The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-08-21
A DRUNK
Scandalous Conduct of the Representative
of the Brazilian Government.
VVoabinoton S.o;oI

Scandalous Conduct of the Representative
of the Brazilian Government.
Washington Special.
A diplomatic scandal has developed which
illustrates the possibilities under the inter
national courtesy which grants immunity
from civil or criminal proceedings to repre-
sentatives of foreign governments here. Sem
hor Felipe Lopes Netto was recognized by
the President about a year ago as Envoy Ex-
traordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of
Dom Pedro, Emperor of Brazil. About the
LIST instant Senho Netto was recalled and was
appointed special envoy to Chilit to readjust
matters in that republic. He left expecting to
return here in two years. The secretary pro
tenn, Senhor Lumex, was appointed charge
d'affaires during his absence. He has been
boarding with his wife at the Hotel Richelieu,
kept by Madame Dubois. Yesterday he re-
ceived a dispatch from the Brazilian Secretary
of State TO the effect that Senior Valente
was on his way here to supersede him as
charge d'atfaires. This seems to nave taken
him by surprise, and he proceeded to get
very automatically drunk. The first mani
festation of his condition was made about IL
o'clock on Saturday night. He made things
decidedly interesting for the Hotel Richelieu
for a time. 1t was gathered that he blamed
Madame Dubois for some alleged misconduct
on The part of his wife. In the course Of his
raid through the house he broke the glass
panels in the front door, cutting his wrist
severely. Madame Dubois summoned the
police, but the officer who responded was
embarrassed by the fact that tue offender
was a diplomat, and called in his superior.
AT urn.N 30 40. 49, Il = f. 4
States. l want to be vindicated," said the
diplomat.
But the President is three thousand miles
away" answere the sergeant.
We'll, who is next in authority in this
placer .
Commissions Edmunds.n
Then We will take a carriage and go to
him, and to Secretary Frelinghuysen."
Il will go and get a carriage" suggested
the officer.
You sit down on that chair, and if you
move from it until tell you to, your chill
dren will be fatherless. l will blow your
brains out" AS he said this he made a
threatening movement toward his pocket.
II came up here expecting to find a gen
tleman," said the sergeant. Il hope you
will not %disappoint me-"
II beg your pardon; I will not harm vou."
replied the %diplomant, somewhat Modified
by this appeal.
l ""hC W aOb DIS your lTleuu, dQueQ the
policeman.
But you don't know who | am. am the
Brazilian minister, and no friendship can
bridge the gulf between our positions" re-
torted Lumex.
The sergeant finally made his sxit, and
telephoned to Lieutenant Arnold. who is in
charge OF the precinct. The drunken diplo-
mat had in the meantime left the house, and
was met later on by a policeman who did not
know him, and taken to the station-house.
Here his identity was discovered, and though
he fiourished a derringer, he was let 20 In
peace; He remained until about 4 o'clock A.
NJ, talking TO the station-keeper. 1t is re-
lated by the officers that not long since one
of the attaches of another legation took occa-
sion to abuse a police sergeant very profuse-
ly, and equally provokingly, under cover of
his diplomatic immunity. The policeman
quickly took off his uniform, sought and
found the diplomat, to whom he adminis-
tered a sound thrashing as a private citizen
who had been grossly insulted. No further
notice was taken of the affair. which occurred
in a locality that would not have reflected
credit on the diplomat.