Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-07-11
AN APPEAL TO BLAINE
From an American Citizen III Treated
in a Guatemalan Prison.
A CASE OF BRUTAL PERSECUTION.
The United States Minister Fails to Secure
Satisfaction.
NOT EVEN ALLOWED TO WASH HIMSELF

Dawley, Jr., young mAh from New York
city who came to this country about year
ago and went into business at Flores, capi-
tai of the Department of Peten, claims to
have been the victim of an outrageous
persecution at the hapds of the Guatemalan
authorities. He claims that he incurred
the displeasure of certain petty Govern
ment officials, and few of his imports from
Belize were taken from the Custom House
on the frontier of British Honduras, confs-
Gated as contraband and a case made out
against him for smuggling.
Mr.. Dawley was absent at the time in
British Honduras, but Immediately upon
hearing of the charge set out for Flores
Upon arriving at Flores he presented a
petition that he be tried before judge
competent to interpret the laws of the
country. AS an answer to his petition he
was put under arrest and thrown into
prison with some IA Indians and half
breeds, was refused the privilege of procur-
ing bondsman, and was forced to suffer all
manner of persecution and vile treatment.
Mr.. Dawley says he was marched through
the streets by barefooted soldiers with
loaded muskets, confined in prison about
20 feet square, without windows, and was
forced to lie on the stone floor, though he
was seriously ill with chills and fever and
nervous prostration.
Rigors OF Prison Life.
During this time he was denied medical
and legal assistance as well as the use of
certain medicines that he possessed. Com
mon necessities of civilization were denied
him. He was not allowed to secure a bonds
man, which the laws of the country permit,
and while undergoing this treatment his
property was seized and he was reduced to
poverty.
At the beginning of this persecution Mr..
Dawley saws that, realizing there was
neither law nor justice in the place, and
having heard the Secretary, who controlled
the judicial powers of the place, make
threats that he would ruin him, he addressed
communication to the United States Lega-
rion in Guatemala explaining his case, and
requesting the protection of the United
States Consul to at least see that he was
given proper trial.
This communication was answered by
Minister Miner through Consul Hosmer,
then in Guatemala, promising to present
the request to the Guatemalan Government
as soon as he returned from an intended
visit to San Salvador. After Mr.. Dawley's
Imprisonment various dispatches were sent
to the United States Legation in Guate-
mala, but nothing was ever heard from
them.
An Attempt at Coercion.
When the authorities in Flores OBJ
tained knowledge that Mr.. Dawley had re-
ceived communication from the United
States Minister an attempt was made to
force him into a promise not to ask for fur
ther interference, nor to present any claim
to the Government of Guatemala. First, he
says, he was taken from his prison, threat
ened with corporal punishment, and then
marched through the streets to his house, in
front of two soldiers with loaded muskets,
when an act of seizure was read and his
goods were removed. He was then marched
back to Jail Daniel Drake, an American
visiting the place at the time sent COM
munication to Minister Miner, giving him
detailed account of the treatment towhich
Mr. Dawley was being subjected, but no
answer was received.
Three days later messenger was sent to
Mr. Dawley informing him that if he would
agree to sentence by the court in Flores
for the crime with which he had been
charged he would be given his liberty, his
property would be restored to him and he
could proceed with his business as formerly
This proposition was declined. Prof Rock,
of Washington, d. c., who is employed by
the Guatemalan Government made a de-
mand that Mr.. Dawley be released on bail.
Mr. Rock was required to make sworn
statement that he believed if Mr..
Dawley's confinement was pro-
longed it would result in his death. This
statement was verified by the Government
physician at the place and then, after two
months imprisonment, an investigation was
made to fix his bond according to the
- for Oh h. IoJ
been arrested, and it was found the whole
amount alleged to have been smuggled was
something like S45, and that Mr.. Dawley
had suffered an imprisonment of about four
times that which he would have incurred
had he been convicted Of smuggling and
sentenced according to the laws of the
country.
The First Wash in Two Months.
After some four or five days more spent in
making these investigations Mr.. Dawley
was allowed his liberty, and for the first
time in two months was allowed the privi-
lege of washing himself He presented a
written protest to the Court, protesting
against the unjust proceedings, and for a
second time prayed for trial in one of the
courts of Guatemala. The answer to this
protest was threat of further imprison-
ment and fine. After about two weeks he
set out alone and on foot for the frontier of
British Honduras, four days journey
through uninhabited forest, and, finally
reaching Belize, he continued his journey to
Guatemala City.
After his arrival in the capital he made
sworn statement before the American Con-
sui, Mr. Kimberly, and requested Minister
Miner to make prompt investigation of
his case Mr.. Dawley secured employment
in Coban and waited for the United States
authorities to take action.
Just as he was getting established in bust
ness in Coban an order was sent to the
authorities in Coban to arrest Mr.. Dawley
and send him prisoner 10 days journey
through the forest to Flores, but the author
tiles in Coban gave him a chance to go to
Guatemala and again seek protection from
the United States Legation. Upon his ar
rival in Guatemala he was informed by the
United States Consul that there was no evil
dence of a denial of justice in his case, as he
had not vet had trial. In an interview
with the Minister, NJ. Pacheo, he was asked
to produce documentary evidence from the
authorities that he had been imprisoned and
treated as was stated in his sworn declara-
tion.
An Appeal to Secretary Blaine.
Six months have passed since Mr. Daw-
lev petitioned the United States authori-
ties for an investigation of his treatment in
Flores, and his sworn declaration has been
on file in the office of the legation during
that time, but so far as he knows not
single communication has been addressed to
either the Guatemalan Government or the
State Department at Washington concern
ing the matter, and now he is again threat
ened with arrest.
Mr. Dawley has written letter to Secre-
tary of State Blaine, in which he says: