New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-10
IMPRISONED IN GUATEMALA.
ALLEGED CRUEL TREATMENT OF A CITIZEN
OF THE UNITED STATES.
COPY OF LETTER TO SECRETARY BLAINE ASK
ING GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE IN HIS
BEHALF-FLEEING THOUGH


ING GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE IN HIS
BEHALF-FLEEIYG THOUGH
WILDERNESS FOR SAFETY.
The following letter has been received here
dated at Guatemala on June "a:
q" beg leave to present to you the enclosed copy
Of communication which has been forwarded
by this mail TO the State Department at Washing
ton.
The facts in this case are that an American
citizen carrying on business in an interior town
in this county Flores, Peten) has been subjected
TO the most cruel outages and prosecutions by the
petty officials, employees of the Government in
Flores, Peten; and, after having been imprisoned
without trial and forced to suffer illness and want
In ilventilated jail, which has resulted in his
financial ruin and broken-down health, has been
unable to get an investigation of his case.
Now, after this financial ruin has been COM
pleted and his sworn statement file in the
United States Consuls ofIce for six months with
out any action having been taken thereon, he is
again threatened with arrest, and an order has
been sent by the authorities to send him prisoner
back to that place whence he had to fee, travel
ling four days through uninhabted forests to
reach the frontier Of British Honduras, from
where he succeeded in reaching the Capital of
PANeNSSAOh
can Minister
After suffering two months imprisonment, con-
fined in q miserable caabOose, in company with
Indians and half-breeds marched through the
streets by barefoOted soldiers with loaded mus
kets, and while i'll and suffering from severe at
tacks of tropical fevers and nervous prostraton,
denied the use of the simple medicine which he
possessed, and not even allowed the necessities of
civilized life, the United States Minister here,
Mr. Pacheco, requests Mr.. Dowey, on his appeal
ing to the Consulate for protection, that he pro-
duce documents from those authorities that he has
been so treated as set forth in his sworn state
ment
ut seems now that these authorities make a
pretence that Mr.. Dowey is wanted to stand trial
for smuggling and that the amount Of such SNUG
Cling is about $45, the penalty of which
is nominal fine. On this charge Mr.. Dow
leys property has been SEIZED to the amount
of about $1,000, he himself imprisoned without
trial, and while so imprisoned, quantities of his
goods appropriated to the private uses Of Gov
crnment officials.
"Now as Mr. Dowley has undergone all this
punishment without trial, Mr.. Kimberly, Consul
General in Guatemala, claims that Mr.. Dowley
has no claim, for he has not been denied justice,
for the reason that be has had no trial
DO"cJ Id uOW " PlloOIicI LII puoSu"i"
City with h sick wife dependent on him for
support, and there seems to be no desire on
the part of Minister Pacheco to order a prompt
investigation of his case, Mr.. Dowley has sent
the following appeal to Secretary Blaine
"sr Being citizen Of the United States of America
and not having received the protection that the laws Of
my country allow, have the honor of appealing to you
for prompt and impartial investigation Of persecution
which l have been subjected in this country.
a,ifg,
commercial business at Flores, small town in
the northern part OF this Republic, when suddenly
curring dlspeasure Of certain Government officials
thrown into jail property was seized, and was
subjected the most cruel and degrading treatment, with
out either medical legal assistance being allowed
Attempts made errorze me into confessing crime
that had committed just trial was denied me, and
after suffering Imprisonment Of months succeeded
In escaping the frontier Ct Belize. English territory
O journey OF days through unlnhabted forests.
Finally after much suffering, by way Of Belize and
the port OF Livingston. succeeded In reaching the
capital, whore L Immediately made sworn statement
before Consul Kimberly OF the unjust treatment which
l had been subjected
AFTER consulting Minister Miner he promised to
demand from this Government prompt Investigation
OF my case, and, had been financially ruined,
obliged TO seek my living the best way l could
Shortly after this received communication from Consul
Kimberly that there evidence in my Of
denial justice / had received trial. A few days
ago an order was executed for my by the
thorides in Flores, with instructions to return
prisoner that place. Learning this, 1 Immediately
set out for this capital seeking protection from the
American Minister.
ION my arrival 1 find upon visiting the Legation
my statement has been lying in the Office six
months without any action having been taken thereon
nor has the copy been sent TO Washington even a
communication made with this Government concerning the
same and consulting Minister Pdchcco requested
10 produce documentary evidence have been i'm
prsoned and otherwise unjustly treated. stated in my
sworn declaration
NOW Mr.. Secretary, considering these facts pray
you order prompt investigation OF my case. and order
that be given the protection that the laws OF my coun'
try allow It's citizens; and II proven that have been
subjected bitter persecution and denial Of justice as
set forth by in my various petitions to the United
Consular Service, that be granted indemnity for
the losses and personal sufengs that have sustained
beg leave to be your obedient servant.
THOMAS II. DOWLEY JR."