The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1883-06-14
onel s. NJ. Mansfield major of the en-,

gineer corps at Galveston.
Q.-Do you know accused?
Al do; he Is Majof Wasson, paymaste
United States army.-----.-
,Q.-How long and where have you know
him?
Al have known him about three years
three years ago first met him at Calves
ton; / knew him at Fort Brown afterward
and for nearly Two years past at Calves
| ton.
Q.-What were your opportunities o
knowing his reputation?
| AIT Galveston we lived in the same
hotel and there being but one other United
States officer there and he was my assistant
/ associated with the major considerably.
Q,-What was his character and reputa.
tion in that city while you knew him.
A.-His character was that of a gentle.
man, and he moved in the best society OF
the city and stood well with every one, so
far as my observation Went.
mo questions were asked by the judge
advocate or the court
The next witness was Major Stevens, of
Washington, who testified TO being an at
tache of the Japanese legation in that city,
and to having been secretary OF the Amer.
can legation in Japan under Minister
Bingham, from September, 1873, to Sep
tember, 1882. and in the fall of the year that
he had made Wasson's acquaintance, the
latter at that time having been in the SER
vice of the Japanese government, in the
department of colonization, on the island
of Yzo, when he was chief OF engineers,
and had charge with his coordinate
officers of the colony, and afterwards
eral Saigo, with the rank of colonel in the
expedition OF the japanese to the island OF
Formosa, and finally he was appointed
professor of civil engineering in the Inn
perial college at the capital of Japan, which
position he retained until his resignation,
which was given in order to accept pay
mastership in the United States army in
1876.
Q-What were your relations with the
officials of the Japanese government?
A.-They were very intimate on accoIne
Mr.. Bingham, the American minister TO
Japan, who had. great influence, and also
because the Japanese at that time mani
tested very close relations with American
officials and were inclined to do away with
their habitual reserve, because we were
always very friendly with them.
Q-What were your opportunities oi
knowing in what estimation ne was heio
by Japanese officials. =,
Any opportunities were the very, best.
Q.-What character did he have and now
were his services held?
A.-Maior Wasson's character and ser
vices were highly esteemed by all OF the
Japanese officials and particularly Dy the
higher ones under whom he served; 1
| learned this from the chief OF the depart
ment in which his last services were given,
ali of whom have spoken to me
of Major Wasson's services IN
the highest terms OF praise,
and have practically shown their apprecia,
tion by employing him so frequently ana
for such long term in post OF great re-
sponsibility; know Of no foreigner IN tne
Japanese service-and / have known tnem
all for the last nine years-who STOOD hlgher M
than Major Wasson, for his Treatment oy
the japanese was so unusually marKeu anu
favorable. :,
| O-Please state how his services IN
Japan are regarded by Americans and the
bearing they had on the relations pet"een
our government and Japan. III
| A.-There was great rivalry among al
nations to gain the good ,graces OF tne
Japanese at that time and obtain as iaI @ as
possible, control in new movement tnat
the Japanese were making for the adoption
OF civilization; the japanese had empl9yesu
large number of foreigners, ana IL
has always been considered to nave peen
a matter of congratulation TO any 0i
the foreign countries if any of their people
obtained a position in the japanese service
Major Wasson held a very ,nnuehtlal p9sl, \,
tion and filled it most credltaoly, anu IL
was matter of pride, as know, ,a 70 ame "a sncb
cans in Japan that an American oi eucu
character was employed by the japanese
| government, and in e most I'M
portant work they bad on hand the
work in the colonization deparInens
was extremely important, and was entrusted
to an American commissioner, ana lis sue
cessful completion was regarded as havlng
very important bearing on ihe relasi1nS ~
between the two countries; Its WORK De,
ing well done il advanced the commerclal
and political relations of America Win
Japan greatly, and brought us nearer
to the Japanese and gave us
greater influence with them, anu l
believe it was because MeJor Wasson
and his colleagues did their work 50 wen
and satisfactorily that we have now to-uay
so much influence with the Japanese.
O What is your knowledge OF any
marks of distinction and honor conferred
on the accused by the government OF Ja-
PAM
A.-On his return from Formosa he was
received by the emperor and personally
thanked for his services-an un-
usual distinction in Japan; he
was also subsequently received ny
the emperor, who conferred on him the
order of the Rising Sun; he was among the
decoration; Major Wasson, know, too, was
officially thanked personally and by letter
for his services in Japan by the various
chiefs; | remember the minister OF edu-
cation expressed TO Mr.. Bingham their
deep regret when Major Wasson was
about TO retire from Japan, and
was received and treated IN "a
very cordial and flattering manner by the
Japanese officials, and as | was told by the
yice-minister Of foreign affairs the Japanese
department OF the interior had offered him a
fine position as civil engineer in their ser
vice, and this was done, too, at time
when, instead ofengaging foreign assistance
and advisors, the Japanese were getting rid
of rs many as they could, and the fact that
they did secure bis services at even this
time shows the highest esteem in which
thev held him.
Q.-Do you or have you ever heard OF any
conduct inconsistent with the character
Won have siyen him previous TO the circum-
stances giving rise TO this trial, inconsistent
with that character you gave himr
Letters were then read from German and
Peruvian ministers at Washington, who
we're In Japan at the time Of Wasson's
service in that country, giving him the
highest character as soldier and gentle-
man during bis residence in Japan.
General q. G. Augur testified TO having
known the accused ever since tne genera
had taken command Of the department
Of Texas that their social and
official relations have always been pleasant;
bis official character and conduct % far ss
the general knows or ever had reason 70 be
Iieve, were strictly honorable and upright,
and had never beard anything prior 10 the
circumstances in the present cause, but
vhst would conform 10 that view. He was
not cross-eramined. and the court, at 2
D. m. sdjOurned over till to-morroE 81
/ o'clock. The case will not be
concluded tIll Monday, although the plea
Of guilty 70 the specifications having been
entered. Il will not Be necessary FOR the
prosecution 10 offer any evidence.
saE ArToEIo, June 81 Special l-sbort
liz afer 10 O'Clock on this morning The
rnsmbers fths oOurt-msrtial having uneer