The morning call., 1893-02-27
FIXED AT HOME.
Inquiry Into the Castries
Affair.
TALK OF AN INDEMNITY.
The Insulted Able to Ask the Gov
ernment for a Hundred Thousand
Dollars.
Special to THE MORNING CALL

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26.-There is no dan
ger of an international complication be-
tween this country and France arising out
of the complaint of the AbDe de la Crolx de
Castries, referred to in dispatch from
Seattle to Washington. The matter has
been laid before the State Department by
Patenotre, the French Minister. 1t was
presented verbally and he was told that an
investigation into the action of the customs
officers complained Of would be made. This
investigation is now in progress and the
result will be communicated to Patenotre.
The French Minister says that while Ii is
doubtless true that the able was badly
treated he thought the Seattle telegram eX-
aggerated matters. No demand viii! be
made on the United States Government
until the result of the investigation is made
known. 1t may be that none will be neces-
sary.
Patenotre has been informed by the
French Consul at San Francisco. where
Able de la Croix de Castries formerly re-
sided. that the abbe there bore an excellent
reputation, being a man Of large beneyO-
lence.
SEATTLE, Feb. 25-The Able de la Croix
de Castries, nephew of the wife Of Mar
shall MaeMahon. ex-President of France, is
in this city. having come from Everett,
where he Is living as a retired priest with
his niece, Nine. de la Chase, whose hus-
band is retired San Francisco
banker. He related to friends Sc
quel to an outrage perpetrated upon
him at Everett some six weeks ago by
two custoul-house officers which promises to
become an international affair between
France and the United States. He told his
friends that through the French Consul at
San Francisco the matter had been brought
10 the notice of the Ministre dPAffaires
EtrangereS of the French Government. who
will claim an indemnity of 100000 from
this Government.
The Able de la Croix has been In the
United States about four years. at various
times residing in New York, San Francisco
and New Westminster. 3. c.. before going
to Everett. He went to the latter place a
few months ago. where his niece had pre-
eeded her husband, who intended TO estab-
lish a bank in the growing town. 1t appears
that the number of trunks which he brought
with him from the British possessions
aroused some suspicious in the minds Of the
customs officers. They allowed them to be
sent through free Of duty, but had desire
o examine them further. On the pre.ext
that woman in the house in which they
formerly lived in Everett. had lost some
wearing apparel. a search warrant was pro-
cured and Deputy Inspectors Crome and
Raymond repaired to the abbe's residence.
The able was dnmfounded, but sub
milted after a time TO search Of bis PREM
ises. Every nook and corner of the house
was pried into, and the contents Of dozen
trunks containing very costly apparel suit
able TO member of the French nobility
were upset. The search was conducted, be
says. in the most impolite and offensive
manner But when they made an attempt
20 rummage a trunk containing his altar
vestmeDts ard articles used in celebrating
mass, the abbe demonstrated, declaring it
would be a sacrilege.
The inspectors brooked no interference.
and one of them assaulted the able, who
is about 80 years old. knocking him down,
injuring his skull and threatening 10 hand
cuff him if he again interfered. his niece
tried to flee and give the alarm. but was
prevented from leaving the apartment.
The inspectors found nothing of dutiable
nature, and were unwillngly compelled 10
retire after their inglorious victory over an
old man and a woman. The occurrence was
cided that ii was too base an outrage to 60
by unnoticed. He communicated the intel
ligence to his Government, and has advised
the able of the intention on its part to
claim indemnity.