The United States Legation to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, January 25, 1876

The United States Legation to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

(Verbal note.)

the affair of the rabbi sneersohn, at tiberias.

The legation of the United States of America invites the attention of the imperia ministry of foreign affairs to the affair of the Rabbi Hyram Z. Sneersohn, an American citizen.

The facts, as reported to the legation, are briefly these: On the 28th of November, 1874, the said Rabbi Sneersohn was set upon by certain Jews at Tiberias and robbed of a considerable amount, and most shamefully maltreated by being imprisoned, stoned, stripped naked, and in this condition ridden through the streets of Tiberias, insomuch that he barely escaped with his life to Jerusalem, where he was confined in hospital, by reason of his said treatment, about two months.

After his recovery he applied for redress to the United States consul at Beirut, who went in person to Tiberias and laid the matter before the caimacam and medjliss. They took jurisdiction of the case and proceeded to have the offenders arrested. This was on the 27th of May, 1875. One of the chief men arrested pretended to be under British protection, and asked permission to go to his house for papers to establish his claim. This was granted him, and he availed himself of the opportunity to mount a horse and escape.

The friends of the arrested parties, men and women, assembled to the number of several hundred, overawed the caimacam and medjliss, broke open the prison, and released the prisoners. The caimacam not having sufficient force to rearrest the parties, the matter has remained until this time without further action. The injured party recovered his passport and naturalization-papers, but not the money of which he was robbed, nor have the offenders been punished, most of whom, and it is believed all, are unquestionably Ottoman subjects.

The legation of the United States of America hopes that the government of the Sublime Porte will make such orders that the caimacam and medjliss of Tiberias will proceed at once to rearrest the said offenders, so unlawfully rescued, to the end that justice may be executed upon them and reparation made to their victim.