IV
THE SLAYING OF THE SERVANT IBRAHIM AMARAH
Continued - Investigation Record of Saturday 26, Zul-Hijjah, 1255 H (
The Investigator
addressing the servant Murad Al-Fattal:
Q: "You say that you left after sunset to send
the barber, and that you did not return to the house until after Isha. And that you saw the slain Priest in the empty room
after his clothes had been removed. Where did you spend the time between these
events?"
A: "I
worked on recording the monies I had spent in running my master's house."
Q: "What kind of
expenses require that much time? Do you not see that this is not a
logical statement which can be accepted? You are a servant, and therefore you
must do whatever you are ordered to do. You should not worry or be afraid to
tell the truth, especially since you have been promised by the Governor a grant
of pardon to tell the truth. What would happen if His Excellency, the Governor,
were to order examination of the expenses which you said that you recorded and
it was discovered that you have been lying?
Then all of your statements would be false."
A: "But
why would the Governor care about who recorded the expenses?"
The Investigator
responded: "So he could be sure that you are telling the truth as to what
you did during your absence from your master's house, during this period of
time."
The servant said:
"The truth is that my master sent me to Meyer Farhi,
Murad Farhi, and Aaron Islamboli to warn them to be alert; that the Priest's
servant might come looking for his master. If so, they must do whatever is
necessary in order not to reveal or make known their secret. I stayed with them
after I sent the barber to my master's house because they request this of
me."
Q: "How did you contact each one of them?
And what did they do after you delivered the warning to them?"
A: "First
I went to Murad Farhi. I
found him at his house in the company of Isaac Picciotto.l
I
1 Isaac Picciotto was an
employee of the Austrian Embassy, and enjoys the protective custody of the
Austrian Government - through the Austrian Consul's Office in
informed him of the message in front
of Isaac Picciotto. He replied: "Well! Go to your
master." Then I went to Aaron Islamboli's house.
I found him alone in his room, eating his supper. I gave him the message
regarding the Priest's servant. He said. "Go to your
work." But then he asked me who else was to be notified regarding the
matter?" I told him. Then I left his house." I then went to Meyer
Farhi's house in the middle of the alley. I found him
in front of his house with Aslan ben
Rofael. I informed him of the warning message and he
said to me: "I am staying here." Afterwards, I went to Joseph
Al-Rayek's shop where I worked on recording the
expenses. I stayed in the street killing time as long as I could in order to be
late in returning. When I returned, about Isha time,
to my master's house I found the Priest slain and naked, as I have previously
stated."
The Investigator
then asked:
Q: Tell us what you know regarding the
information you obtained from the leaders of the community in the question of
the Priest's servant, Ibrahim Amarah,
from the time of the slaying until the time of your arrest."
The servant answered:
A: "On Thursday morning, one day after the
incident took place, I came to David Harari's house.
The following were present: Aaron Islamboli, Isaac
Picciotto, Murad Farhi, Aslan ben Fufael,
and Meyer Farhi. Also present were David and his
brothers Aaron and Isaac; and Rabbi Moussa Abou Al-Afieh
and Joseph Lifyado. They stayed in the house for
about two hours - from three to
Q: "Did
you hear what they were talking about?"
A: "I
do not remember what was said because I was busy preparing the tobacco and the
water-pipes."
The Investigator
responded by saying:
"Murad! This is not logical since you yourself carried your
master's warning to Murad Farhi,
Aaron Islamboli, and Meyer Farhi:
"to be careful of the Priest's servant." You say that you do not know
where they kept him, and how they disposed of him. Ibrahim
Amarah, the servant, and the Priest are missing. You
are the one who warned the other three men as you were ordered to do by your
master. You told them to do whatever was necessary so that the news would not
spread. Give us your true testimonial statement of exactly what happened so
that you may obtain complete pardon!"
Murad AL-Fattal
answered:
"I heard Meyer
Farhi talking to the others who were meeting in my
master's house on Thursday. I learned that they had dscovered
the servant, Ibrahim Amarah
going around looking for his master, the Priest Thomas. And that the five men:
Aaron Islamboli, Murad Farhi, Meyer Farhi, Aslan ben Rofael,
and Isaac Picciotto brought him into the house. They said to him: 'Enter the
house. Your master is inside giving the vaccine against smallpox to the boy.'
By this method they brought him inside. That's what I heard."
Q: "Undoubtedly,
you must have heard of what they did with the servant. Who helped in his
slaying?"
A: "I was unable to hear all the talking.
I am a servant and I was busy serving the group. All that I know is that they did
to him exactly what they had done to the Priest before him. They also threw him
in the
Q: "How could Meyer Farhi
and his companions say that they slew the servant the same was as the Priest
when they had no knowledge as to how their friends disposed of the
Priest?"
A: "They asked the others about the
slaying of the Priest and were told how he had been slain and his remains
disposed of. When they learned of this, master Meyer said that they in turn
would repeat what had happened to the Priest with his servant; they would
dispose of the servant by throwing his remains in the ditch which empties
directly into the River."
Q: "Were the five which you mentioned by
name alone or were there others in their company? Who works as a servant at Meyer
Farhi's house? What is his name?"
A: "I know of no one other than these five
who took part in this operation. I do not know whether the servant who works in
the Meyer's house knew of this incident. The servant is a boy under the age of
twelve years. His name is Obeid Al-Fags."
Q: "Do
you think that the barber, Soliman Saloom, knew anything about the servant of the
Priest?"
A: "The
barber knew nothing regarding him. Because when my master sent
me he instructed me to say nothing about the story of the Priest-no, of the
warning I was to deliver to the party regarding his servant. I do not think
that the barber knew anything regarding the events in regard to the slaying of
the Priest's servant."
The Assistant to
the French Consul, Mr. Beaudin asked: "How did
you meet Murad Farhi when
you went to his house? How did you find him?" Murad Al-Fattal
answered: "I entered Murad's house after
sunset, before dark. I found him eating his supper, Isaac Picciotto was with
him. I gave them the warning regarding the servant of the Priest."
The Governor, Sharif Pasha, asked: "How did your master know that
the servant of the Priest would come to the neighborhood looking for his
master?" Al-Fattal answered: "It is a known
fact that the Priest always tells his servant as to the places he will be
visiting. Therefore, they concluded that most likely the servant would come
looking for his master. That is why they sent me with the warning in this
regard."
The investigation
ended at this point for the day, then was resumed on Friday, Muharram, 1, 1256
H. When the investigation resumed Mr. Isaac Picciotto was brought in
accompanied by Mr. Joseph Ayrouth, the representative
of the Austrian Consul to
The questioning
continued:
Q. "Al-Fattal
said that you went to Murad Farhis's
house and not to Rofael Farhi's
house. Exactly, where did you go?"
A. "There are two doors to my house. The
house is in a deserted neighborhood. One door leads to this neighborhood, and
there is a bar opposite. The other door which leads to the
Black Fountain Alley. Together, we went towards the entrance to the Jewish
Quarters. The Consul then proceeded towards Al-Shaghoor
district. I continued to Mullallim Rofael's house. If I had wanted to go to Murad's house, I would not have taken the long way. This
confirms that I did not go to Murad's house on that
night at all."
Murad Al-Fattal
was brought back, and he faced Isaac Picciotto. The Investigator asked him
about the fact of his confession. He reconfirmed that he saw
them go in the house entrance in front of the garden to the house. Then Isaac
Picciotto cried: "He is a Liar! He is a liar!
The Investigator
asked Isaac: "But why would this man lie and accuse you?" Isaac did
not say more than "He is a liar!"
The servant Murad returned and admitted that Isaac Picciotto had also
come the next day to David's Harari's house. There he
met with Murad Farhi, Meyer
Farhi, Aslan ben Rofael, and Aaron Islamboli. The time was morning, and they talked about the
subject.
The Investigator
asked him:
Q. And
how did they conclude their talk regarding the subject?
A. They asked them: What did you do with the
Priest Thomas? They replied in detail as to what they have done-as it has been
stated before." The others asked the first party: "And you! What did
you do to the servant?" They replied: "We first met in Meyer Farhi's house. The Priest's servant came inquiring about
his master. We said to him: "He is inside.... enter."
When he came inside we locked the door and slew him, as you yourselves did to
the Priest. This is what they said in addition to "and we threw him in the
outside sewer line to the Meyer's house. They stayed with them until
The Investigator
turned his questioning to Isaac Picciotto:
Q. Do
you admit to the truth of servant Murad's statement?
A. Regarding Wednesday evening, it has already
been stated. But as to Thursday morning, I was sent by the Austrian Consul's
Assistant, on the Consul's order to get in touch with a Rabbi in
At this point the
Investigator directed his questioning to the servant, Murad
Al-Fattal:
Q. How did you give your statement, and did you
accuse Isaac? All that is required of you is that you tell the truth, and do not
accuse. Give witness to what you know and what you have seen without lying or
distorting the facts."
A. What I Knew is that
these five men, Isaac Picciotto included, were together. As to what Isaac said
about
On
the second day, Friday, Aaron went to Isaac Picciotto's house and hid for three
days, to the point that his brothers thought that he had been arrested. After
three days Aaron returned to his house, and his brothers met with him. They
told him that they were worried because of his absence, and that they had thought
that he had been arrested. He told them that he was in Isaac Picciotto's house.
While they were talking the three Harari brothers were arrested at their brother David's house."
The
Investigator then said to Murad Al-Fattal:
Q. "What
is the name of Isaac Picciotto's servant who was sent from the Harari's house to Murad Farhi's house at the end of the evening party to inform the
group not to be worried?"
A. The name of Murad Farhi's servant, the one who came and called Isaac
Picciotto from the party, is Shehade. However, Isaac
Picciotto's servant, whom he sent to the group so they would not be worried is Yehya Bzaini. He is a young man attaining manhood.
The
Investigation Committe requested from Aslan ben Rofael
Farhi and his daughter, and from Miss Leosha, Shehade Slambouli's daughter written statements regarding Isaac
Picciotto's visit to them. Their statements were complete denials of any
contact with Isaac and they indicated disharmony between Picciotto and Farhi's Family.
The
Investigation Committee convened and resumed its work on Wednesday, Muharram 8,
1256 H. The Investigator started by asking the servant Murad
Al-Fattal the following questions:
Q. You earlier confessed that you met with
those who slew the Priest's servant when you went to their place. Who were
those persons whom you saw and met with?
A. I went to Murad Farhi's house and I found Isaac Picciotto with Murad Farhi. Then I went to Aaron
Islambouli's house and found him eating his supper.
Then I went to Meyer Farhir's house and I found him
with Aslan ben Rogael. This is what I have already told you in my previous
confession.
Q. Aslan has denied
this and has presented proofs that he came to his house on Wednesday afternoon,
and that he did not leave his house until the next day. Tell us precisely
and truthfully all that you know.
A. I saw Aslan with
my own eyes, he and Meyer Farhi. I have no reason to
accuse them. I said nothing other than what I saw.
The Investigator asked
Muallim Rofael:
Q. Can you tell us the exact time when your son
Aslan returned to the house on Wednesday, the day
that Priest Thomas disappeared?
A. "He and I were in the Court House about
Q. Did
you know what he did in the house?
A. I
returned to the house at
Q. Where
did you spend the evening on that night?
A. I
did not spend time outside the house. It is not my habit to spend my evenings
outside.
Q. Did
Isaac Picciotto come to visit with you that night?
A. No!
he did not come to visit us that night.
The Investigation
closed. It resumed its investigations on Thursday, Muharram 9, 1256 H. The
Investigator started by asking Murad Farhi's servant, Shehade Adl Ballas, what was his name. (He had been brought to the inquiry) Then said:
Q. Who
sent you to call Isaac Picciotto, and what time was it?
A. My master, Murad Farhi, sent me to ask Isaac Picciotto to come to David Harari's house. That was about
Q. When you went to call Isaac Picciotto was
that before or after the arrest of the Harari's
brothers?
A. It
was before their arrest.
Q. Who was spending the evening with your
master when he sent you to call Isaac Picciotto from the Harari's
house?
A. There was none with him except Khawaja Bokhoor, the treasury attendant, The servants were in the kitchen.
Q. When
Isaac Picciotto came to your master's house did he stay long?
A. He
stayed about an hour. Afterwards he and Khawaja Bokhoor left together.
Q. At
what time did Khawaja Bokhoor
come to spend the evening with your master?
A. He
came after the Isha.
Q. How did you go to David Harari's
house to call Isaac Picciotto? How did you know that he was there? Was it your
master who sent you to Isaac Picciotto's house and when you did not find him
there you went to David Harari's house?
A. My master said to me, "Go to David Harari's house where you will find Khawaja
Isaac Picciotto, and ask him to come to my house after the
party." I went to David Harari's house and I
found him (Isaac Picciotto) there as I have testified earlier.
Isaac Picciotto's
servant, Yahya Bzaiti, was
then brought in for questioning. The Investigator asked him:
Q. Who spent the evening at David Harari's house the day his master, Isaac Picciotto, spent
the evening with him.
A. Jacob
Abou Al-Afh, Shehade Lazbouna, David Harari, and my master Isaac Picciotto were
all present. That was before the arrest of the Harari's brothers.
Q. What
were the subjects of their conversation of the evening meeting?
A. They sent me to Khawaja
Murad's house to ask what had been accomplished
through communication with His Excellency Bahri Bey. He told me to inform them that His Excellency Bahri Bey had not taken any
actions except to search some houses to find the criminals. I gave them his
message. They asked me: 'Is that all?' I replied: 'Yes!' Then I
returned and went to the kitchen.
Q. When
did your master go to Murad's house? What happened
after he left?
A. My master, Isaac Picciotto, left about
Q. To
whom did you give the message?
A. There
were only David Harari and Jacob Abou Al-Afieh.
Q. Did anyone come
calling on your master to request that he go to David Harari's
house? Or did he decide to go by himself? At what time did he go?
A. He came by himself to the Harari's house. It was at the beginning of the evening
party at the Isha time.
Q. Were
you with your master the night of the party at Khawaja
Maqsoud's house?
A. Yes! I
was with him. Also his wife and a neighbor lady were present with him.
Q. At
what time was the party?
A. It was after all had finished their supper meal,
including the servants. There was some delay while the master's wife finished
with dressing. Also the neighbor lady had to get dressed and put her daughter
to bed. Since Maqsoud's house was far away we arrived
there about one or one and a half hours after supper.
Q. On your way to Maqsoud's
house you pass by a neighborhood alley. Were the gates closed or opened?
A. We went by the main road. There are no gates
on this route, until we arrived at the Poors' Gate,
which was closed. We knocked on the gate for a minute or two, then the night watchman opened the gate for us. After that
we arrive at the Gate of Boulad Alley, where Khawaja Maqsoud lives. It was
closed also. We knocked on it and the night watchman opened it immediately. We
stayed at the party that night.
Monday's
Investigation Report Muharram 13, 1256 H.
The Investigator
began by asking Soliman Saloom,
the barber:
Q: "What
do you know regarding the murder of the Priest's servant?"
A: "I
did not know any or connection with his slaying.
Q: If you did not know of his murder and have
no connection with it, why then did you give testimony the last time that:
"the servant was not with his master, and those who murdered him were not
the same group that slew the Priest Thomas, and that the slaying took place at
a different location with the knowledge of that group." This indicates
that you knew the killers and the place where the murder was performed.
A: Yes! I have confessed to that, but I have no
connection with it. Because when the servant, Murad
Al-Fattal, came, the Priest had already been slain and removed to the second
room. I asked Murad why he was so late?
He answered me that they sent him on an important errand. I asked him:
"What was this task?" He said: "The time is not appropriate now
to talk about it." A short time later I was alone with him while we were
working to get rid of the Priest remains. I asked him again and he told me that
they had sent him to Myer Farhi's house, and to Murad Farhi, Isaac Picciotto,
Joseph Farhi, and Jacob Abou
Al-AFieh. I do not remember exactly if he mentioned the name of Aaron Islamboli or any others. I then asked him again: "Why
did they send you to those men?" He replied: "Because of the Priest's
servant, Ibrahim Amarah."
Since we were busy and nervous, I did not ask any more questions."
Q: This confession confirms that you knew what
happened in detail. Because you said that you did not ask
more questions then of the servant. This indicates that you knew there
was more information than what you had already obtained. Had you asked more
questions you would have learned from the servant what you wanted to know.
Undoubtedly, you arrived at the answers to your questions because you concluded
from his answer to the first question the information you sought. Why is it
that you were repeatedly asking him questions during your work together to get
rid of the remains of the Priest's body, was it out of curiosity or just to
pass the time? This was an opportunity to learn of the method which was used to
dispose of the body of the Priest's servant.
A: The servant, Murad
Al-Fattal, told me during the questions and answers that they slew the Priest's
servant, and cut his body and disposed of it through the outside sewer line
which empties into the
Q: Did the servant, Murad
Al-Fattal, say where they slew him? Were they assisted by a butcher? If they
were assisted by anyone, who is it?
A: The
servant, Al-Fattal, told me that they slew him (the Priest's servant) in the room next to the hall, and that they broke his bones and threw the pieces in
the outside sewer line; and that the servant, Al-Fattal,
was present at the slaying until the work was finished. Then he came to his
master's house where we worked together on the dismemberment of the Priest and
the disposal of his remains as I have testified to before. I did not ask about
who witnessed the act of slaying the servant Ibrahim Amarah, or who did the slaying. I do not know if they were
assisted by anyone. All I know is that Yahya Meyer,
his son Salman, and Moussa,
and the others whose names I mentioned previously were present at the slaying.
He did not tell me who wa:
present and was not. I remember that he mentioned the names: Murad Farhi, Joseph Farhi, Yehya Meyer Farhi and his son, Rabbi Jacob Abou
Al-Afieh (the brother of Rabbi Moussa
Abou Al-Afieh), and the servant Murad.
Q: Why were you satisfied with his answers thus
far? Why did you not ask him about the names of those who attended the
celebration?
A: I did not ask him about the names in detail,
but in a general manner. The names he mentioned to me, which I remember, were the
ones I have already mentioned. The Servant, Al-Fattal,
knows the details of the operation because he said to me: "we slew him and
cut him to pieces, breaking his bones and threw his remains in the sewer line
of Yehuda Meyer Farhi's
house." Ask the servant, Murad Al-Fattal,
because it is possible that he may have mentioned to me other details which I
have forgotten.
The Investigator
called the servant, Murad Al-Fattal, and resumed the
questioning by asking him:
Q: Tell
us what you know about the slaying of the Priest's servant Ibrahim
Amarah in truthful way.
A: I
am afraid of getting into trouble. Has anyone other than myself
confessed to anything?"
The Investigator
replied: "Yes! We have a complete confession. All you have to do is to
tell the truth.
The servant
confessed as follows:
I returned to my
master's house. He asked me: "Did you tell the group about the priest's
servant? Did you warn them about him as Instructed? I said: yes. The
he told me to go back and see if they had caught him or not; and if so, what
they had done with him." I returned to the Meyer's house. I found
that they had locked the door from inside, so I knocked and Muallim
Meyer Farhi opened the door. I inquired, in my
master's name, if they caught Ibrahim Amarah? He replied that they had detained him. He asked me
if I wanted to enter or if I wanted to leave. I told him that I would like to
enter, and I did. I found Isaac Picciotto and Aaron Islambouli
in the process of tying and gagging the servant. After Isaac Picciotto and
Aaron Islambouli finished binding the servant, they
put a white rag in his mouth and threw him down on the floor. This took place
in the small hall of the outside house which includes the sewer line where they
later threw his remains. They had secured the door with a big piece of wood, Meyer
Farhi, Murad Farhi, Aaron Islambouli, Isaac
Picciotto, Aslan ben Rolfael, Jacob Abou Al-Afieh, and
Joseph ben Menachim Farhi gathered around him. These
seven are the ones who attended the slaying. Some stood by watching while
others took part in the act. They brought a polished brass basin, placed it
under the servant's neck, and Farhi performed the
slaying with his own hands. As for myself and Yehya Meyes, we both held his head while Isaac Picciotto and Aslan ben Rofael
sat on his feet, each held one leg and sat on while Aaron Islamboli
and the others kept his back pinned down so he would not move until his blood
was completely drained. About an hour after his slaying all body motion was
completely gone. Then I left them and returned to my master's house, and I told
him of what had taken place. The next day, which was Thursday, late in the
morning, the above mentioned persons came to my master David's house with the
exception of Jacob Abou Al-Afieh
and Joseph Farhi. These two did not come.
Q: What
time did the slaying of the servant Ibrahim Amarah take place?
A: Before
the call of the Isha prayer.
Q: During
your presence, did any of the seven leave while the slaying was taking place?
A: None left during the slaying. I left them
when they were straining the blood, all of them were
present when I left. I do not know who stayed or who left after that. I left
them before the call to Isha prayer and arrived at my
master's house after the Isha call to prayer.
Q: You mentioned in your first confession that your
master sent you to Murad Farhi,
Aaron Islambouli, and Yehya
Farhi; and just now you have mentioned the names of
seven persons. Did you go to warn all of them? How did they all get together?
A: As I stated in my previous confession, my
master sent me to carry his message to only three, but Isaac Picciotto was with
Murad, and Aslan ben Rofael was with Yehya Meyer. My master ordered me to inform Yehya Meyer. I was to tell that it was his task to inform
the others. Yehya Meyer told me "We have your
message and you may go."
Q: How
was the servant, Ibrahim Amarah,
taken into the house?
A: As
I have stated earlier, which is what I understood what Yehya
Meyer had said that "the five were gathered at the door. When the servant, Ibrahim Amarah, arrived inquiring about his master. Yehya Meyer told him that his master had been delayed, and
that he was inside performing smallpox vaccination for the boys. If you want
him come in. The servant went in. By this method they seized him and killed him
as I have stated earlier.
Q: What
happened to the blood? Who took it?
A: I did not stay to the end to find out who
took the blood. At the edge of the steps there was a large white glass bottle,
to be used in carrying the blood.
Q: It is not logical that while the group were occupied by the slaying plan, the servant had
ready the bottle previously set out, because the blood is preserved in the
basin until the completion of the slaying operation. If you saw the bottle
there is no doubt that you saw the filling. Tell what you
saw truthfully."
A: In fact, Aaron Islambouli
did the filling of the bottle with blood. He held the bottle and they placed a
tin funnel in the opening (like the one used by the sellers of oil), and Menachim Farhi emptied the blood
from the basin. After the bottle was filled Aaron Islambouli
delivered it to Rabbi Jacob Abou Al-Afieh's hand. At this point I left them. It was about time
for the Isha call to prayer.
The Investigator
then questioned Mohammad Afandi Abou
Al-Afieh requesting that he confess as to what he
knew. Abou Al-Afieh
responded as follows:
I have nothing to
add to my previous confession. All I remember is what the brothers said. Since
I do not know them well I was satisfied with what I heard from them during
their conversations. I did not try to be a part of their plot. I have already
stated that Rabbi Jacob sent me to bring the blood. I took it and
delivered it to Rabbi Jacob. After we were detained David Harari came to
see us in prison. He sat with each of us, kissed our hands and said to us:
"It is not possible that our governor (Afandina)
would kill anyone without obtaining confessions from you. I beg you to refrain
from confessing anything so that we may not be killed. If we are killed,
"All" of us will be killed. As to the confession of the servant, say
that you have no more knowledge other than what he has mentioned."
Muallian Aslan
Farhi was summoned to the Governor General Office on
Wednesday, Muharram 14, 1256 H. He was asked to tell all
he knew regarding the slaying of the Priest Thomas Al-Capuci's
servant, including what method was used. Muallim Aslan Farhi tried to deny many
times any knowledge of the matter, but then he confessed as follows': "I
stayed in the house of His Excellency, the Consul, and was determined not to
become involved with this matter. But since His Excellency the Governor General
has bestowed upon me an immunity proclamation, I am ready to confess as to what
happened. I request from His Excellency, the Governor General to grant me his
proclamation order so that I can tell the truth."
The Governor
General replied: "It is all right, do not worry,
we will grant you safety." And His Excellency gave orders for the
proclamation to be written. It was as follows:
To
Muallim Aslan Ben Rofael Farhi
In accordance with
you request so that you may obtain a Declaration of Safety, we have considered
this matter. Our objective is that you submit your confession regarding the
subject of the missing servant of the Priest Thomas Al-Capuci
about how and what happened to the servant. To secure this Proclamation for
your safety requires you to confess frankly and clearly all of what you know
regarding the matter at hand. Accordingly, with this reliance on our confidence
we have issued our Proclamation to you. It requires of you that you receive and
review its contents; to confess all what you know without the slightest
reservation or fear. If you confess in this manner, you may be assured from us
"God's safety and His witness," also the witness of our master
Mohammad, Peace be Upon Him. You
need not have
any fear or worry. No harm will befall you and no punishment will be awarded,
on the condition that you tell the whole truth without contradiction or lies.
But if you try to lie after you have obtained this Decree, you will deprive
yourself of this protection, and will suffer the consequences. Know this for a
fact and rely upon it.
Muharram
14, 1256 H.
As soon as Muallim Aslam ben
Rofael received his copy of the safe decree, he set
about to put his confession in writing. It included the following: After the
sunset call to prayer on Wednesday, the Priest Thomas Al-Capuci
disappeared, I stood for about ten minutes with Meyer Farhi in front of his house. The servant of David Harari
came and whispered something in Meyer Farhi's ear, then the servant left. I noticed immediately that a
confusing look had swept over Meyer Farhi. I asked
him: what was the matter? He could not respond outside the house. He knocked on
the door and we entered his house. At that time Jacob Abou
Al-Afieh and Murad Farhi were strolling and chatting in the alley. Perhaps
they were waiting for the arrival of the Priest's servant. I do not know how
they managed his arrival. Meyer Farhi and I entered
the indoor garden of the house. We walked around in the garden and Meyer told
me: "they are planning to slay a Christian." In a very short
time there was a knock at the door, and Jacob Al-Afieh
and Murad Farhi entered.
They were followed shortly afterwards by Joseph Farhi,
Aaron Islambouli, and Isaac Picciotto, who enjoys the
protection of the Austrian Consulate. We all went to the
outside garden, where they were in the process of pinning down to the floor the
servant Ibrahim Amarah,
over the small hall in the garden. Due to my age, I was not allowed to see the
slaying out of fear. I held down one of his feet (but turned my head in order
not to witness the slaying), and Isaac Picciotto held the other foot. Murad Farhi did the slaying while
the others kept him (the servant) pinned down on the floor. Everyone held him
from some part of the body. They drained his blood into a container,
I do not recall what the container was. Then emptied it in a
white bottle, which I saw in the hand of Jacob Abou
Al-Afieh. I do not know who gave it to him, because I was not alert.
After that they asked us all to keep the secret. I left and went to my house. I
write this confession regarding the case of the above mentioned servant as I
know them and submit it to our Afandi (Governor
General), the Great Governor, I did not hide anything in this regard after
receiving His Excellency's Declaration of Safety in my hand which guarantees
that I will not be a object of any interference. I beg of His Excellency
to be treated with mercy, and not to be treated for what I have done. The final
decision is all His.
Signed
Aslan Rofael
Farhi