral, qu'il s'agit pour eux d'une affaire capitale. La procdure,
aujourd'hui pendante, tombant par l'intervention du consul de France, toutes les inculpations prcdentes
rentreront naturellement dans le nant. La condamnation de quelques individus leur importait fort peu. Au
fond, pour arriver cette condamnation, il fallait passer par des rvlations sur quelques passages de leurs
livres et des explications sur plusieurs de leurs pratiques religieuses. L tait toute la question.
J e rougis jusqu'au blanc des yeux d'tre condamn entrer dans des dtails terre terre. Mais, je ne puis
m'empcher de dire, et des hommes honorables peuvent en tmoigner, que pour les sommes assez rondes
qui ont t offertes des personnes qui ne figurent qu'en second plan dans la poursuite de cette affaire,
j'aurais pu profiter de cette circonstance pour satisfaire largement ma prtendue jalousie. En effet, Mr le
consul gnral, outre deux schales de chachemire et deux fleurs en diamants offertes Mr Beaudin, on a
propos cet employ 150 mille Piastres, s'il parvenait dtruire mes convictions sur le fait de l'assassinat.
Vous comprenez la rponse qui a d tre faite par cet employ. Mr Chubli, qui m'a offert son assistance
gratuite pour toutes les critures que j'aurais faire en langue arabe pendant que Mr Beaudin tait occup
aux recherches avec moi, Mr Chubli a reu d'un nomm Eliahou Nahmed, joallier juif, en prsence du Dr
Salina, protg anglais, la proposition de 1000 (mille) bourses, s'il voulait s'employer en faveur de la
question juive. Ces propositions ont t entames deux fois et deux fois elles ont t repousses.
J e le rpte, si le consulat du roi avait voulu faire de cette question une question d'argent, et moi et tout ce
qui m'entoure, nous pouvions puiser largement dans ces trsors tant vants des juifs.
Mais non. Et ici j'en appelle au peu de conscience qui peut rester aux accusateurs. Une pareille pense n'est
venue personne, et c'tait pour prvenir les tentations de corruption que, ds le principe, j'ai eu l'honneur
de vous prier de demain son Altesse le vice-roi des ordres pour que les employs subalternes du
gouvernement fussent surveills svrement. Ds le principe aussi, lorsque les juifs notables, et parmi eux
taient la plupart de ceux qui figurent dans le procs, lorsque, dis-je, les juifs virent chez moi en dputation,
je leur dis de m'assister. J e les prvins, en outre, qu'ils vitassent par un zle inconsidr de faire de cette
question une question de sectes. Le barbier venait seulement d'tre arrt. J e leur dis de bien faire attention
que l'argent ne prvaudrait pas contre mon nergie et contre ma volont bien formelle de pousser la
procdure jusqu' son dernier terme. Ils ne m'ont pas voulu croire.
Et ce qu'ils n'ont pas pu faire ici par l'argent, il est probable qu'ils l'ont essay ailleurs.
J 'ai d entrer dans tous ces dtails, Mr le consul gnral, parce que je tenais faire ressortir l'normit de
l'accusation que Mr Laurin prtend faire peser sur moi. Cette accusation porte sur deux points bien
explicites:
1- Actes arbitraires contre des sujets autrichiens dont un soi-disant tel.
2- Actes arbitraires contre les juifs de Damas.
La troisime accusation, celle de jalousie et par consquent du dsir de dpouiller les juifs n'tait pas
formule d'une manire assez claire. Quant prsent, elle ne pourra tre tablie que par suite d'une enqute.
Et c'est cette enqute que j'en veux venir. Je vous prie, Mr le consul gnral, d'avoir la bont d'user de
tout votre crdit auprs de Son Excelence Mr le ministre des Affaires Etrangres pour que le Dpartement
fasse faire une enqute svre sur les lieux touchant ma conduite dans l'affaire du double assassinat du Pre
Thomas et de son domestique. Le gouvernement du Roi se convaincra, s'il en a besoin, que les 17 ans
d'honorables services que J e compte au ministre n'ont pas pu tre maculs dans cette circonstance, qu'ils
ne le seront jamais.
En attendant le rsultat des nouvelles contenues dans la lettre de Mr Laurin et que Mr Merlato fait rpandre
dans le quartier juif avec une affectatin que je m'abstiens de qualifier, et que non seulment les juifs
trangers s'attaquent aux chrtiens, mais que les juifs rayas, enhardis par des promesses d'un puissant
soutien, maltraitent les algriens cause de leur qualit de franais. C'est ce que vous vous convaincrez par
la lecture de la plainte, ci-jointe, qui m'a t porte hier par un des sujets du Roi.
J 'ai l'honneur...
P.S.: Votre dpche nr.6 m'arrive l'instant. J 'envoie u ministre tout ce que j'ai pu terminer de ce
volumineux procs-verbal. J 'ai l'honneur de vous envoyer ci-joint la suite de premire partie que j'ai
expdi par la poste hier, comme je n'ai pas eu le temps de faire copier le prsent rapport. Si vous croyez,
Mr le consul gnral, qu'il soit ncessaire que le ministre en ait connaissance, je vous serai vivement oblig,
si vous voulez avoir la bont de lui en faire remettre copie.

Annexe: Copie de la traduction d'une lettre crite en arabe de Damas Beyrouth par une personne
appartenant au consulat d'Autriche.
Hier par la poste du gouvernement venant d'Alexandrie, Mr Merlato a reu une lettre de Mr Laurin qui
contient ce qui suit:
J 'ai reu votre lettre avec la copie du journal et j'ai pris connaissance des actes arbitraires qui ont eu lieu
l'gard de Isaac Picciotto, ainsi que de l'entre du consul de France avec des soldats dans la maison de
J oseph Ayrouth, ngociant autrichien. J e me suis transport de suite chez le vice-roi. J e lui ai donn avis de
tout ce qui tait arriv et j'ai compris de tout ce qu'a dit Son Altesse qu'elle croit que tout ce qui est arriv
aux juifs de Damas est un rsultat de la jalousie qu'on porte leurs richesses et ce que j'ai cru pouvoir en
dduire c'est que le vice-roi veut lui-mme voir cette affaire Alexandrie et allait envoyer un ordre
Schrif Pacha de cesser les tortures contre les juifs. J 'ai crit l'ambassadeur d'Autriche paris, afin qu'il
aille en personne chez le roi lui notifier officiellement les actes arbitraires du consul de France Damas
contre les juifs et particulirement contre les sieurs Picciotto et Ayrouth. Tenez-vous ferme. J e vous appuie
autant que cela sera possible, de toute puissance de l'Autriche. Vous avez trs bien fait de ne pas croire
cette affaire contre les juifs, car leur richesse leur attire toujours la jalousie.
Lorsque cette lettre est arrive ici, Mr Merlato a envoy ces bonnes ouvelles dans la contre des juifs. Mais,
au srail, rien de semblable n'est ncore parvenu. On dit que le gouvernement n'a pas reu de lettre, mais les
ouvelles des entours du consulat de France sont que le vice-roi a donn ordre de tenir ferme dans l'affaire
des juifs. Et les gens de bon sens parmi es juifs n'ont pas espoir de dmentir ce qui a t prouv contre eux
et contre la traduction de leurs livres faite par eux au Pacha et qui prouve que le sang de tous ceux qui
travaillent le samedi leur appartient.

annexe: traduction du Talmud adopt en Syrie. Passages concernant les chrtiens.

Chapitre I.
Dans les glises des chrtiens. Il ne se dit et ne se fait que ce qui est contraire la vrit. Du reste, elle ne
diffre pas de celle de paiens. Le devoir d'un juif est de travailler au renversement de ces glises.
L'Evangile des chrtiens n'est qu'une doctrine de pch dclare ouvertement. Le devoir d'un juif est de le
briller quoiqu'il s'y trouve le nom de Dieu.

Chapitre I, paragraphe IV.
Le devoir des juifs est de maudire les chrtiens trois fois par jour et de demander Dieu de les anantir
tous, spcialement leurs rois et leurs gouvernements. C'est un prcepte dont l'observance concerne
particulirement les chefs de la doctrine. Ils doivent aussi exciter la haine conrte les chrtiens.
Dieu a ordonn au peuple juif de s'emparer de l'argent des chrtiens par tous les moyenss possibles, soit par
trafic, soit par finesse, soit par fourberie, soit mme par vol.

Chapitre II, paragraphe IV.
les pays o les chrtiens commandent sont moins agrables Dieu que les autres pays.
Si un isralite sert un chef des idoltres, il pche. Mais s'il sert un chef des chrtiens, il commet un pch
norme.

Chapitre IV, paragraphe II.
Le juif doit tre persuad que le chrtien est un animal sauvage et il doit le traiter en consquence. Quant
aux idoltres, le juif ne doit leur faire ni bien ni mal. Mais il doit employer tous efforts pour dtruire les
chrtiens.
Si un isralite voit un chrtien sur le bord d'un prcipice, il doit le pousser dedans jusqu' ce que le chrtien
soit au fond de 1'abime.
Les passages de ce Talmud concernant l'Islam sont encore plus hostiles que ceux-ci ne le sont au
christianisme. Le gouvernement n'a pas voulu en laisser publier la traduction, pour ne pas augmenter
l'exapration des musulmans.

Source des pages 5-10:
- rapport de Cochelet du 30 avril 1840 annexe de ce rapport, celui du consul de Damas, Ratti-Menton du 24
avril 1840 et ses annexes.
- Archives Affaires Etrangres, Alexandrie, vol.28, direction commerciale, n.184, fol.439-440.
- Correspondance du consul de Damas, nr.11, IDEM, vol.28, fol.444-448.

Annex: Repor t of Consul Rat t i - Ment on.
Annex: Consul Cochel et ' s Repor t .
The Repor t of Rat t i - Ment on, Consul i n Damascus.

Mr . Consul Gener al :
I was about t o send you my message, number 10, when a document f el l
i nt o t o my hands, and I want t o send i t t o you wi t hout del ay. You may
f i nd t hi s at t ached document , a t r ansl at i on of a message wr i t t en by Mr .
Laur i n ( The Aust r i an Consul Gener al i n Al exandr i a) , whi ch was sent t o
Mr . Mer l at o ( t he Aust r i an Consul i n Damascus) . I do not know i f he had
di scussed t he subj ect of t hi s pr obl emwi t h you bef or e he went t o meet
wi t h t he Ki ng' s Vi cer oy, or speci f i cal l y bef or e he was r ecal l ed by t he
Aust r i an Ambassador t o Par i s, Mr . Appony. He di d not di scuss t he
pr obl emwi t h me. I concl ude f r omt hi s t hat Mr . Laur i n behaved on t hi s
occasi on as we expect ed, and was exact l y i n agr eement wi t h our
conver sat i ons i n Si ci l y.
The Aust r i an Consul compl ai ned, and he was cer t ai nl y annoyed by t he
i nf or mat i on he r ecei ved f r omMr . Mer l at o r egar di ng my aut hor i t ar i an
act i on: agai nst Mr . I saac Pi cci ot t o and Mr . Ayr out . The l at t er was
r esponsi bl e f or st udi es and negot i at i ons on behal f of t he Aust r i ans.
Mr . Pi cci ot t o, i s an Ar ab, who had wor ked as a cl er k i n t he ser vi ce of
I br ahi mPasha, unt i l t he Chi ef Commander , di smi ssed hi mf or hi s bad
behavi or . Ther e ar e t wo si des t o t he st or y. Mr . Pi cci ot t o never was t he
occupant of t he house wher e I conduct ed my i nvest i gat i ons. I st at ed
t hi s i n my r epor t t o t he Aust r i an Consul . The house bel ongs t o t he
Far hi ' s Fami l y. Pi cci ot t o, came t o t he house as a vi si t or and occupi ed
an r oomas a guest . Then he, Mr . Pi cci ot t o, l ef t .
Woul d my act i ons be consi der ed as aut hor i t ar i an or di ct at or i al si mpl y
because I ent er ed a house owed by t he Far hi ' s Fami l y, whi l e possessi ng
si gned per mi ssi on t o do so, by t he l ocal aut hor i t y i n or der t o sear ch
t he house. I was accompani ed by t he pol i ce.
I t was i mpossi bl e f or me not t o of f end Mr . Pi cci ot t o. Ther e wer e many
i nci dent s whi ch I i gnor ed i n t he past i n r egar d t o Mr . Pi cci ot t o' s
behavi or . And si nce we ar e deal i ng wi t h t he case of Fat her Thomas, and
on pr i nci pl es onl y, i t i s wor t hwhi l e t o ment i on t he f ol l owi ng i nci dent .
On one eveni ng, at Mr . Beaudi n' s, Mr . Pi cci ot t o met wi t h some Syr i an
nat i ve Chr i st i ans, i n addi t i on t o t he Consul of Engl and, Fat her Eust et
of t he Lazar i st Or der , and a Fr ench Phar maci st , named Mr . Sant i ,
wor ki ng at t he Hospi t al of Damascus. I n t he meet i ng pr obl ems of t he day
wer e bei ng di scussed and Mr . Sant i appear ed har sh i n hi s speech wi t h
Mr . Pi cci ot t o. He spoke i n a l oud and pr ej udi ced emot i onal manner . He
t hr eat ened t o t ake act i ons agai nst t he J ews. At t he scene, i n whi ch I
ambei ng accused of bei ng weak, I l ed Mr . Sant i out and put hi mi n t he
Consul at e' s j ai l . Af t er one day I r el eased hi msol el y on humani t ar i an
consi der at i ons due t o t he f act , t hat he was t he sol e pr ovi der f or hi s
f ami l y. But , I di d not set hi mf r ee unt i l he pr omi sed not t o t ake
i l l egal or l awl ess act i on.
On Febr uar y 10t h, I assi gned a Fr ench empl oyee t o f ol l ow t he
i nvest i gat i ons, wi t h t he appr oval of t he Aust r i an Consul , and wi t h t he
hel p of hi s advi sor who was a Gr eek J ew. I t was deci ded t o sear ch some
homes whi ch wer e under t he car e and pr ot ect i on of Aust r i a and Toskana.
At t hat t i me, Mr . Pi cci ot t o came t o me and r equest ed t hat hi s house not
be i ncl uded i n t he sear ch. Hi s r eason f or hi s r equest , he cl ai med was
t hat such a sear ch woul d be har mf ul , i n t he eyes of t he peopl e, t hus no
one vi si t ed hi s house.
I n t hi s I made a mi st ake and I admi t i t . I di d not appl y t o hi mt he
same pr ocedur es used agai nst t he assassi ns bef or e t al ki ng t he J udi ci al
r epor t i n t hi s case. The r evi ew of t he chr onol ogy event s, as I have
wr i t t en t hemher e, and as I st at ed t hemi n my message t o Mr . Mer l at o
t oo, came as a t r ue expr essi on i n r esponse t o what Mr . Pi cci ot t o has
st i r r ed up by hi s f anat i ci smwi t hout r eason; and as a r esul t t o hi s
t hr eat s i n t he name of t he Consul at e, al so i n t he name of t he Aust r i an
Gover nment , and hi s br aggi ng about hi s ancest or s bei ng sur r ounded by a
hal o of pomp and gr eat ness. Gi ven t hi s or i gi n I r equest t hat t he Consul
Gener al t ake not e of i t i n Mr . Lur ai n' s Message.
I l ear ned f r omt r ust ed sour ces t hat t he uncl e of t he Aust r i an Consul
Gener al , i n Al epa, Mr . El i aou Pi cci ot t o, has obj ect ed t o t he Chi ef
Commander , I br ahi mPasha, and he has behaved t hought l essl y on behal f of
hi s nephew' s case, and t hat t hi s i s not i n agr eement wi t h hi s Consul ar
st at us, nor t he consi der at i on sur r oundi ng hi s name. Does Mr . El i aou
Pi cci ot t o want t o t ake t he i ndi vi dual vi r t ue of hi s name and st amp i t
as a f ami l y vi r t ue? Does he want t he cr i me t o l ose i t s i ndi vi dual
cr i mi nal i t y? What does i t mean t o cl ai mt o i nser t anyone' s name and t o
put i t on t he scal e of j ust i ce? Does Mr . El i aou Pi cci ot o have a si mi l ar
excuse t o t hr ow i n f r ont of t he Tuscana' s Tr i bunal , whi ch has passed
i t s j udgment i n t he case of t he shi ps of Li vour ne, because of t he
capt ai n' s mur der , when t he ki l l er s wer e hi s nephew and hi s uncl e, who
wer e at hi s heel s her e? And, di d not hi s br ot her f i nd hi msel f f or ced t o
r un away f r omAl exandr i a because of hi s t hef t and cheat i ng scandal ? Was
not he f or ced t o escape r ecent l y t o Const ant i nopl e, because of hi s
pur sui t i n commi t t i ng act s of t hef t ? I s i t because al l of t hese act s
ar e l egal and l egi t i mat e act s, t hat Mr . El i aou Pi cci ot t o want s t he
f ami l y t o be r espect ed, and t o r ecogni ze i t s vi r t uous char act er ; or i s
i t t o t hei r shame and t hei r decayi ng bones? I concl uded f r omt hi s l ast
anal ysi s t hat t he evi l s of t he l at t er one ( Mr . El i aou Pi cci ot t o)
r epr esent shame. Now I shal l r et ur n t o Mr . Laur ai n' s message.
Fi r st of al l , I shal l begi n wi t h t he descr i pt i on of t he measur es t aken
agai nst t he J ews i n gener al , as unj ust and har sh measur es. Accor di ng t o
t he cont ent s of t he message as descr i bed, i t shoul d be subj ect f or
speci al di scussi on. Hi s Excel l ency, t he Ambassador does not know me
ver y wel l , whi l e Mr . Laur zi n knows me wel l . Thi s accusat i on has been
made agai nst me. May I ask what ar e t hese so cal l ed unj ust act i ons and
pr ocedur es f or whi ch I amaccused? Ar e t hey due t o t he sear ch of t he
suspect ' s homes. Such sear ches ar e ever yday occur r ences wor l dwi de. They
t ake pl ace t hr ough t he l egal pr ocess and by l egal aut hor i t y and ar e not
consi der ed t o be har sh or unj ust or wer e t hey t he pr ecaut i ous ar r est s
of t he suspect ed wi t nesses? Her e t oo t hi s nor mal pr ocedur e. I n cr i mi nal
cases or i n t he case of pl ot s, r epr esent at i ves of t he Ki ng of Fr ance
wor k wi t h r epr esent at i ve ever ywher e i n i ssui ng ar r est memos. When f ound
not gui l t y f r eedomwi l l be r est or ed t o t he i nnocent , and no di r ect
r esul t s wi l l f ol l ow. Ar e t hese har sh or unj ust measur es?
The i nt ent i onal use of t hi s wor d cont ai ns vei l ed and unl i mi t ed meani ngs
i n descr i bi ng what I di d. As t o t he descr i pt i on of st r ong measur es, I
wi l l not hesi t at e t o use t hi s wor d wi t h t hose who ar e di r ect i ng t hei r
accusat i ons t owar ds me i n a decei t f ul manner . I f I di d not suppor t t he
use of f or ce, I woul d not have i nt er vened f i r ml y wi t h t he Musl i mand
Chr i st i an r esi dent s, had I not t aken such act i on, most l i kel y t her e
woul d not be a J ew al i ve i n Damascus t oday. Ther e ar e t housands of
wi t nesses abl e t o gi ve t hei r t est i moni es whi ch wi l l conf i r mt he t r ut h
of my act i ons, who wi l l al so say t hat I have wor ked day and ni ght
dur i ng t he past days, t oget her wi t h t he Consul at e guar ds and gover nment
pat r ol s cr ui si ng t he J ewi sh Quar t er , i n or der t o pr event t he Musl i ms
and Chr i st i ans f r omusi ng f or ce agai nst i nnocent peopl e who have no
r el at i on t o t he t r ue cr i mi nal s. The Gover nor , Shar i f Pasha, ar r est ed
some boys, i n or der t o pr essur e t hei r f ami l i es i nt o admi t t i ng t hei r
r ol e i n t he cr i me. These boys wer e set f r ee and r et ur ned t o t hei r
f ami l i es i n r esponse t o my r equest .
I s i t not t r ue t hat I was t he one who r est or ed t o Mr . Schade St amboul i
hi s f r eedom? He i s a br ot her t o one of t he assassi ns. What wer e t he
r esul t s of t hi s? He benef i t ed f r omt he f r eedomgi ven t o hi m, and wor ked
wi t h a r enounced Ger man J ew, by t he name of Mr . Per et z, i n pl anni ng new
pl ot s. Al so, I was t he one who spent t he l ast t hr ee weeks wor ki ng i n
conduct i ng ver bal di scussi ons, and sendi ng wr i t t en messages t o t he
Gover nor Gener al i n Damascus i n or der t o r el ease Mr . Moussa Far hi , a
f at her of anot her accused per son, af t er i t became known t hat he was not
ar r est ed unt i l i t was est abl i shed t hat he t ook par t i n t he cr i me.
I al so add t hat I t r i ed my best t o open t he pr i son door s f or Mal l en
Raphael , one of t he f i r st par t i ci pant s of t he cr i me. Hi s son conf essed,
wi t hout pr essur e and wi t hout any bad t r eat ment , hi s par t i n t he cr i me.
Mr . Beaudi n came t o vi si t hi mi n hi s pr i son, and f ound t hat t he r oomof
hi s i mpr i sonment was not sui t abl e, and r equest ed t hat he be t r ansf er r ed
t o a bet t er r oom. I compl i ed wi t h hi s r equest . Wer e al l of t hese
act i ons unj ust and har sh? I f t hi s wer e so, I woul d admi t t hat I am
gui l t y of i nj ust i ce. One ot her wor d on t hi s subj ect . The i nvest i gat or s
decl ar ed on Febr uar y 29 t hat t hey i nf or med t he gui l t y ones t hey had
compl et ed t he unvei l i ng of al l aspect s of t he case of Fat her Thomas and
t he sur r oundi ng ci r cumst ances. Sher i f Pasha, t ol d me t hr ough Mr .
Beaudi n t hat t he ver di ct had been announced agai nst t he gui l t y par t y,
but t hat i t was possi bl e t o del ay t he execut i on unt i l t he ar r i val of
t he or der f r omt he Chi ef Commander , I br ahi mPasha, i f I agr eed t o t hat .
I agr eed t o t he del ay. I f I wer e as unj ust as I ambei ng accused of ,
none of t he gui l t y woul d be al i ve t oday.
However , i t r emai ns necessar y t o deal wi t h t he pr obl emi n t he l i ght of
t he cl ai ms t hey have ci r cul at ed about t he envy over t he r i ches and t he
weal t h of t he J ews. Do I envy t hem? Mr . Laur i n di d not say t hat
f r ankl y. But t he cont ent of hi s message as a whol e, poi nt s t o an
accusat i on of t hi s t ype, whi ch I f i nd i mper at i ve t o r espond t o. I f Mr .
Laur i n sear ched f or t he t r ue i nf or mat i on, he woul d have l ear ned t hat
t he J ews of Damascus r eveal ed t hat t hey wer e r eady t o pay al l of t he
gol d t hey possessed t o set t l e t he case of Fat her Thomas. They knew t hat
t hey wer e r esponsi bl e, dur i ng many year s i n t he past f or t he
di sappear ance of a number of i ndi vi dual s of ot her r el i gi ons. You can
see f r omt hi s, Consul , Gener al , Si r , t hat t hi s pr obl emf or t hemi s
r el at ed t o a cent r al i mpor t ant pr obl em. The i nt er vent i on of t he Fr ench
Consul i n t he i nvest i gat i on of t oday' s case l i f t s t he vei l f r om
pr evi ous cr i mes whi ch have al r eady been f or got t en. The convi ct i on of
some i ndi vi dual s i s a mat t er of no gr eat i mpor t ance. But t he basi c
f oundat i on i s t hat i n or der t o r each such a concl usi on, i t i s
absol ut el y necessar y t o wade t hr ough some of t he ver ses of t hei r sacr ed
book, The Tor ah, whi ch expl ai ns many of t hei r r el i gi ous pr act i ces; and
her ei n al l t he pr obl ems r esi de.
I t i s embar r assi ng t o me t hat I have been f or ced t o ent er i nt o such
det ai l s, i n or der t o r epl y t o t he accusat i on di r ect ed at me. But I
cannot r ef r ai n f r omst at i ng t hat t her e ar e honest men abl e t o decl ar e
t hei r t est i moni es f or me. I f t her e wer e gr eat sums of money pai d t o
per sons hol di ng secondar y posi t i ons f ol l owi ng up t hi s case and i f I
wer e abl e t o benef i t f r omt hi s oppor t uni t y t o sat i sf y t hei r cl ai m, t hat
I envy t hei r weal t h, I woul d have t aken t hei r br i bes t o t he l i mi t . I n
f act , Mr . Consul Gener al , Si r , Mr . Beaudi n r ecei ved gi f t s among whi ch
wer e t wo di amond f l ower s, wi t h t wo Kashmer e shawl s. He was of f er ed t he
sumof one hundr ed and f i f t y t housand pi ast er s t o dest r oy t he document s
and ar gument s i n t he mur der case. You al r eady know what t he r epl y of
t hi s empl oyee was. I s i t wor t h not i ng t hat Mr . Chubl i wor ked t o assi st
me vol unt ar y and wi t hout char ge f or wr i t i ng al l of t he memor anda i n
Ar abi c at t he t i me when Mr . Beaudi n was busy assi st i ng me wi t h r esear ch
and i nvest i gat i on. El i ahou Nahmed made an of f er t o Mr . Chubl i , i n t he
pr esence of Dr . Sal i na who enj oys Engl i sh pr ot ect i on, t hat woul d
guar ant ee hi ma bag cont ai ni ng one t housand pi eces of gol d t o be used
i n t he i nt er est of t he J ewi sh case. Thi s of f er was r epeat ed t wi ce, and
t he of f er was t ur ned down on bot h occasi ons.
I r epeat my sayi ng t hat i f t he Ki ng' s Consul had want ed t o use t hi s
case t o obt ai n weal t h, i t was possi bl e f or hi mt o do t hat , he and t hose
who wor k wi t h hi mcoul d have obt ai ned a huge suppl y of t he magni f i cent
t r easur es of t he J ews.
But no! Her e I speak t o what ever consci ence r emai ns f or t hose who ar e
di r ect i ng t hei r accusat i ons at me, because t he i dea of accept i ng
br i ber y di d not cr oss my mi nd. Fr omt he begi nni ng I wor ked at t aki ng
pr ecaut i ons agai nst br i ber y at t empt s. I t i s my honor t o a r equest of
Hi s Excel l ency, t he Vi cer oy, t hat he i ssue a di sci pl i nar y code f or
ci vi l empl oyees her e i n Damascus. And f r omt he begi nni ng when a gr oup
of not abl e J ews came t o vi si t me, t her e wer e among t hema l ar ge number
f r omt hose who cal l ed f or an i nvest i gat i on, so I sai d t o t hem, " I ask
of you t o hel p me, and t he J ews wi l l r ecei ve my hel p. " I war ned t hemt o
avoi d decept i on and not t o t ur n t he case i nt o a r el i gi ous case. At t hat
t i me no one had yet been ar r est ed wi t h t he except i on of t he Bar ber . I
t ol d t hemt hat money woul d not i nf l uence my f i r mness and st r ong
det er mi nat i on t o pur sue t he case t o i t s end. The J ews di d not bel i eve
t hat . I t appear s t hat t hei r f ai l ur e t o use money her e di d not st op t hem
f r omusi ng i t i n ot her pl aces.
I f i nd mysel f compel l ed, Mr . Consul Gener al Si r , t o go t hr ough al l
t hese det ai l s because of t he numer ous accusat i ons whi ch Mr . Laur i n has
pl aced on my shoul der s. Thi s accusat i on i s cent er ed on t wo cl ear
poi nt s, as st at ed:
1. Har sh and unj ust measur es agai nst t he Aust r i an' s posi t i on.
2. Har sh and unj ust measur es agai nst t he J ews of Damascus.
And as t o t he t hi r d accusat i on whi ch was " envy" , and subsequent l y " t he
desi r e t o undr ess and depr i ve t he J ews, " t hi s i s not cl ear yet , because
t he f or mul at i on of i t i s not compl et ed, and cannot be f or med unt i l
r esear ch and i nvest i gat i ons ar e compl et ed.
Whi l e I amwai t i ng f or t hi s r esear ch and i nvest i gat i on, I beg you, Mr .
Consul Gener al Si r , t o show your gener osi t y i n usi ng al l of your cr edi t
wi t h Hi s Excel l ency, t he For ei gn Mi ni st er , f or t he depar t ment t o
conduct a mi nut e r esear ch i nt o t he quest i onabl e aspect s of my act i on
and behavi or i n t he doubl e assassi nat i on case i n whi ch Fat her Thomas
and hi s ser vant wer e t he vi ct i ms. As pr oof of my honor abl e r ecor d, my
sevent een year s of ser vi ce i n t he Mi ni st r y of t he Ki ng' s Gover nment , i s
a t est i mony of my honest y and i nt egr i t y. My r ecor d wi l l speak f or
i t sel f and f al se accusat i ons cannot r ef ut e t hese r ecor ds of my act i ons.
I amwai t i ng f or t he i nf or mat i on cont ai ned i n Mr . Laur i n' s message,
whi ch Mr . Mer l at o had announced and decl ar ed i n J ewi sh Quar t er s i n an
ar t i f i ci al manner . I r ef r ai n f r omdescr i bi ng i t , al t hough i t st at ed
t hat i t woul d not be t he J ews al one who woul d at t ack t he Chr i st i ans,
but t hat t he J ews ar e pl anni ng, and have obt ai ned pl edges of st r ong
suppor t , t o mi st r eat t he Al ger i ans because t hey ar e Fr ench subj ect s.
You wi l l be sat i sf i ed when you see t he at t ached compl ai nt whi ch was
car r i ed t o me yest er day by an empl oyee of t he Ki ng.
Fai t hf ul l y
P. S. I have r ecei ved your newl y di spat ched message. I amsendi ng al l
t hat I have been abl e t o compl et e f r omt he huge i nvest i gat i on r epor t t o
t he Mi ni st r y. I amhonor ed t o send t he r emai nder of t he f i r st par t ,
whi ch I sent yest er day by mai l , due t o t he l ack of t i me at my di sposal
t o r e- copy t hi s par t of t he r epor t . Mr . Consul Gener al Si r , i f you
t hi nk i t necessar y t hat t he Mi ni st er shoul d see i t , I beg you t o send a
copy of i t .

Annex: A Tr ansl at ed copy of t he message whi ch was wr i t t en i n Ar abi c,
and was sent f r omDamascus t o Bei r ut by an empl oyee of t he Aust r i an
Consul at e.
Yest er day, Mr . Mer l at o, r ecei ved a message f r omMr . Laur i n, sent f r om
Al exandr i a by of f i ci al mai l . I t cont ai ns t he f ol l owi ng:
I r ecei ved your message wi t h t he newspaper , and l ear ned of t he har sh
and unj ust measur es agai nst I saac Pi cci ot t o, and t he ent r y of t he
Fr ench Consul wi t h t he sol di er s f r omMr . J oseph Ayr out h, t he Aust r i an
negot i at or . I t r ansmi t t ed t hi s i mmedi at el y t o t he Vi cer oy, and
expl ai ned t o hi mal l t hat has happened, as I under st and i t f r omwhat
Hi s Excel l ency sai d, whi ch was t hat he bel i eved t hat t he J ews of
Damascus wer e vi ct i ms of t he envy of ot her s because of t hei r weal t h and
r i ches. And I bel i eve I amabl e t o conf i r mt hat t he Vi cer oy per sonal l y
wi l l f ol l ow t he case i n Al exandr i a. He i s pr epar i ng t o send hi s or der
t o Shar i f Pash t o st op t or t ur i ng t he J ews, and mi st r eat i ng t hem. I have
wr i t t en t o t he Aust r i an Ambassador i n Par i s and r equest ed of hi mt hat
he meet wi t h t he Ki ng, i n or der t o submi t t o hi man of f i ci al memor andum
about t he har sh and unj ust measur es by t he Fr ench Consul i n Damascus
agai nst t he J ews; especi al l y t hose t aken agai nst Pi cci ot t o and Ayr out h.
Hol d f ast t o your st and. I wi l l pr ovi de you wi t h t he avai l abl e suppor t ,
and wi t h al l means Aust r i a can pr ovi de. You have done wel l when you
r ef used t o bel i eve t hi s case agai nst t he J ews, because t hei r weal t h and
r i ches br ought envy and hat r ed agai nst t hem.
When t hi s message ar r i ved her e, Mr . Mer l at o wor ked t o spr ead t he good
news i n t he J ewi sh Quar t er . However , i t appear s t hat t he Head Quar t er
of t he Gover nor Gener al , di d not r ecei ve anyt hi ng r egar di ng t hi s
mat t er . I t i s sai d t hat t he Gover nment di d not r ecei ve any message. The
i nf or mat i on i nsi de t he Fr ench Consul at e i ndi cat es t hat t he Vi cer oy
i ssued hi s or der t o f ol l ow t he case of t he J ews wi t h st r engt h and
f i r mness. Ther e i s no hope among t he J ews of good i nt ent i ons t o deny
what was conf i r med agai nst t hemi n t he i nvest i gat i ons and agai nst what
i s cont ai ned i n t hei r r el i gi ous books, whi ch wer e t r ansl at ed f or t he
Pasha, and whi ch pr ove t hat t he bl ood of whoever wor ks on Sat ur day i s
l awf ul bl ood f or t he J ews.

Annex: I t cont ai ns t wo t r ansl at i ons t o t wo passages f r omt he Tal mud
among mat er i al s sei zed i n Syr i a. These ar e passages concer ni ng t he
Chr i st i ans.

Chapt er I .
The Chr i st i ans and t hei r Chr i st i an Chur ches say and do t he opposi t e of
t r ut h. They cont r adi ct our ( J ewi sh) t r ut h. They ar e not di f f er ent f r om
t he wor shi pper s of t he i dol s. The dut y of t he J ew i s t o wor k agai nst
t hese chur ches and t he Chr i st i ans.
The Bi bl e of t he Chr i st i an i s not hi ng mor e t han t he doct r i ne of si n,
decl ar ed cl ear l y. The dut y of t he J ew i s t o bur n t he Bi bl e anywher e i t
i s f ound.

Chapt er I , Par agr aph I V.
The dut y of t he J ews i s t o cur se t he Chr i st i ans t hr ee t i mes ever yday,
and t o pr ay t o God t o dest r oy t hemal l , especi al l y t hei r ki ngs and
t hei r gover nment s. Thi s pr ecept appl i es especi al l y t o t hei r r el i gi ous
l eader s; i t i s necessar y t o st i r hat r ed agai nst t he Chr i st i ans.
God gave t he J ews t he r i ght t o t ake possessi on of t he Chr i st i an weal t h
by al l possi bl e ways and means, whet her by t r ade, or by ki ndness and
gent l eness, or by cheat i ng and decept i on, even by t hef t .

Chapt er I I , Par agr aph I V.
God l oves t he count r i es whi ch ar e not gover ned by t he Chr i st i ans mor e
t han count r i es under t he r ul e of t he Chr i st i ans. The J ew wi l l commi t a
si n i f he ser ves any per son f r omt he wor shi per s of i dol s, but he
commi t s an even gr eat er cr i me i f he wor ks i n t he ser vi ce of a Chr i st i an
mast er .

Chapt er I V, Par agr aph I I .
A J ew must be convi nced t hat t he Chr i st i an i s a savage ani mal , and he
must t r eat hi mas such. The J ews must not do good or evi l wi t h an
i dol at er , but must use al l ef f or t s t o dest r oy t he Chr i st i ans.
I f a J ew saw a Chr i st i an on t he edge of a ver y deep abyss ( pi t ) , he
must push hi m, unt i l t he Chr i st i an r eaches t he bot t omof t he abyss
( pi t ) .
The Tal mud passages r egar di ng I sl amar e si mi l ar . I sl ami s mor e host i l e
t o t he J ews t han Chr i st i ani t y. But t he Gover nment r ef r ai ned f r om
publ i shi ng t he t r ansl at i on i n or der not t o i ncr ease t he st i r r i ng of t he
Musl i ms.

Sour ces pp. 5- 10
Cochel et ' s Repor t , Apr i l 30, 1840.
Rat t i - Ment on' s Repor t , Apr i l 24, 1840.
- Ar chi ves, For ei gn Mi ni st r y, Al exandr i a, Vol . 28. Depar t ment of
Commer ce No. 184 pp. 439- 440.
- Cor r espondence of Counsul of Damascus No. 11, Vol . 28, pp. 444- 448.

Alexandrie, le 15 mai 1840
Cochelet au ministre Thiers.
Objet: enqute au sujet de l'assassinat du Pre Thomas et correspondance entre les consuls gnraux
Alexandrie ce sujet.
Rsum de l'introduction: rception des instructions du 28 avril. Mission dlicate confier Desmeloizes.
Le consul Ratti-Menton a dj dsir d'tre l'objet d'une enqute sur sa conduite. Desmeloizes possde les
qua-lits voulues, malgr sa jeunesse. Il l'a dj prsent Mohammed Ali qui a paru satisfait de l'initiative
prise par le gouvernement...
Quelques jours auparavant, le consul gnral d'Autriche avait cru devoir adresser aux consuls gnraux
des grandes Puissances la lettre et note, ci-jointes, qui incriminent implicitement la conduite du consul du
roi Damas. Je n'ai pas cru devoir les laisser sans rponse...
Il m'a paru qu'il n'appartenait pas l'agent d'une puissance trangre de se constituer le dfenseur des
meurtriers d'un religieux sous la protection franaise et que c'tait au consul du Roi soit l'autorit
suprieure du pays demander la rvision de la procdure si elle devait avoir lieu. Car seul un but
d'humanit peut justifier de telles dmarches...
I1 y a dans cette affaire de Damas diverses circonstances sur lesquelles on n'aime pas dire le fond de sa
pense quand on n'a pas vu les choses de prs et quand on n'a pas en mains toutes les pices du procs.
C'est pour-quoi, je ne rejeterai pas les bruits qui circulent...
Desmeloizes partira le 20 de ce mois sur le bateau-poste anglais qui se rend d'ici Beyrouth...

Annexe: Lettre de Cochelet son collgue autrichien Laurin, le 7 mai.
J e viens de recevoir la circulaire que vous avez cru devoir adresser aux consuls gnraux des grandes
Puissances Alexandrie, ainsi que le projet de note que vous leur proposez de mettre sous les yeux du vice-
roi.
J e regrette, quant moi, de ne pouvoir donner suite l'ouverture que vous me faites. Et je vais vous en
donner les motifs que vous apprcierez sans doute, torque vous serez mieux inform des circonstances de
l'affaire dont il s'agit.
Le Pre Thomas, religieux de la mission franaise des capucins en Syrie desservant l'hospice franais
Damas et son domestique, protg franais, ayant subitement dispru, Mr le comte de Ratti-Menton, consul
de France Damas, a d en prvenir l'autorit locale qui a fait des recherches et a dcouvert des traces de
leur assassinat.
Les auteurs prsums, tant des Rayas isralites de Damas, ont t arrts. Leur procs a t instruit par
l'autorit locale. Une condamnation s'en est suivie, l'excution de laquelle le consul de france a cru devoir
demander un sursis, afin de continuer les recherches relatives au meurtre du domestique.
Il s'agit donc d'une affaire, entre le consulat de France Damas, partie plaignante, et l'autorit locale
appele juger et punir les rayas. Les consuls gnraux d'Autriche, d'Angleterre, de Prusse et de Russie,
ne pourraient intervenir en ceux-ci que dans un but d'humanit, afin d'empcher l'emploi de moyens
rigoureux qui malheureusement n'ont pas encore t retranchs de la lgislation musulmane. Or, Monsieur,
je n'ai pas attendu l'intimation de personne pour prendre l'initiative cet gard. Et, aussitt que j'ai t
inform du crime, j'ai crit Mr Ratti-Menton:
Vous veillerez ce que les poursuites et les arrestations qui auront lieu pour arriver connatre la vrit
soient faites avec les mnagements qui sont dans notre lgislation. Nous devons veiller ce que la vrit se
dcouvre sans que l'on soit oblig d'employer des mesures qui rpugnent nos moteurs et qui ne sont plus
de notre poque.
C'tait la seule initiative que je pouvais prendre dans une affaire judiciaire et que j'ai prise aussitt que le
crime m'a t dnonc.
Si la lgislation du pays permet aux condamns d'appeler de la sentence prononce contre eux ou si le
consul de France Damas provoque la rvision de la procdure dans le cas o il aurait eu des motifs de
souponner les juges de partialit, nous n'avons, ni vous ni nos collgues le droit de nous y opposer.
Quant faire revoir cette procdure et accorder aux condamns le droit de choisir des dfenseurs, son
Altesse le vice-roi est libre de faire cet gard ce que prescrit la lgislation musulmane. Et il n'a pas besoin
du con-cours de MM les consuls gnraux des grandes Puissances. Car ce n'est pas d'une affaire politique
dont il s'agit, mais d'un assassinat dont la poursuite et le jugement appartiennent l'autorit locale.
Quant moi, Monsieur, aprs avoir fait tout ce qu'un sentiment d'humanit me prescrivait, je cherche
conserver la plus grande impartialit dans ce qui se rattache un pouvantable assassinat dont la procdure,
dj passe sous mes yeux, a t transmise aujourd'hui au Dpartement des affaires Etrangres qui
apprciera toutes les circonstances du crime.
J e ne crois pas d'ailleurs pouvoir me constituer le dfenseur de quelques rayas meurtriers d'un religieux
franciscain sous la protection de la France, aprs toutes les offres normes d'argent et de cadeaux faites
tous les employs du consulat de France Damas, pour chercher branler les convictions de Mr le comte
Ratti-Menton et l'engager retirer ses plaintes.
J e dplore plus que personne la publicit qui a t donne l'affaire de Damas et les rvlations auxquelles
elle a donn lieu. Ce n'est pas l'poque o nous vivons que l'on rendra responsables, des interprtations
criminelles que des rabbins, ignorants et fanatiques, vivant au milieu de peuples exalts pour leurs religions
respectives, ont pu faire des Ecritures, une nation qui jouit depuis longtemps de l'mancipation la plus large
et qui est admise en France et en Angleterre 1'excercie de droits civils et politiques.
II ne dpend plus malheureusement de personne d'empcher la controverse qui s'tablira sur les causes qui
ont donn lieu l'assassinat. Il est dsirer maintenant que la vrit se fasse jour, d'aprs ce qui sera sans
doute publi sur la procdure rgulire.
J 'ai l'honneur de vous renvoyer la circulaire adresse nos collgues et la note qui y est jointe, en vous
priant de mettre sous leurs yeux la rponse que j'ai cru devoir vous faire.
Recevez, Monsieur...

Annexe deux: Note des consuls gnraux: projet de lettre propos par le consul gnral d'Autriche, Mr
Laurin.
C'est avec la plus grande satifaction que les consuls gnraux d'Autriche, de France, de la Grande Bretagne,
de Prusse et de Russi, viennent d'apprendre qu'en conformit des ordres que, m par des sentiments
d'humanit et de justice, Son Altesse le vice-roi d'Egypte avait daign transmettre Damas, on y a
suspendu immdiatement la procdure pnible et la torture employe d'abord pour tirer des aveux aux juifs
accuss de l'assassinat du Pre Thomas et de son domestique.
Anime sans doute des vues claires qui, depuis des sicles, ont fair abolir en Europe la poursuite ds juifs
accuss de sacrifices humains, Sor Altesse le vice-roi a daign exprimer itrativement aux soussigns sa
sollicitude de soumettre cette affaire une investigation scrupuleuse et impartiale, en ajoutant qu'elle
accueillerait avec plaisir toute proposition offerte dans l'intrt de l'humanit et tendant ce but.
Fonds sur ces propositions bienveillantes, les soussigns ont l'hon. neur de soumettre au jugement clair
de Son Altesse l'opinion que rien ne saurait peut-tre mieux assurer la dcouverte de la vrit et garantir en
mme temps les accuss de toute injusice que si Son Altesse voulait per-mettre ces derniers, ainsi que
cela se pratique en Europe, de choisir eux-mmes ou de faire dsigner par leurs coreligionnaires un ou
plusieurs avocats chargs d'assister aux interrogations, de prendre leur dfense et autoriss requrir tous
les claircissements qui leur paraissent ncessaires une nouvelle instruction rgulire et complte du
procs.
On proviendrait probablement de cette manire mettre au jour bien des faits et des circonstances rests
dans l'obscurit jusqu' prsent, et propres porter la conviction dans l'esprit des juges impartiaux et
intgres que Son Altesse daignera charger de prononcer sur cette affaire.
Les soussigns...
A.Laurin
pour copie conforme. Cochelet

Annexe trois: Note du consul gnral d'Autriche, A.Laurin, ad circulandum.
MM et chers collgues,
Son Altesse le vice-roi, m'ayant ritr, il y a quelques jours, l'offre dj faite Mr le comt de Mdem,
qu'elle recevrait avec plaisir des propositions de la part des consuls gnraux des grandes Puissances, par
rapport la marche suivre dans le procs des juifs de Damas accuss de l'assassinat du Pre Thomas et de
son domestique, j'ai bauch le projet d'une note collective mettre au vice-roi et que j'ai l'honneur de vous
soumettre ci-joint.
J e serais charm, si vous vouliez vous associer une pareille dmarche et d'apprendre sans rserve le
jugement que vous en portez, ainsi que les modifications que vous pourriez trouver convenables d'y
apposer en marge.
Veuillez bien, aprs cela passer ces pices MM. vos collgues marqus ci-contre.
Agrez...

La note fut souscrite par 8 consuls. 8 autres consuls ont refus la signature. Ceux qui y ont souscrit sont: le
consul gnral d'Autriche, celui de Danemark, celui d'Espagne, celui des Etats-Unis d'Amrique, celui de
Russie, celui de Prusse et les deux consuls, gnral et local de Grande-Bretagne. Ceux qui ont refus la
signature sont: le consul gnral de France, celui des Pays-Bas, celui de Grce, celui de Naples, celui de
Toscane, celui de Sardaigne, et les deux consuls gnral et local de Belgique.

Source: Pour le rapport de Cochelet et pour les trois annexes.
Archives Affaires Etrangres.
Consulat d'Alexandrie, direction commerciale, vol.nr.189, fol.466-473.

Al exandr i a, May 15t h, 1840

Fr om: Cochel et .
To: Mi ni st er Thi er s.
Subj ect : The I nvest i gat i on on t he subj ect of t he Assassi nat i on of
Fat her Thomas, and
cor r espondence wi t h t he Consul Gener al i n Al exandr i a on t hi s subj ect .
I nt r oduct i on r esume: Recei vi ng of i nst r uct i ons, Apr i l 28, 1840. The
del i cat e mi ssi on of Desmel oi zes. Consul Rat t i - Ment on desi r es f or t he
conduct of i nvest i gat i on of hi s behavi or and act i ons. Mr . Desmel oi zes
possesses t he qual i f i cat i ons r equi r ed f or success i n hi s t ask, i n spi t e
of hi s young age. He pr esent ed hi msel f t o Mohamad Al i , who has
expr essed hi s sat i sf act i on wi t h t he i ni t i at i ve t aken by t he Gover nment .
The Gener al Consul of Aust r i a bel i eved, some t i mes ear l i er , t hat i t was
i t s dut y t o send messages and not es t o t he Consul s of t he Gr eat St at es,
cont ai ni ng i nappr opr i at e, i ncr i mi nat i ng i nf or mat i on, and i s not pl eased
wi t h t he behavi or of t he Consul f or t he Ki ng of Fr ance i n Damascus, and
I f i nd i t t o be my dut y not t o i gnor e t hi s message.
I t appear s t o me t hat i t i s not t he j ur i sdi ct i on of an empl oyee of a
Gr eat For ei gn Gover nment t o appoi nt hi msel f as def ender of t he
mur der er s of a cl er gyman pr ot ect ed by t he Fr ench Gover nment , and f or
t hi s empl oyee t o r equest ei t her f r omt he Consul of t he Fr ench Ki ng or
f r omt he hi gh aut hor i t i es of t he count r y t o hol d new i nvest i gat i on i n
t he case, even i f t her e exi st ed a necessi t y f or t hat and t her e r emai ns
t he humani t ar i an goal .
The Damascus case was sur r ounded by a host of di f f er ent ci r cumst ances.
I t i s not advi sabl e t o di scuss t he basi c i deas, especi al l y when t hey
cannot be st udi ed cl osel y and when al l i nvest i gat i on r ecor ds ar e not
avai l abl e. Thi s was t he r eason whi ch f or ced me t o di r ect my at t ent i on
t o t he noi sy r eact i on t hat was cr eat ed because of i t .
Mr . Desmel oi zes depar t ed on t he t went i et h of t hi s mont h aboar d t he
Engl i sh post al boat t o Bei r ut .

Annex: Mr . Cochel et l et t er t o hi s Aust r i an col l eague, Mr . Laur i n; May
7t h.
I r ecei ved at t hi s moment , t he ci r cul ar whi ch I want ed t o send t o al l
t he Consul Gener al s of t he Gr eat St at es i n Al exandr i a; and al so a
memor andumpr oj ect whi ch I want ed t o pr esent t o t he Vi cer oy.
As f or mysel f , I amsor r y because I was not abl e t o shar e or exchange
wi t h you your decl ar ed openness; and I pr esent t o you t he pr oof s and
causes whi ch wi l l sur el y be appr eci at ed when bet t er i nf or mat i on
r egar di ng t he case becomes avai l abl e t o you.
Fat her Thomas i s a cl er gyman f r omt he Fr ench Mi ssi on t o t he Capui ns i n
Damascus. He ser ved t he Fr ench Chur ch i n Damascus. He and hi s ser vant
who enj oyed Fr ench pr ot ect i on; bot h suddenl y di sappear ed.
Ther ef or e, i t was i mper at i ve upon t he Fr ench Counsel i n Damascus, Mr .
Comt e de Rat t i - Ment on, t o i nf or mt he l ocal aut hor i t i es, who t ook pr oper
act i on wi t h i t s sear ch and i nvest i gat i ons t o uncover t he mur der er s.
Suspi ci on cent er ed ar ound some J ews f r omDamascus. They wer e ar r est ed,
and t he l ocal aut hor i t i es st ar t ed t he i nvest i gat i on. Then i t i ssued t he
deat h sent ence f or some of t hem. The Fr ench Consul t hought t hat t he
execut i on must be del ayed unt i l t he compl et i on of t he i nvest i gat i on of
t he sl ayi ng of Fat her Thomas' ser vant .
Ther ef or e, t he case i s t he concer n of t he Fr ench Consul i n Damascus as
a pl ai nt i f f , and t he l ocal aut hor i t y who assumed t he r esponsi bi l i t y f or
t he i nvest i gat i on and sent enced t he mur der er s. I t i s not possi bl e f or
t he Gener al Consul s of Aust r i a, Engl and, Pr ussi a, and Russi a t o
i nt er vene on behal f of t he mur der er s, except i n t he f r ame of a
humani t ar i an cause t hat does not exceed t he pr event i on of usi ng f or ce
or vi ol ence. Unf or t unat el y, t hey wer e not abl e, unt i l now, t o separ at e
i t f r omI sl ami c Law. Ther ef or e, Mr . Consul , I do not expect anyone t o
come f or war d and t ake t he i ni t i at i ve on t hi s subj ect . I have wr i t t en t o
Mr . Rat t i - Ment on when I l ear ned of t he cr i me what f ol l ows:
" Make sur e t hat t he i nvest i gat i ons and ar r est s, whi ch woul d f ol l ow, f or
t he pur pose of f i ndi ng t he t r ut h, ar e i n f ul l agr eement wi t h our l aws
and l egi sl at i on. We must be on guar d t o uncover t he t r ut h wi t hout
r esor t t o measur es t hat ar e agai nst our t r adi t i ons and do not f i t our
age. "
Thi s i ni t i al act was t he onl y measur e I was abl e t o t ake i n a
j udi ci al / l egal sense. I t ook t hi s measur e i mmedi at el y af t er I l ear ned
about t he cr i me.
I f t he l aw i n t he count r y al l ows f or t he sent enced per son t o pl ead f or
mer cy, and i f i t was possi bl e f or t he Fr ench Consul i n Damascus t o ask
f or r econsi der at i on of t hese measur es and t he i nvest i gat i on, r el yi ng on
t he doubt of t he r ul er s and j udges, i t i s beyond our abi l i t y, you and
I , as wel l as our consul s, t o have any r i ght t o oppose such measur es.
When t hese measur es and i nvest i gat i ons ar e r econsi der ed, and t he
sent enced per sons ar e gi ven t he r i ght t o choose t hei r def ender s, t hen
Hi s Excel l ency t he Vi cer oy wi l l be f r ee t o act about t hi s case i n
accor dance wi t h what i s r equi r ed by t he I sl ami c Law. Then, he does not
need t he hel p of t hei r Excel l enci es, t he Consul s of t he Gr eat
Count r i es. Because, t hi s case i s not a pol i t i cal case, i t i s a cr i mi nal
case wi t hi n t he j ur i sdi ct i on of t he l ocal aut hor i t i es.
As f or mysel f , Si r , af t er I di d al l t hat my humani t ar i an f eel i ngs
di ct at ed t o me, I mai nt ai ned t he hi ghest possi bl e measur es of j ust i ce
and neut r al i t y i n al l mat t er s connect ed wi t h a hor r i bl e mur der case. I
r evi ewed al l of i t s st ages and measur es. And I f or war ded t o t he For ei gn
Mi ni st r y f or hi s exami nat i on al l aspect s of t he cr i me.
I do not bel i eve t hat I coul d appoi nt mysel f as a def ender of some
mur der ous J ews who sl ew a Fr ench cl er gyman, pr ot ect ed by Fr ance. And
af t er t hey pr esent ed huge monet ar y gi f t s, and val uabl e pr esent s t o al l
t he Fr ench Consul at e empl oyees i n Damascus, t o shake t he conf i dence of
Mr . Rat t i - Ment on, and f or ce hi mt o wi t hdr aw hi s pr ot est s and
compl ai nt s. I f eel sad, mor e so t han any human bei ng can know because
of t he pr opaganda whi ch has cent er ed on t he Damascus case, and f or what
has been di scover ed of i t . The age whi ch we l i ve i n, does not al l ow us
t o pl ace t he r esponsi bi l i t y on cr i mi nal i nt er pr et at i ons pr esent ed by
i gnor ant and f anat i c Rabbi s l i vi ng i n t he mi dst of peopl e whose
gr eat ness i s based on t hei r r el i gi on. I t i s possi bl e t hat t hei r
wr i t i ngs shoul d have f ocused on t he nat i on whi ch had pr act i ced t hei r
r ol es a l ong t i me ago, and who have achi eved l ar ge amount s of f r eedom,
bot h ci vi l and pol i t i cal r i ght s acknowl edged by Fr ance and Engl and.
Unf or t unat el y, t he case i s not t hat of a per son wor ki ng t o st op
r el i gi ous ar gument s r egar di ng t he causes whi ch wer e br ought i nt o t o t he
open by t he mur der cr i me. What i s r equi r ed now, i s t hat t he t r ut h must
be exposed as cl ear as t he sun, i n accor dance wi t h what wi l l cer t ai nl y
be decl ar ed, and announced about t he or der l y i nvest i gat i ons and
i nqui r i es.
I amhonor ed t o send t o you t he ci r cul ar addr essed t o our col l eagues,
and t he at t ached not e. I t i s my hope t hat you may show t hemt he
r esponse whi ch I t hought t hat you woul d, i n t ur n, be your s.
Pl eases not i f y of r ecei vi ng, Si r .

Annex t wo: Not e t o t he Consul Gener al s: Pr oj ect of a l et t er pr oposed by
t he Aust r i an Consul Gener al , Mr . Laur i n.
Wi t h t he gr eat est f eel i ng of sat i sf act i on and convi ct i on t he Gener al
consul s of Aust r i a, Fr ance, Gr eat Br i t ai n, Pr ussi a, and Russi a, wer e
not i f i ed t hat i n accor dance t o t he di r ect i ves, whi ch came as t he f r ui t
of human compassi on, and j ust i ce, t he Vi cer oy of Egypt i ssued hi s
or der s t o Damascus, t o i mmedi at el y st op t he har sh measur es and t or t ur e
used pr evi ousl y t o ext r act conf essi ons f r omt he J ews who wer e accused
of t he assassi nat i on of Fat her Thomas and hi s ser vant .
Cent ur i es have past si nce t he days i n whi ch Eur ope abol i shed t he
pur suance of J ews accused of human sacr i f i ci al act s. The abol i t i on was
based on enl i ght ened mi nds and i mpar t i al i nvest i gat i ons. Hi s Hi ghness,
t he Vi cer oy deemed i t appr opr i at e t o expr ess, r epeat edl y, hi s
under st andi ng wi t h t he under si gned per sons t o pl ace t hi s case under a
cr i t i cal and concl usi ve st udy, addi ng t hat he woul d be pl eased t o
r ecei ve any suggest i ons pr esent ed f or t he wel f ar e of humani t y, or t o
t he at t ai nment of t hi s pur pose.
I n r esponse t o t hi s ki nd of over t ur e, t he under si gned per sons have t he
honor t o suggest t he submi ssi on of t he cl ear or der , i ssued by hi s
Hi ghness, an i dea second t o none, t o guar ant ee t he di scover y of t he
t r ut h, whi ch i s t o al l ow t hose accused, t o choose f or t hemsel ves, or
t hose chosen by t hei r r el i gi ous br et hr en, a l awyer , or a number of
l awyer s, whose t ask i t wi l l be t o assi st t he i nvest i gat or s i n def endi ng
t he accused, obt ai n al l necessar y cl ar i f i cat i ons whi ch mi ght be needed
t o execut e t he new di r ect i ves i n an or der l y manner , and t he compl et i on
of t he i nvest i gat i ons. Thi s i s i n l i ne wi t h what i s pr act i ced i n
Eur ope. I n t hi s way, i t may be possi bl e t o r each t he expl anat i on of t he
event s and t he ci r cumst ances whi ch ar e st i l l unknown, even now. Thi s i s
especi al l y necessar y i n or der t o f or mul at e convi nci ng t hi nki ng f or t he
j udges of honor abl e and et hi cal r eput at i on, whomyour Hi ghness
al l ocat es t o t hi s case.

Si gnat ur es
A. Laur i n
An exact copy. Cochel et

Annex Thr ee: Aust r i an Gener al Consul A. Laur i n not e f or ci r cul at i on.
Dear My Col l egues,
The Vi cer oy r et ur ned t o me, some days ear l i er , t he r equest whi ch was
pr esent ed by Mr . Comt e Medem, st at i ng t hat Hi s Hi ghness gl adl y r ecei ved
t he suggest i ons of t he Gener a Consul s of t o Gr eat Count r i es r egar di ng
what i s t o be done i n t he quest i oni ng of t he J ews of Damascus, who ar e
accused of t he assassi nat i on of Fat her Thomas and hi s ser vant . I
f or mul at ed t he pr oj ect of a col l ect i ve not e t o be pr esent ed t o t he
Vi cer oy. I have t he honor t o pl ace t hi s pr oj ect i n your hands.
I wi l l be pl eased i f you wi l l par t i ci pat e wi t h me, i n a j oi nt move, and
wi l l accept your deci si on, and what ever amendment s you mi ght consi der
t o be sui t abl e, wi t hout any r eser vat i ons. Pl ease pl ace your si gnat ur es.
And I hope t hat you car r y t he pr oj ect t o your col l eagues whose names
ar e l i st ed i n t he pr oj ect not e.
Fai t hf ul l y

The pr oj ect was si gned by ei ght consul s, and was r ef used by ei ght
ot her s.
The Gener al Consul s who si gned i t wer e: Aust r i a Denmar k, Spai n, Uni t ed
St at es of Amer i ca, Russi a, Pr ussi a, Gener al and Local Br i t i sh Consul s.
The Consul s who r ef used t o si gn: Fr ench Gener al Consul , Gener al Consul
of t he Net her l ands, Gener al Consul of Gr eece, Gener al Consul of Napol i ,
Gener al Consul of Tuscani a, Gener al Consul of Sar di ni a, and t he Gener al
and Local Consul s of Bel gi um.

Sour ce: Ar chi ves, Mi ni st r y of For ei gn Af f ai r s. Consul at e of Al exandr i a,
Di r ect or y of Commer ce, Vol . 184, pp. 466- 473.

Alexandrie, le 23 mai 1840
Cochelet au ministre Thiers.
Objet: La note du consul autrichien Laurin et la raction du consul sarde.
Considrations sur son propre comportement.
Rsum de l'introduction et principaux passages du rapport:
Desmeloizes est parti la veille pour Damas pour l'enqute. De mme, la veille, le consul autrichien a fait
circuler sa note parmi le corps consulaire. Sur 16 consuls, 8 ont refus leur signature. La raison donne tait
normale: L'affaire de l'assassinat Damas concerne uniquement le consul de France. Cependant le consul
gnral de Sardaigne, Cerruti, a ragi violemment contre cette note. Aussi, a-t-il envoy Cochelet une
note de protestation. Il crivait notamment que le Pre Thomas tait n dans le royaume de Sardaigne, bien
que par sa fonction, il tait un protg franais. Or il n'y a pas un consul sarde Damas. Cochelet ajoutait:
La note du consul d'Autriche singne par quelques consuls a t dj remise au vice-roi. Mais celui-ci sait
quoi s'en tenir sur les motifs de cette dmarche. Il distingue entre l'assassinat et ses motifs. D'ailleurs le
ministre doit tre dj en possession des actes du procs... Si on consentait une rvision sous la prsidence
d'avocats europens, ils annuleront et la procdure et ses motifs, en achetant les juges.
Cochelet dfendait alors la procdure faite. D'ailleurs les juifs de Damas ont avou, mme interrogs
sparment. La confirmation de l'assassinat est dj faite. Car:
On a retrouv les os, la chair et la calotte du Pre Thomas... Il y a aussi les certificats des mdecins et
mme le langage du consul d'Autriche Damas.
On a fait circuler des bruits injustes contre Ratti-Menton. En tout tat de cause, il faut attendre le rapport de
l'enqute confie Desmeloizes.

Annexe: La lettre du consul de Sardaigne et la rponse de Cochelet.

Al exandr i a, May 23, 1840
Fr om: Cochel et .
To: Mi ni st er Thi er s.
Subj ect : The Aust r i an Consul , Laur i n, Not e and t he r eact i on of t he
Consul of Sar di i a t o t he Aust r i an Consul ' s behavi or .
Resume of t he not e, wi t h cer t ai n passages of i t .
Mr . Desmel oi zes depar t ed, neadi ng t owar ds Damascus t o conduct t he
i nvest i gat i on. On t hat same day t he Aust r i an Counsul ci r cul at ed hi s
pr oj ect not among t he member s of t he Consul ar Cor put Ei ght out of t he
si xt een consul s r ef used t o si gn t he not e. The r eason f or t hei r r ef usal
was nat ur al : t hat t he case of t he assassi nat i on whi ch t ook pl ace i n
Damascus, i s a case whi ch concer ns t he Fr ench Consul al one. The Consul
of Sar di ni a, Mr . Cer r ut i , uni l at er al l y, r eact ed st r ongl y over t hi s
not e. He al so sent a pr ot est not e t o Mr . Cochel et .
He poi nt ed out i n hi s not e t hat Fat her Thomas was bor n i n Sar di ni a, i n
addi t i on t o t he f act t hat he was a subj ect of Fr ance, because of hi s
pr of essi on. Al so, Sar di ni a has a Consul i n Damascus. The Fr ench Consul ,
Mr . Cochel et added:
" I submi t t ed t he not e of t he Aust r i an Consul , whi ch was si gned by some
ot her consul s, t o t he Vi cer oy. But he knows t he hi dden r easons behi nd
t he not e, and he can di st i ngui sh bet ween t he assassi nat i on cr i me and
i t s causes.
The Mi ni st er now has t he mi nut es of t he i nvest i gat i ons and t he t r i al
pr ocedur es. I f he gi ves per mi ssi on t o r evi ew t hese mi nut es under t he
di r ect i on of Eur opean l awyer s, t hey wi l l wor k t o abol i sh t hese
measur es, t hei r pr oof and t he causes t hr ough t he pur chase of J udges and
t r i bunal s. "
So, Cochel et i s def endi ng t he i nvest i gat i on pr ocedur es of t he case. The
J ews of Damascus have conf essed. Each one of t hemwas quest i oned
i ndi vi dual l y, and t he cr i me was conf i r med by t he f act s wi t h t he
di scover y of :
A - Bones, f l esh, and t he head dr ess of Fat her Thomas,
B - The medi cal t est i moni es of t he commi t t ee of Physi ci ans, and
C - The st at ement s of t he Aust r i an Consul i n Damascas.
An unj ust i f i ed cr y was di r ect ed agai nst Rat t i - Ment on. Anyhow, t her e was
no al t er nat i ve but t o wai t f or t he i nvest i gat i on r epor t t o be r evi ewed
per sonal l y by Desmel oi zes.
Annex: The l et t er of t he Consul of Sar di ni a, and Cochel et r esponse.

Paris, le 27 juin
Rponse du ministre Thiers Cochelet
Rsum de l'introduction: Approbation pour le comportement de Cochelet qui ne s'est pas associ
l'initiative de son collgue autrichien. Le ministre comprenait les difficults de la tche du consul,
notamment cause des dsordres de la situation politique et et militaire en Syrie. Et le ministre continuait
par ces lignes:
... dans cette affaire de cette nature, le rle impos aux agents de S.M. le Roi, et dans lequel je crains que
Mr Ratti-Menton ne se soit pas assez compltement renferm, tait de dcouvrir le fait l'autorit locale, de
provoquer la recherche des coupables et de s'en rapporter du reste la justice territoriale seule comptente
pour procder et prouver.
Au point o on en est aujourd'hui, c'est encore au gouvernement gyptien de dcider d'aprs sa prope
conviction, s'il y a lieu de rviser le procs. Mais, en renonant exercer aucune espce d'influence sur la
dtermination du vice-roi, dans cette circonstance, vous tes fond exiger que votre exemple soit suivi par
les autres agents des autres puissances, et qu'un libre cours soit laiss la justice du pays. Le vice-roi
comprendra de lui-mme qu'admettre le ministre d'avocats europens dans un tribunal musulman, comme
les signataires de la note remise ce prince semblent le demander, serait jeter dans l'esprit des juges
inexpriments une perturbation nuisible la manifestation de la vrit et l'quit de la sentence.
Si donc l'affaire doit subir une rvision qui semble devenir ncessaire, vous vous bornerez faire sentir au
vice-roi combien il importe qu'elle soit soumise des juges dont la position et le caractre garantissent
l'impartialit, et que des normes efficaces et libres de toute influence trangre soient prises pour assurer et
constater l'exacte observation de la loi.
Quant au mode de procder, les nobles sentiments de Mohammed Ali m'assurent que vous n'aurez pas
renouveler les protestations que vous vous tes empress de faire ds l'origine du procs contre l'emploi de
traitements cruels qu'une coutume barbare a fait infliger aux prvenus Damas et qu'une population
innocente sera dsormais prserve des perscutions dont cette dplorable affaire a t le prtexte....
Le 19 juin, le ministre Thiers avait dj crit Cochelet, approuvant sa rponse faite la note de son
collgue autrichien Laurin. Il l'informait aussi d'avoir reu les documents envoys par la consul Damas,
Ratti-
Menton. Mais comme ces documents n'avaient pas dissip compltement l'obscurit dans son esprit, le
ministre attendait donc pour se fixer le rapport demand l'enquteur, Desmeloizes.

Le 6 aot 1840, Cocbelet crivait au ministre Thiers au sujet de l'affaire des juifs de Damas et du rapport de
Desmeloizes:
Monsieur le ministre,
J e m'empresse d'avoir l'honneur de vous transmettre le rapport qui vous est adress par Mr Desmeloizes sur
l'ensemble de l'affaire des Damas, que je reois l'instant par le poste du gouvernement.
J e suis trop press, dans ce moment par le dpart du paquebot pour ajouter de longues observations ce
rapport. J e n'ai pas d'ailleurs sous les yeux les pics qui vous ont t envoyes directement par Mr
Desmeloizes. J 'attends donc le retour de cet agent pour me former une opinion plus prcise de tous les faits.
En attendant, je suis heureux de lire dans le rapport que l'information qui vous a t adresse:
est insuffisante pour repousser implicitement et explicitement les imputations d'aprs lesquelles le
consulat de France Damas a t dpeint comme l'auteur des manoeuvres odieuses, que Mr Ratti-Menton
s'est tenu l'cart, qu'il s'est abstenu de tout encouragement, qu'il a protest deux fois par son dpart
prcipit de sa vive rpugnance pour des violences que la loi musulmane n'a pas encore abolies.
Vous n'avez donc pas rtracter, Mr le ministre, les gnreuses paroles que vous avez prononces en
faveur de Mr Ratti-Menton dans les deux Chambres. Et je me flicite moi-mme de ne m'tre pas tromp
sur son caractre et sa conduite, lorsque je me suis, en quelque sorte, port garant de l'un et de l'autre.
On lui reprochera toujours sans doute de n'avoir pas cherch empcher les tortures. Peut-tre, aurait-il d
indique; l'autorit locale, comme je le lui crivais le 10 mars, un moyen de procdure en rapport avec nos
formes et usages. Mais un consul de France, poursuivant un crime commis sur un de ses protgs, pouvait-
il faire changer immdiatement la lgislation musulmane? C'tait surtout aux consuls qui s'taient dclars
les pro-
tecteurs des juifs faire des protestations nergiques. Loin de l, la lettre du 21 janvier de Mr Merlato,
consul d'Autriche, qui est annex au rapport de Mr Desmeloizes, encourage le gouverneur gnral faire
arrter les juifs protgs autrichiens et toscans, lorsque, d'aprs la juridiction de l'Orient c'tait lui
instruire le procs.
Esprons, Mr le ministre, que la malheureuse affaire qui a eu un si grand retentissement, engagera tous les
gouvernements s'entendre dans un but louable pour faire rformer une lgislation barbare.

Source:
Archives Affaires Etrangres. Alexandrie, direction commerciale, vol.28. Lettre de Cochelet Thiers du 23
mai, nr.192, fol.480-483.
Rponses du ministre Thiers du 19 juin, nr.fol.492, et du 27 jas, r.71, fol.495-496.
Rapport de Cochelet au ministre Thiers, du 6 aot, nr.202, fol.508-509.

Par i s, J une 27t h
Response of t he Mi ni st er Thi er s t o Cochel et :
A Br i ef I nt r oduct i on: Appr oval and appr eci at i on of t he behavi our of
Cochel et who di d not shar e hi s Aust r i an col l eague hi s i ni t i at i ve. The
Mi ni st er r eal i zed t he dut y di f f i cul t i es whi ch t he consul under t ook,
because of t he di st ur bance of t he pol i t i cal and mi l i t ar y si t uat i on i n
Syr i a. The Mi ni st er i nt r oduced hi s opi ni on as f ol l ows:
I n such a case of t hi s nat ur e, t he dut y of t he men of hi s Maj est y t he
Ki ng t he dut y whi ch I amaf r ai d t hat Mr . Rat t i - Ment on di d not
compr ehend suf f i ci ent l y i s l i mi t ed t o r eveal t he f act s of t he case t o
t he l ocal aut hor i t i es, and hast eni ng t he sear ch f or t he cr i mi nal s, and
af t er war ds l eavi ng t he case t o t he r egi onal j ust i ce whi ch i s capabl e of
di sposal and ver i f i cat i on. Accor di ng t o t he pr esent si t uat i on, t he
Egypt i an Gover nment i s t he aut hor i t y whi ch t akes deci si on t o r e- exami ne
i nquest and car r y out t r i al accor di ng t o her sat i sf act i on i f she f i nds
i t necessar y. But , on t he l i ght of her abst ent i on t o exer ci se any sor t
of pr essur e on t he Gover nor i n t aki ng hi s deci si on, you l ean upon your
at t i t ude t o ask t he r est of t he of f i ci al s of t he Supper Power s t o t ake
si mi l ar at t i t udes. And l eavi ng f r eedomt o t r i bunal i n t he count r y t o do
i t s dut y. At t he same t i me, t he gover nor r eal i zes t hat t he cl ai mof t he
Mi ni st r y t o send Eur opean l awyer s t o pl ead i n I sl ami c cour t , i n
accor dance wi t h t he memor andumwhi ch was si gned by some consul s and
del i ver ed t o t he Pr i nce, wi l l l eave a bad i mpr essi on on t he j udges, and
t hat wi l l be har mf ul t o t r ut h and t o soundness of j ur i sdi ct i on.
I n t hi s manner , i f i t i s i nevi t abl e t o r e- exami ne t he case, whi ch seems
t o be necessar y, you have t o not i f y t he gover nor t hat i t wi l l be an
i mpor t ant mat t er t o hand i n t he case t o j udge who have t he j ust i ce, i n
addi t i on t o t he hi gh ef f i ci ency and f ul l f r eedombound t o el i mi nat e any
ext er nal f act or s and t hat conduce t o accur at e i mpl ement at i on of l aw.
But i n r egar d t o t he met hods of i nt er r ogat i on and i nvest i gat i on i nt o
t he har sh pr ocedur es appl i ed i n t he l i ght of t he t r adi t i on f ol l owed i n
Damascus, Mohammad Al i who showed me nobl e sympat hy, assur ed t hat you
needn' t r enew t he pr ot est s whi ch you hur r i edl y sent at t he ver y
begi nni ng. He added t hat hencef or t h t her e wi l l be no need f or gr umbl e
or compl ai nt .
The Mi ni st er Thi er s wr ot e a l et t er t o t he Consul Cochel et on t he 19t h
of J une and he agr eed i n i t wi t h t he at t i t ude of Cochel et i n r egar d t o
t he memor andumof hi s Aust r i an col l eague, Lor an. He i nf or med hi mal so
t hat he r ecei ved t he document s whi ch wer e sent by t he Consul of
Damascus Rat t i - Ment on - but , because t hese document s di d not r eveal
exact l y t he ambi gui t y i n hi s i dea about t he subj ect - t he Mi ni st er i s
wai t i ng f or obt ai ni ng t he r epor t whi ch he had asked Desmel oi zes t o
i nt r oduce i t . Cochel et wr ot e a l et t er t o t he Mi ni st er Thi er s on t he
si xt h of August 1840, on t he subj ect of t he J ews' case i n Damascus, and
on t he r epor t of t he i nvest i gat or Desmel oi zes.
Mr . Mi ni st er , . . .
I have t he honour t o del i ver t o you i n hast e t he r epor t whi ch i s
di r ect ed t o you by Mr . Desmel oi zes about t he t ot al case of t he J ews i n
Damascus. Thi s r epor t whi ch I have j ust r ecei ved by of f i ci al post .
At t hi s moment , I f eel gr eat l y di st r essed because of t he depar t ur e of
t he post boat , so t hat I cannot add det ai l ed expl anat i on on t hi s
r epor t . Now, t her e i s not hi ng l ef t but t he f ol i os of t he r epor t whi ch
Mr . Desmel oi zes has sent you di r ect l y. And I amwai t i ng f or t he r et ur n
of t hi s i nvest i gat or i n or der t o est abl i sh mor e accur at e opi ni on on al l
f act s and i nci dent s. Meanwhi l e, I amgl ad t o quot e some excer pt s f r om
t he r epor t whi ch i s di r ect ed t o you:
I s t he expl i ci t or i mpl i ci t di sappr oval shown enough t o exoner at e t he
Consul of Fr ance f r omt he Char ges at t ached t o hi m? He was descr i bed as
i nst i gat or of hat ef ul and hor r i bl e manoeuvr es, whi l e Mr . Rat t i - Ment on
i sol at ed and pr ot ect ed hi msel f f r omal l encour agement , and i nt r oduced
pr ot est t wi ce by goi ng out i n hur r y t o expr ess st r ongl y hi s di sgust of
vi ol ent manner s whi ch I sl ami c l aws wor k t o abol i sh and i nval i dat e.
So you have no need, Mr . Mi ni st er , t o wi t hdr aw your wor ds whi ch you
have sai d gener ousl y on behal f of Mr . Rat t i - Ment on bef or e t he Cabi net
and Par l i ament . I sei ze t he oppor t uni t y t o congr at ul at e mysel f t hat I
was not decei ved by hi s qual i t i es and behavi our , nor di sappoi nt ed when
I spoke f avour abl y of hi mi n a way or anot her .
They wi l l al ways wor k t o r epr oach hi mbecause he di d not t r y t o st op
t or t ur e. He may have been bound t o i nf or mt he compet ent aut hor i t i es. I n
f act , I wr ot e hi ma l et t er on Mar ch 10t h t o t he ef f ect t hat
i nvest i gat i on shoul d go i n a l i ne si mi l ar t o our s. Can t he Consul of
Fr ance, who i s f ol l owi ng up t he mi nut es of a cr i me commi t t ed agai nst
some one under hi s pr ot ect i on, change t he I sl ami c Legi sl at i on di r ect l y?
Any how, t hat was t he dut y of t he Consul s who cl ai med r esponsi bi l i t y
f or t he pr ot ect i on of t he J ews, and who wer e r equi r ed t o i nt r oduce
deci si ve pr ot est s. Mor e t han t hat , t he l et t er of t he Consul of Aust r i a,
Mr . Mer l at o, on t he 21st of J anuar y whi ch i s at t ached t o t he l et t er of
Desmel oi zes, shows t hat Mr . Mer l at o has encour aged t he Gener al Gover nor
t o ar r est t he J ews whomhi s count r y Aust r i a and Toscani a pr ot ect s.
He i s al so t he one who suggest ed t o hi mt hat j udi ci al pr oceedi ngs
shoul d be on t he basi s of l egi sl at i on appl i ed i n t he East .
We hope, Mr . Mi ni st er , t hat t hi s mi ser abl e case whi ch caused gr eat
echoes, woul d be a mot i ve t o al l gover nment s f or mut ual under st andi ng
i n or der t o agr ee on r ef or ms on t he bar bar i an l egi sl at i ons.
Sour ce: Ar chi ves, Mi ni st r y of For ei gn Af f ai r s, Al exandr i a, Di r ect or y of
Commer ce, Vol . 28.
A l et t er f r omCochel et t o Thi er s on 23r d of May, No. 192, f ol i o 480-
481, Annex, f ol i o 482- 483.
Response of t he Mi ni st er Thi er s on 19t h J une, f ol i o 492, and l et t er
on 27t h of J une, No. 71, f ol i o 495- 496.
Repor t of Cochel et t o t he Mi ni st er Thi er s on t he 6t h of August , No.
202, f ol i o 508, 509.

Constantinople (Thrapia) le 27 mai 1840
L'ambassadeur Pontois ministre Thiers.
Objet: L'affaire du Pre Thomas de Damas et l'initiative de la communaut isralite.
Monsieur le ministre,
Le retentissement qu'a eu en Europe l'affaire des juifs de Damas et la connaissance que viennent de me
donner les jounaux des dmarches faites auprs du gouvernement du roi, l'effet de solliciter son
intervention, m'engagent aller au-devant des explications que Votre Excellence pourra tre dans le cas de
me demander cet gard et lui faire connatre, ds prsent, la part que l'ambassade de Sa Majest a prise
dans le drame lugubre et mystrieux dont l'attention publique est aujourd'hui si vivement proccupe.
Cette part a t fort restreinte. Car je n'ai jusqu' prsent reu aucune information de Mr le consul de France
Damas sur l'vnement dont il s'agit. Il s'est born me dire incidemment, dans une lettre du 23 avril
dernier, que tout son temps tait absorb par les soins donner l'instruction de la procdure relative
l'assassinat de deux protgs franais.
Mais, ayant reu de plusieurs juifs considrables de ce pays, agissant au nom de la communaut isralite de
Damas la requte ci-jointe en copie (voir page 4 de ce dossier), je me suis empress de la transmettre Mr
le comte de Ratti-Menton, ainsi qu'une rclamation sur le mme sujet de Mr l'internonce ( ambassadeur
d'Autriche Constantinople) en accompagnant ces deux pices de la lette dont est galement ci-jointe, je
n'ai, comme de raison, point encore reu de rponse.
L'on vient de m'apprendre que sur les instances du consul gnral d'Angleterre, le Pacha d'Egypte a donn
ordre que l'on cesst de faire usage de la torture et que l'affaire ft instruite de nouveu d'une manire
rgulire et lgale.
J 'ai l'honneur...

Source: Archives Affaires Etrangres.
Turquie Ambassade de constantinople, direction politique. Volume 280, nr.38, fol.222-223.
Note: La rclamation de l'internonce d'Autriche ne se trouve pas dans ce volume.

Const ant i nopl e, May 27, 1840
Fr om: Ambassador Pont oi s.
To: Mi ni st er Thi er s.
Subj ect : The Af f ai r s of Fat her Thomas i n Damascus, and t he i ni t i at i ve
of t he J ewi sh Communi t y.
Mr . Mi ni st er Si r ,
Due t o t he i nt ensi t y of t he news echo whi ch pr evai l s i n Eur ope, because
of t he case of t he Damascus J ews, and t he news whi ch I gat her ed f r om
t he pr ess r egar di ng t he measur es t aken by t he Ki ng' s Gover nment . The
i mpact of i t s i nt er vent i on ur ged me t o r equest , what ever expl anat i ons
avai l abl e f r omyou, so t hat I may be abl e t o pr ovi de t hemher e i f i t i s
r equest ed of me. And al so your i nst r uct i on as t o t he r ol e t hat ought t o
be adopt ed by Hi s Maj est y' s Embassy r egar di ng t he obscur e and st r ange
st or i es whi ch have engaged t he i nt er est of publ i c opi ni on and pol ar i zed
i t s at t ent i on.
The Embassy r ol e r emai ns ver y l i mi t ed because I have not yet r ecei ved
any i nf or mat i on f r omt he Fr ench Consul i n Damascus r egar di ng t he
event s. He pr ovi ded me i n a casual manner by hi s not e of l ast Apr i l
23r d, t hat he was spendi ng al l hi s t i me f ol l owi ng t he pr ocedur es
r el at ed t o t he assassi nat i on of t wo men who wer e Fr ench subj ect s. I
r ecei ved a number of not abl e J ews i n t hi s count r y. They cl ai med t hat
t hey ar e wor ki ng f or t he J ewi sh communi t y i n Damascus, and t hey
pr esent ed a r equest of whi ch I amencl osi ng a copy, ( see page 4 of t he
f i l e) . I sent i t i mmedi at el y t o Mr . Rat t i - Ment on, and al so a r equest of
t he Aust r i an ambassador i n Const ant i nopl e on t he same subj ect . I am
at t achi ng t wo copi es of t he r equest s. But I di d not r ecei ve a r esponse.
I l ear ned t hat t he Pasha, t he Gover nor of Egypt , had i ssued hi s or der ,
i n r esponse t o t he r el ent l ess r equest s of t he Gener al Consul of Engl and
t o hal t t he t or t ur ous measur es, and t o r econst r uct t he i nvest i gat i on
pr ocedur e i n an or der l y and l egal manner .
I have t he honor
Si gnat ur e

Sour ce: Ar chi ves of t he For ei gn Mi ni st r y, t he Tur ki sh Embassy,
Const ant i nopl e, t he Pol i t i cal Di r ect or y, Vol . 280, No. 38, pp. 222- 223.


Paris, le 29 octobre 1840
Le ministre Cochelet
Objet: Les reprsentants des juifs d'Europe chez Mohammed Ali pour l'Affaire de l'assassinat du Pre
Thomas.
....
....
Il paratrait, d'aprs des avis transmis par la presse, que, sur les ins-tances de MM. Crmieux et
Montefiore, Mohammed Ali a cru devoir ordonner la cessation de toute poursuite contre les isralites des
Damas accuss du meurtre du Pre Thomas et de son domestique.
J e dsire savoir, si cette dtermination qui, indpendamment des con-sidrations d'humanit, a pu tre
dicte ce prince par le dsir de mettre un terme aux embarras de cette dplorabe affaire, a t prise titre
de grce ou aprs examen et rvision du procs.
J e vous prie donc de me faire connatre les termes et les motifs de la dcision du vice-roi...

Par i s, Oct ober 29, 1840
Fr om: The Mi ni st er .
To: Cochel et .
Subj ect : The vi si t of t he r epr esent at i ves of t he Eur opean J ews t o
Mohamad Al i r egar di ng t he assassi nat i on of Fat her Thomas.
The i nf or mat i on t r ansmi t t ed by t he pr ess i ndi cat es t hat because of t he
unceasi ng pr essur e of t he l awyer s, Mr . Cr emi eux and Mr . Mont ef i or e,
Mohamad Al i has i ssued hi s or der s t o hal t al l pur sui t s of t he J ews, who
have been accused of t he assassi nat i on of Fat her Thomas and hi s ser vant
i n Damascus. What I woul d l i ke t o know i s whet her t hi s deci si on was
t aken, wi t hout any r egar d t o humani t ar i an consi der at i ons, because of
t he pr essur e i mposed on Pr i nce Mohamad Al i , t o put an end t o unpl easant
di st r ess and har dshi p caused by t hi s case. Was t hi s deci si on t aken
because of mer cy and compassi on? Or as a r esul t of t he r eexami nat i on of
t he whol e case, and t he i nvest i gat i ve pr ocedur es?
Pl ease, i n l i ght of t hat , i nf or mme of t he r easons and t he
ci r cumst ances whi ch caused t he Vi cer oy, Mohamad Al i , t o i ssue hi s
or der .

Le 2 dcembre 1840
Rponse de Cochelet au ministre Guizot, successeur de Thiers.
Monsieur le Ministre,
....
........
Vous trouvez galement ci-annexe une copie de la traduction du firman de Mohammed Ali, en date du 29
aot dernier, relatif aux juifs de Damas qui m'est demand par la dpche prcite (celle du 29 octobre).
La dtermination de Mohammed Mi avait t prise titre de grce, afin de mettre un terme aux embarras de
cette dplorable affaire. Mais comme ce vizir tait trs malade quand il s'est dcid l'accorder, on a trouv
moyen de faire changer les termes du firman. Il n'a eu d'ailleurs aucune rvision du procs. J e ne serai pas
tonn qu'on chercht la provoquer auprs de la Porte, maintenant que Damas est au pouvoir des Turcs.
D'aprs le langage tenu dernirement par le Sultan qui, sur la demande de Mr Montefoire, a dlivr la
nation isralite un firman, upour qu'elle ne soit plus expose dans ses Etats tre recherche pour des
crimes comme ceux de Damas, l'issue de procs ne serait pas douteuse et un nouveau scandale aurait lieu.
J e pense que dans l'intrt de tous les juifs, il conviendrait beaucoup mieux que l'on ne parlt plus de cette
malheureuse affaire. Le temps qui assoupit tout, l'assoupira galement, tandis que si on la rveille encore, le
gouvernement du Roi se trouvera oblig pour justifier la conduite de ses agents de publier des pices
officielles qui donneraient lieu de nouvelles polmiques qui ne seraient pas sans inconvnient.
J e suis

December 2nd, 1840
Reponse of Cochel et t o Mi ni st er Gui zot , t he successor of Mi ni st er
Thi er s.
Mr . Mi ni st er Di r .
Encl osed wi t h t he l et t er , pl ease f i nd a t r ansl at ed copy of t he
execut i ve or der whi ch was i ssued by Mohamad Al i , on t he 28t h, of
August , r egar di ng t he J ews of Damascus, whi ch you have r equest ed by
your t el egr aph message Oct ober 29t h.
Mohamad Al i , deci ded t o i ssue t hi s or der f or compassi onat e and
humani t ar i an r easons because of t he unpl easant di st r ess and har dshi ps
caused by t hi s case. Mohamad Al i ' s gr ave i l l ness was i nst r ument al and
benef i ci al i n changi ng t he t er ms of hi s execut i ve or der . No r evi ew was
made as t o t he i nvest i gat i on pr ocedur es. I t woul d not sur pr i se me, i f
t he case i s br ought t o t he at t ent i on of t he I mper i al Cour t i n
Const ant i nopl e. Especi al l y, when Damascus i s wi t hi n t he r each of t he
Ot t oman Tur ks. The l at est news woul d i ndi cat e t hat t he Ot t oman Sul t an,
i n r esponse t o Mr . Mont ef i or e' s demand, gave t he J ewi sh peopl e an
execut i ve or der decl ar i ng t hat " Cr i mes si mi l ar t o t he cr i me of Damascus
ar e not t o be pr esent ed or consi der ed i n t he Ot t oman Empi r e" , because
t hi s ki nd of i nvest i gat i on pr ovi des r oomf or new scandal s. Ther e no
doubt r egar di ng t he honest y of t he i nvest i gat i on pr ocedur es.
I bel i eve t hat i t i s i n t he i nt er est of al l J ews not t o ment i on t he
i nvest i gat i on of t hi s mi ser abl e case. Ti me wi l l r educe t he i nt ense
f eel i ngs of t ensi on and hat r ed as a r esul t of t hi s case. The Gover nment
of Hi s Maj est y t he Ki ng, hi msel f i s obl i gat ed t o j ust i f y t he conduct
and t o def end t he posi t i ons of i t s of f i ci al s, and t o per mi t t he pr ess
t o publ i sh t he of f i ci al document s whi ch woul d pr ovi de t he oppor t uni t y
f or di scussi on. However , t hat woul d not be sui t abl e or appr opr i at e.
Fai t hf ul l y

Annexe: Traduction du firman adress Schrif Pacha, gouverneur gnral de la Syrie, en date du 2 Rjeb
1256 (29 aot 1840), relativement aux juifs de Damas, assassins du Pre Thomas et de son domestique.
MM Montefiori et Crmieux se sont rendus auprs de moi, au nom de la communaut isralite d'Europe,
pour me demander de dlivrer et tranquilliser ceux des juifs qui sont aujourd'hui en prison ou en fuite
raison des poursuites auxquelles avait donn lieu la disparition Damas du Pre Thomas et de son
domestique, au mois de zilhidj 1255.
Aprs avoir pris connaissance de ces demandes et prires prsentes au nom d'une socit considrable, je
n'ai pas cru pouvoir les repousser et j'ai ordonn ce qui suit:
Vous dlivrez ceux de la nation juive qui sont en prison et vous rassurerez ceux qui ont pris la fuite en les
invitant revenir. Vous veillerez ce qu'ils continuent d'exercer leur industrie et leur commerce, sans
qu'aucun d'eux soit maltrait par qui que ce soit dans l'exercice de sa profession. Et,. en protgeant comme
auparavant leur repos et leur tranquillit, vous ne ngligerez rien pour faire renatre la scurit parmi cette
nation.

Source: Archives Affaires Etrangres.
Alexandrie, direction commerciale, vol.28.
Pour la lettre du ministre du 29 octobre, nr.79, fo1.532-533.
Pour la rponse du consul, le 2 dcembre, nr.220, fol.542-543. Et pour l'annexe, fol.544.

Annex: The t r ansl at i on of t he Execut i ve Or der whi ch was addr essed t o
t he Gover nor Gener al of Syr i a, Shar i f Pasha, on t he 2nd of Raj ah 1256
H, ( 29t h of August 1840) , r egar di ng t he J ews of Damascus, who
assassi nat ed Fat her Thomas and hi s ser vant .
" Mr . Mont ef i or i and Mr . Cr emi eux met wi t h me, as r epr esent at i ves of t he
J ewi sh Communi t y of Eur ope, t o put an end t o t he pur sui t of J ews and t o
assur e t hose who wer e det ai ned i n j ai l t oday, or who had f l ed, because
of t hei r pur sui t by t he l ocal aut hor i t i es who wer e i nvest i gat i ng t he
di sappear ance of Fat her Thomas and hi s ser vant i n Damascus, i n t he
mont h of Zul - Hi j j a 1255 H.
Af t er r evi ewi ng t he demands and t he r equest i n t he name of an i mpor t ant
communi t y, I do not bel i eve t hat I can r ef use t hem, t her ef or e, I have
or der ed t he f ol l owi ng:
To set f r ee t he J ews who ar e det ai ned i n j ai l , t o par don t hose who ar e
f ugi t i ves and want ed, and t o make sur e of t hei r r et ur n t o t he pr act i ce
of t hei r commer ci al and i ndust r i al act i vi t i es. And t hat none of t hem
wi l l be subj ect ed t o any ki nd of mi st r eat ment by anyone, r egar dl ess of
who i t mi ght be. You guar ant ee t hempr ot ect i on, as i t was i n t he past ,
f or t hei r saf et y and secur i t y. Do not di sr egar d any measur e whi ch may
r et ur n peace t o t hi s nat i on. "

Sour ce: Ar chi ves of t he For ei gn Mi ni st r y Al exandr i a Di r ect or y of
Commer ce, Vol . 28, The l et t er of t he Mi ni st er , Oct . 29, No. 79, pp.
532- 533; The Response of t he Consul , Dec. 2, No. 220, pp. 542- 543; and
t he annex, p. 544.

Damas, le 12 dcembre 1850
SgurDupeyron au ministre.
Objet: Suppression de l'inscription sur le tombeau de Pre Thomas dans l'glise des Pres Franciscains.
Vous m'avez fait l'honneur de m'entretenir, avant mon dpart de Paris, de la dmarche faite auprs de vous
par lord Normanly, l'effet d'obtenir la suppression de l'inscription accusatrice pour les juifs qui figure sur
le tombeau lev au Pre Thomas dans l'glise des Capucins Damas.
J 'avais eu l'hommeur de vous faire observer que cette dmarche du gouvernement anglais ne pouvait avoir
qu'un but, celui d'tendre l'influence que l'Angleterre exerce dj sur un grand nombre d'isralites de cette
ville. Sans cela, en effet, quel intrt pouvait avoir la Grande-Bretagne, pays et gouvernement chrtien, la
disparition d'une inscription de cette espce existant dans une ville qu'on visite peu et dans une glise que
les trangers ne visitent pas, tant elle est pauvre et ignore. J 'avais ajout que, ce que l'Angleterre, si nous
nous prtions ses dsirs, gagnerait en influence sur les juifs, nous le perdions en influence sur les
chrtiens.
Un fait tout rcent vient de prouver quel point ce qui se rattache l'pitaphe du Pre Thomas
impressionne les populations chrtiennes et juives de Damas.
Mr Gustave de Rothschild, fils de Mr dr Rothschild de Paris, paicourt en ce moment la Syrie. Il avait pris
son passeport, afin d'viter beaucoup d'obsession de la part de ses coreligionnaires, sous le nom de Mr de
Ferrires. Mais son incognito a t bientt trahi. Arriv Damas, un ou deux jours avant mon arrive (nous
logions sous le mme toit et nous mangions ensemble) les rabbins sont venus le voir, les juifs l'ont entour,
et il m'a parl ensuite de la dmarche qu'on le priait de faire auprs de moi, relativement la tombe du Pre
Thomas.
J e n'ai pas eu de peine lui faire comprendre que rien ne pouvait plus nuire au succs d'une pareille
ngociation, que l'empressement irrflchi des juifs saisir toutes les occassions d'occuper publiquement,
les plus marquants de leurs coreligionnaires d'Europe, du dsir qu'ils prouvent de voir effacer de cette
tombe l'inscription qui les accuse de l'assassinat du pauvre missionnaire.
Mais les juifs ne se sont pas borns des paroles. Ils ont employ des sductions d'un autre ordre. Ils ont
donn chez l'un d'eux, un protg franais, une grande soire Mr de Rothschild et ils m'ont adress les
plus pressantes instances pour que j'y assistasse ainsi que ma famille.
J 'ai vu aussitt quels effets une pareille concession de ma part pouvait, en pareille circonstance, produire
sur l'esprit des chrtiens et j'ai fait agrer mon refus sans avoir pour cela bless les juifs. J 'ai lieu de croire
que les chrtiens m'ont su gr de cette conduite...
Du ct chrtien, on a prouv, comme on prouve toujours la venue d'un juif europen marquant, une
certaine inquitude. J 'ai cru comprendre que las capucins qui ont tous, depuis deux ans, quitt Damas, pour
louer leur couvent aux armniens catholiques, allaient envoyer ici un des leurs pour veiller sur la tombe du
Pre Thomas.
D'un autre ct, Mr de Rothschild ayant voulu avoir quelque toffe de la fabrique d'un chrtien, protg
franais, le chrtien a trouv des subterfuges pour ne pas vendre un homme qui lui paraissait n'tre venu
Damas que pour employer son influence obtenir ce que les juifs dsirent tant.
J e suis entr dans ces dtails, Mr le ministre, pour vous mieux montrer, que cette question de l'pitaphe du
Pre Thomas n'est pas une affaire trs simple et que notre politique ici doit tre de faire prendre patience
aux juifs tout en rassurant les chrtiens. Autrement, nous ferions les affaires des Anglais...
P.S.: Voici la traduction de l'pitaphe italienne du Pre Thomas. Cette
inscription est rpte sur la pierre tumulaire en langue arabe:
Ici reposent les os du missionnaire capucin, Pre Thomas, assassin par les juifs, le 5 fvrier 1840.
D'aprs ce que j'apprends aujourd'hui mme, je ne doute pas que la dmarche faite auprs de vous, Mr le
ministre, par Lord Normanly ne soit le rsultat d'engagements pris l'gard des juifs par le consul
d'Angleterre Damas, Mr Wood qui vient de passer un cong de plus d'un mois en Angleterre.
Source: Archives Affaires Etrangres
Consulat de Damas-Correspondance politique, vol.2 (1848-1853), nr.l, fol.132-135.

Damascus, Dec. 12, 1850
Fr om: Seger - Duper an.
To: The pr event i on of an i nscr i pt i on on t he gr ave st one of Fat her
Thomas, i n t he Chur ch of t he Fr anci scan Fat her s.
I was honor ed by your i nst r uct i ons bef or e my depar t ur e f r omPar i s,
r egar di ng Lor d Nor manl y' s ef f or t s t o pr essur e you i nt o t he r emoval of
t he i nscr i pt i ons whi ch cont ai n accusat i ons agai nst t he J ews, on t he
monument mar ki ng Fat her Thomas' gr ave i n t he Capuci ns Chur ch of
Damascus.
I have t he honor t o i nf or myou t hat t hese t ypes of Engl i sh Gover nment s
pr act i ce no ot her ai mt han t o wi den t he i nf l uence and aut hor i t y of
Engl and whi ch used a l ar ge number of J ews i n t hi s ci t y. I f i t wer e i n
t he best i nt er est of Gr eat Br i t ai n, whi ch i s gover ned by a Chr i st i an
Gover nment , t o r emove t hi s i nscr i pt i on t hey woul d. But i t i s i n a ci t y
vi si t ed by onl y an i nsi gni f i cant number of t our i st s, i n a Chur ch whi ch
i s never vi si t ed by f or ei gner s, due t o i t s l ocat i on i n a poor sect i on
of l ow st at ur e. I mi ght add t o t hi s, t hey wi l l appeal t o and wi n t he
i nf l uence and suppor t of t he J ews, and wi l l l ose i nf l uence over t he
Chr i st i ans. Not l ong ago, t hi s i nscr i pt i on on t he gr ave of Fat her
Thomas made an i mpact on t he f eel i ng of t he J ews and t he Chr i st i an
al i ke i n t he ci t y of Damascus.
Mr . Gust ave Rot hschi l d, t he son of t he wel l known Mr . Rot hschi l d i n
Par i s, went t o Syr i a dur i ng t hi s per i od. He obt ai ned a passpor t under
t he di sgui sed name of Mr . Fer r i er es, i n or der t o avoi d r esi st ance and
di st ur bance t o f ol l ower s of hi s r el i gi on, t he J ews. But hi s di sgui se
bet r ayed hi m, because upon hi s ar r i val i n Damascus, a day or t wo bef or e
my ar r i val , t he Rabbi s came t o vi si t hi m, and he was sur r ounded by t he
J ews, whi l e I was l i vi ng wi t h hi munder one r oof and we at e our meal s
t oget her . He spoke wi t h me af t er t hese vi si t s, st at i ng t hat t he
f ol l ower s of hi s r el i gi on had asked hi mt o di scuss t he pr obl emof
Fat her Thomas' gr ave wi t h me.
I di d not f i nd any di f f i cul t i es i n maki ng hi munder st and t hat t her e was
no har mor i nj ur y whi ch woul d occur by our di scussi on of t he mat t er as
i t was not hi ng compar ed t o t he t hought l ess, i mper t i nence whi ch t he J ews
di spl ay on al l occasi ons i n or der t o engage publ i c opi ni on. Thi s was
par t i cul ar l y obvi ous af t er what had been cl ear l y di spl ayed, by t he
ol dest of t hei r r el i gi ous br et hr en i n Eur ope, i n t hei r desi r e t o er ase
what was wr i t t en, on t he t ombst one, t he accusat i ons agai nst t he
assassi ns of t he poor mi ssi onar y, Fat her Thomas. But t he J ews di d not
accept t hi s ki nd of t al k, and t hey r esor t ed t o anot her ki nd of
ent i cement by ar r angi ng a magni f i cent di nner par t y f or Mr . Rot hschi l d.
Thi s was accompl i shed by one of t hemwho enj oyed Fr ench pr ot ect i on
st at us. They i nvi t ed me and my f ami l y t o t he par t y. I r eal i zed,
i mmedi at el y, what ef f ect my accept ance woul d l eave i n t he mi nds of t he
Chr i st i ans under t hese ci r cumst ances. So I pol i t el y decl i ned t o accept
t he i nvi t at i on i n a consi der at e manner whi ch was har ml ess t o t he
f eel i ngs of t he J ews. The Chr i st i ans f el t r el i eved by my behavi or . I
t hi nk t he Chr i st i ans wer e wor r i ed, as t hey have usual l y f el t i n t he
past when a not ed J ewi sh per sonal i t y f r omEur ope vi si t s Damascus. I
bel i eve t hat t he Capuci ns, who l ef t Damascus t wo year s ago, t o asser t
t hei r mut ual compassi onat e f eel i ng wi t h t he Ar meni an Cat hol i cs, wi l l
send one of t hemher e t o wat ch over t he gr ave of Fat her Thomas. Mr .
Rot hschi l d al so want ed t o see some t ext mat er i al whi ch i s pr oduced and
made by a Chr i st i an who enj oys t he pr ot ect i on of Fr ance. However , t hi s
Chr i st i an deci ded t o be absent i n or der not t o have t o sel l what he
pr oduced t o a man who had come t o Damascus ( as he t hought ) , f or no
ot her pur pose except t o use hi mi n t he suppor t of what t he J ews want .
I pr esent t hese det ai l s, Mr . Mi ni st er Si r , t o r eveal t o you cl ear l y
t hat t he pr obl emof t he i nscr i pt i ons on t he monument over t he gr ave of
Fat her Thomas i s not an easy one. And t hat our pol i cy her e must be
gui ded by t ol er at i on and pat i ence t owar d t he J ews, and by di spel l i ng
t he anxi et y of t he Chr i st i ans at t he same t i me. And i f we ar e not abl e
t o do t hat , t hen we wi l l be doi ng what t he Engl i sh ar e doi ng.
P. S. : Her e i s t he wr i t i ng on t he epi t aph of Fat her Thomas' gr ave;
t r ansl at ed f r omI t al i an. Thi s i nscr i pt i on i s r epeat ed on a mar bl e sl ab
i n Ar abi c:
" Her e l i e t he bones of Fat her Thomas, t he Capuci n mi ssi onar y who was
assassi nat ed by t he J ews on t he 5t h of Febr uar y 1840. "
Today I l ear ned what has conf i r med f or me t hat t he vi si t of Lor d
Nor manl y t o you Mr . Mi ni st er Si r , was t he r esul t of J ewi sh i nt er vent i on
wi t h t he Engl i sh Consul i n Damascus. Mr . Wood spent mor e t han a mont h
of hi s vacat i on i n Engl and.

Sour ce: Ar chi ves of t he Fr ench For ei gn Mi ni st r y. Consul at e of Damascus,
Pol i t i cal Cor r espondence, Vol . 2 ( 1848- 1853) No. 1, pp. 132- 135.

Cor r espondence of t he Consul :
1 - Let t er f r omMoses Mont ef i or e t o Pal mer st on, Febr uar y 28, 1850.
I bi d. , pp. 92- 94, A pl ea f or mer cy l et t er t o t he Engl i sh Mi ni st er t o
i nt er vene wi t h t he Fr ench For ei gn Mi ni st er i n Par i s. I n t he l et t er
Mont ef i or e ment i oned hi s i nt er vent i on wi t h t he Car di nal of Rome on t hi s
mat t er .
2 - Let t er f r omMoses Mont ef i or e t o Pr i nce Loui s Napol eon on t he same
subj ect . I bi d. , pp. 95- 96. Mr . Mont ef i or e at t ached t o hi s l et t er t he
t ext of t he i nscr i pt i on, i n I t al i an and Ar abi c, on t he gr ave i n t he
Fr anci scan Chur ch, Damascus.
3 - Let t er f r omPal mer st on t o Lor d Nor manl y, 8t h of Mar ch, 1850.
Tr ansmi t t i ng t he Pl ea f or Mer cy l et t er pr esent ed by Mont ef i or e, I bi d. ,
p. 98.

As t o t he ver bal i nst r uct i ons of t he Fr ench Mi ni st er t o t he Fr ench
Consul i n Damascus, Mr . Segur - Dupeyr on, and t he l at t er ' s r esponse on
December 12, 1850, t hese wer e ment i oned ear l i er i n t he t ext , p. 230.