Poisoned Mother-in-law

Sons-in-law are incessantly reported vexed about their mothers-in-law. But rarely are they reported trying to poison them. Even in Abyssinia, small country in the northeast of Africa, where it is easy to poison people because they take so much red pepper at dinner that they can taste nothing else, sons-in-law have rarely been reported trying to poison their mothers-in-law. But last fortnight, an Abyssinian actually was accused of wanting to poison his Abyssinian mother-in-law. Further, he was accused of having succeeded.

Further, he is Ras Taffari, Regent of Abyssinia. His mother-in-law is dead. His accuser is Armenian Dr. Alexander Garabedian, onetime favorite of Ras Taffari.

This tale Doctor Garabedian tells. Six years ago he came to Abyssinia to practice the quieter forms of medicine. He became a favorite of Ras Taffari. But Ras Taffari wanted to become Emperor. Two persons were in his way. One was the Empress, Zauditu, daughter of the late Emperor Menelik II. The other was his mother-in-law, sister of the deposed (1916) Emperor Yasu.

Therefore, claimed Doctor Garabedian, when the mother-in-law fell ill two years ago, Ras Taffari wanted him to treat her, after Ras Taffari's own fashion. But "Doctor Garabedian, man of scruples, would not. Consequently, Ras Taffari called in a rival of Doctor Garabedian's, a sinister Greek. Soon the mother-in-law died.

Later, said Doctor Garabedian, Ras Taffari came to him, said the Empress, only remaining obstacle to the throne, needed medical attention. Doctor Garabedian would not undertake the case. Thereafter, claimed Doctor Garabedian, life was a series of subtle plots against his life, falsified political charges, unjust sentences. Last fortnight, he escaped from Abyssinia and Ras Taffari's evil eye, all the way to Geneva, Switzerland. Immediately he went to the International Labor Bureau, sued for $120,000 for persecution, broken health.