New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-08-30
oure4GEs zG4INST MIR. VAN BoKKELEN.
v,s UNJUST IMPRISONMENT AND HORRIBLE TREAT
MENr BY THE HAYTIENs.

xvu,;om X. Van BOkkelen, who reached
.uaa,nhia from Hayt on Friday, arrived at MS nome
=. citation. ave. Brooklyn, yesterday morning he was
eak state and his emacated form told palmer than
- could what had been the effects OF seventeen
n,hs Of close confinement in Hsytien dungeon with
-, eveu the ordinary deoencies OF criminal prison
'ws.sd him When asked about his experiences ny
reporter last evening he expressed doubts as u
- no strong enough to talk satisfactorily ON the topic
:, hls IMPRISONMENT and subsequent release he Gull
sa,ted. however, after some hesitation, aud said:
I want tho matter put correctly to the public, and
bt here let me say. that the statements made by i"e
world aud The Herald gross misrepresentation aod
oueous in almost every detail. They represent me as
,mpri.oned for debt an ordinary criminal, "ni,e u
,Itv such was not the case ALL Some OF them nave
,aS ma n Haytien because, as Consul TOT that couh-
try 70 this one they could not SEQ now couo 10
ching else. Now the Constitution OF hsyu especla.y
aas that the American Consul for that country sha 10
an American. This many people Cont seem 10 unuet-
s.snd and consequently they have got the matter
mixed" - - ,, chat
.sMr Van Bokkelens voice here became 80 husky tnat
= no. necessary for him 10 refresh himself with glass
:, water and to rest several minutes he taen con-
unuea was then doing an immense business on the
1851 as broker. When The new government caiue ~
they OF cosrs government null aud void The attorney
no k island for Topz Co.. OF New-forK, win WnoiU
Twas n advent Of the new government his
sMD aasprnsibty The sherns took me before Judge
70 be d to Srso ,a1 unless the Attorney oe
en nat the charges against him all correct and he
R n,s us hen connected with the Hayden Government
for many years, perfectly aware OF tus auu 9e
manaso =, inc would give them the right send to
Srson But as soon he discovered that was asa an
A%er nc To ne ie did CO. They took prison.
and there waited seventeen DAYS before was set
ss they cali IT, When was brought up before them
they declared the former sentence nun and v9la. MY
ditors were brought before me- ana they oeclareu
temselyes perfectly satisfied with the provisions that
made for the payment Of all amounts that oEeo tnem
Indeed had enough TO douoly pay 'nom "n"' 'ne'
But just here the Haytiens themselves who hate ate
manded that should be sent back to jail on precursor.
That is must stay there until was proved ho' gr N.Y.
10 alternative but to accept my fate Tor the anu
20 back to prison When came Out as sT mon in
stiong robust and came out the complete wreck
that you see a 60 ins ra v rsease ana Secretary
FrellnghuSsen seemed 10 take an interest," III ne tal
could M1 ana od that at liberty
to 20 when pleased, my health was runeu as wen as
my business my Sy ~.
ment that the Hay item authorities should pay me Tor tae
ssSeS6tsa m %s as an
o the treaty OF 1854 MAKE al ,Ss s and
aThey have another American. Mr.. Demara, down
there illegally imprisoned,
But the English is prepared To take decided
action the natter unless tue prisoners are released or
proved guilty of the charges there are several English
men war stationed right Port-au Prince The
American Government needs TO make some treaty by
which il protect its citizens and property on the
island At present Americans have no protection what
ever there" -
Mr. Van Bokkelens description OF the prison. In which
he was confined, revealed a most shocking state OF
things. Eao0 prisoner compelled TO bny his own
food and drink THE cells had protection from
the brOilng sum- aud some dozen or more swine were
allowed free range Ohe whole prison. The stencil arts.
ing from the place sufficient TO cause the most
malignant Diseases Prisoners horribly butcbeed
and mutilated night before his eyes. Their entrais
were cut out while they still alive and afterward
were allowed purify in the open court, and no at
tempts made to clean the place. save when well
ain tall