The Evening critic., 1884-11-17

Tho celebrated case OF Antonia Pelletler
against the Haytien Government was set for
hearing at tho State Department to-day, has
boon postponed until Wednesday.
The case 10 ono OF the most romantic and
interesting kind, involving all the clements Of
popular novel, melodrama, tho most
thrilling adventures by land and sea, OF slave
trade, piracy and imprisonment, death sen.
tenco and persecution, ana winding up In
true Enoch Arden style By the Victims return
to his home TO ind his wife remarked and his
homo deserted.
Tho case Is In the nature Of n claltn against
H0ytl, and is to DO tried before eN-Justico
Strong OF the United States Supreme Court as
arbitrator.
The amount involved Is S2,d6G,isO, and
the facts OF the case aro OF most startling and
Interesting nature. Colonel A, H. jackson, OF
this city, eppears 10 tho Interest OF psllolie,r,
| De shomborn for tho Haytleh Republlc.
The claim is for spoliations and destruction
OF properly, condemnation 10 death, false im-
prieonment and damages to his mind and
body.
The brief In the case states that seldom, II
over, have so many thrilling Incidents by land
and sea concentrated In 30 brief space of
time In any human life; and 1t Is stiil more
infrequent that courts or commissions are In.
voKed 10 adiudicate causes between civilized
nations so terribly real aud yet sounding 80
like the Widest fiction. Tempests, shipwreck
charges OF piracy, elavetrading, Illegal trials,
suborned courte, perIured luries aud wit.
nessee and the imprisonment Of judges, attor-
neys ana Witnesses; the most savage cruelties,
murder, long and painful imprleonments, and
finally the miraculous escape and return to a
desolated home, with neither wife nor loved
ones to greet him, broken in health and ruined
In fortune; such was the fate of Antonio Pei
letter.
Pellctier was native OF France, but was
naturalzed In the United States.
In November, 1860, he started with his bark,
William, a condemned slave-trader, for Rio
Hacha, taking rs passenger one Juan Cortez.
on account OF storms he put into Jamacla ID
land his passengers. After being driven at
the mercy OF the winds for some time and
meeting with accidents he landed at the
north end OF the Island Of st.Domingo. He dis.
covered to his surprise the Haytien nag fly
Ing. Ho had had some trouble with tho
| Haytlan authorities Just previously, and was
badly treated by them, for which reasou' he
| feigned his vessel was French and named the
| "Gulllaume." This was done to secure certain
| repairs-eecurlng the rudder and false keel
| The deception was discovered through q dis.
loyal member OF the crew, and his vessel was
| searched as slave-trader and the captain ar
| rested. The United States commercial agent
| at the port refused to render any assistance
to ohls his couhtryman or even to do his duty.
courtmartial, and next by commission, who
| decided him not amenable to the law. The
| case was taken TO the court and the Jury
brought In n verdict convicting Pelletier OF
| piracy, and he was sentenced to death. He
| was also ordered to pay fine OF $1,000 to
cano and $4,000 10 Cor,es, and tho bark Will
lam and all the property on board were conns-
| Gated for the benefit OF the Government. The
| judgment was appealed from and the court
| above decided that the sentence of death
should bo changed to Ave years imprison-
| ment. Some time afterward Pelletier was
| transferred TO prison at Cape Haytien. Thore
/ he remained until, becoming sick, he was car
| ried TO q hospital, where he stald until he ef-
| fected his escape, on the 11th OF November,
| 1868.
Several very emphatic and strongly ex-
| presstd dispatches from Secretary of State
| Evarte TO Minister Langeton In relation to the
| case are quoted. II Is also charged that the
Haytien authorities paraded pelletier through
| the rabble, and also that his crew were tor
| tured and put in tho stocks and suborned tC
make them swear against their captain.
Two years after his capture, while he was
| still prisoner under sentence or death, a re-
port reached this country aud was published
| In the New York papers announcing his eXe-
| cution in Haytl as slave-trader.
| This statement was believed by all who
knew him, and after time his wife remar.
| ried.
During the last year OF his Imprisonment
| Pelletler contracted q severe Illness, and was
| removed to hospital from which he sue
| ceeded in making his escape, and took refuge
In an American vessel lying at the harbor,
where tho United States Consul assisted and
befriended him.
This vessel brought him back to this coun
try, where he found his home broken up; his
wife married to another man; his property
seized, and his prospects blighted.
| He gives the following itemized account o.
his claims: Value OF bark, cargo money aud
interest for twenty years, S201 1850; loss in The
| firm OF Delaney, Rice 4 Co., 100000; on rea
estate, $4,000; loss of 100000 acres of lane
IN West Virginia, s175,000; loss OF n CLAIM
Troy, N. Y, $4,000; other claims allowed
$4,000; interest at per cent, 1897 $40; cos
of suit, $275, 900: loss OF dear wife and two
children, 100000.