Peckham, of all places in the world, has been the
scene of a political murder. The suburb is a favourite one with Armenians, who there formed some years ago a powerful associa- tion having for its object the liberation of their country. The society, as usual, became divided in opinion, the opportunists quarrelling with the party of action, and a fierce dispute sprang up as to the control and distribution of their common funds. The more anarchical section, or Alfarists appear to have believed that their rivals, who call themselves Huntchakists, were in the pay of Turkey, and are supposed to have "attacked" one of them, M. Nazarbek, whose life was attempted in Switzerland a few weeks ago. The treasurer of the Huntchakists, therefore, M. Sagouni, always went about armed, and lived in great seclusion in Peckham, where he probably felt most safe. On Monday afternoon, however, lie he was entering his own garden, a dark man, probably an Armenian, fired a revolver at him five times, killing him before he could draw his own weapon. The assassin, who was seen by two boys, fled away through streets emptied by the rain, and has not yet been arrested. We have probably not heard the secret history of this murder, which seems to have been arranged by persons with the control of considerable means, of good information, and of desperate agents. It will, of course, greatly, and rather unfairly, check the flow of British sympathies towards Armenians, who are for the most part certainly not assassins.
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