No. 624.
Mr. Heap to Mr. Evarts.
Constantinople, September 13, 1880. (Received Oct. 2.)
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your dispatches numbered 263, 264, 265, 266, and 267, the last dated the 26th ultimo. In reference to dispatch No. 264, dated the 21st ultimo, I have to state that the three prisoners charged with the murder of the Bev. Dr. Parsons and his servant were transferred to Constantinople last week and are now confined in the central prison awaiting their trial. The preliminary examination of the depositions taken at Ismid will be made to-morrow by the attorney-general (procureur général), when the day for their trial will be fixed.
My dispatches on this subject have kept the Department fully informed [Page 989] of the steps taken to bring about this result, The fast of the month of Ramazan being over there is reason to hope that no more unnecessary delays will be interposed.
I am, &c.,
Chargé d’Affaires ad interim.