The Sultan has suddenly discovered that his predecessor, Abdul Aziz,
did not commit suicide after his deposition, but was murdered. The allegation is that the Minister of War, Hussein Avni, bribed a wrestler employed in the Palace to hold the unfortunate monarch, while another servant cut open his veins with a pair of large scissors. Several of the highest Ministers, including Mithmoud Damad, arc declared to have been implicated in the plot, and to have stolen the private treasure of the Sovereign afterwards. The Sultan, after cross-examining the accused, threatened them with instant death, but finally .ordered them to be brought to trial. As nobody, in spite of the testimony of eleven phy- sicians, ever doubted that Abdul Aziz was murdered, this very late inquiry must have some political object. 'The 'probability is that the Sultan has discovered that his own life is in danger from an intrigue among persons high enough to be formidable, and adopts this method of getting rid of them. He thus avoids all the annoyance of having to produce his information, and all risk of interference from European Ambassadors, who cannot defend the assassins of a crowned head.
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