Following the second Franco-Hova war, the queen was deposed and several members of the royal family — including Waller's young son-in-law — were killed. After France entered into a treaty with the Malagasy government, the French Resident objected to the granting of the concession without French permission. (The French may have believed that Waller's success in developing his concession infringed upon their efforts to colonize the island.) French authorities arrested Waller and accused him of having been a spy who provided military information to the Hovas in their attempts to maintain their country's monarchy and independence. Despite an extraterritoriality agreement between France and the United States, Waller was court-martialed and sentenced to twenty years' imprisonment. He was placed in irons and sent to France via the Suez Canal.