Page 350 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

338 Part IV.
192. TI10 following oxtract from tho Diary of tho Political Resident,
Turkish Arabia, for wock ending L8th April 1883, will bo read with interest

*' Tho disturbances, forming subject of this office letter No. 39 of 4th instant, and its
enclosure, still thickon round Amarali on tho loft bank of the Tigris. The authorities of tho
Wilaiat may not find it# easy to restoro order; but they are doing their best to protect our
mail steamers by sending strong guards of soldiers with every sloamcr as deck passengers.
It would not, in tho circumstances, havo been thought advisablo to press the local Government
too hard in connection with tbc attack on tho Khalifah steamer in July lSSO, had it not been
that in tho hlilno murder case, whore certainly no political d illicit Hies have stood in tho way,
tho most marked apathy and maladministration have from first to last occurred touching the
bringing of tho murderer or murderers to justice.”

(iv) Murder of Mr. Milne, an Englishman at Baghdad, 1881.
193, There had been recently several outrages against British subjects in
Turkish Arabia: the robbery of tho British Telegraph Office at Fao, and
murder of a British Indian subject in 1878, the attack on a British Indian
baggalow on the Shat-ol-Arab in 1879, the firiug on tlio British Steamer
Khalifah in 1880. In all these cases the culprits bad escaped, and the British
Government bad been unable to get any satisfaction from the Turkish Govern­
ment for the outrages. In 18S1, an inoffensive Englishman Mr. Milne, -was
murdered iu one of tho most respectful streets of Baghdad, and tho murderer and
•his employer escaped being punished and were even protected by the Turkish
authorities at Baghdad.
194. Tho facta of tho oase are:—James Milne once employed as a Mechani­
cal Engineer on Messrs. Lynch’s steamers,
l8«cr«t, B January 1881. No,. 42-46. was carrying on business as a General
Secret, 8 January 1881, Noi. 159-1G7.
Engineer at Baghdad. On Gth January
1880, ho was stabbed on a street in Baghdad.
195. There had been much jealousy between Milne and an influential Bagh-
'daflee Mahomed Saleh on account of Milne’s having married a Christian prosti­
tute (Parida), and Mahomed Saleh had been beard to tbreaton revenge.
196. On the night of the murder Mr. Plowden wrote to the Governor-
General, requesting that effective measures might bo taken for the discovery,
arrest, and punishment of all persons implicated.
197. Next day, 7th January, Mr. Plowden telegraphed the fact to Con­
stantinople, and requested issue of strict orders by Porte to the Governor-Gene­
ral to enforce vigorous measures without fear or favor.
198. On 8th and 9th Mr. Plowden enquired into the case and collected
levidence. The only material evidence which he eoems to have obtained was to
cthe'effect that Mahomed Saleh’s servant,. Ahmed, had, been at deceased’s house
ithe day of the murder, and had doubtless ascertained his proposed movements.
199. Mrs. Milne and her servant (who was with Milne at tbc time of his
murder) were “ most reluctant to say anything which might possibly connect
Mahomed Saleh with the crime.” But Mrs. Milne having expressed her fear
of .Mahomed Saleh and her wish for protection was sent by Mr. Plowden on
board the Cornel.
200. On 9th January Mr. Plowden telegraphed to tlio Foreign Office,
asking for the appointment of a Special Commission with two European
members. He stated “our action is being keenly scrutinised,” and alluded to-
'the case of a chuprassio who had been frightened by Mahomed Saleh and bad
to leave Baghdad.