The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-08-21
FRENCH TREATMENT OF WALLER.
mr. Woodford's Account OF waller,a
imprisonment,

imprisonment.
LONDON, August 2O.-Fresh interes.
10 added to the case of ex-United States
Consul John L. Waller at Tsmataye.
"a mad agascar, by the presence here OF
Mr. Etheibert Woodford. who assisted
mrs. waller and her children out of
maoaRascar after her husband had been
sentenced to Inn prisonment for twenty
yeats py court martial for alleged
iliegsl communication with the Hoyas.
against whom the French are wagino
war. hAe
Mr.. Woodford went to Madagascar
last February on business with tho
aova government. Mr. Woodford, while
mere, lent aid to the family OF the
united States consul. He has arrived
mere upon his return and has had an in
terview with representative OF The
associated Press. Mr.. Woodford states
mat upon his arrival at Tamatave he
found Waller in prieon. According To
Mr.. Woodford. the sole evidence against
the ex.consul was en- bodied in letters to
MS wife and from Hovs friend.
wherein the occupation of Madagascar
oy Inc french was discussed and de-
scription given of alleged outrages upon
women.
Mr.. Woodfcri declares, however, tina,
the real cause for the French action
against Coosul Waller is that he had
obtained valuable concessions from the
Hovas, and that Mr.. Waller had re
ceiVed his exequateur from tho Hova's
government though opposed by she
french, who hold tho right to desor-
mine who shall be the consul at Tama,
tsve. On May Is last, says Mr.. Wood
lord, ex~Consul Waller was hurriedlv
tried and sentenced.
AT the time | was In Madsgascar.n
said Mr.. Woolford, Edward II. Wetter.
OF Georgia, was in charge Of the United
States consulate at Tamasaye and vgs
MS guest for month. | wss naturally
interested In affairs OF the consulate
and saw oil the correspondence of the
United States government with refer
ence to the Waller case. The Amer
leans were naturally much interested
and we thoroughly discussed tho IN after,
but there was no American Runboas
near and no protection OF any kind.
Nothing remained for the Americans
to do but submit TO the action of the
french and report the occurrences to
washington, which was done. AS to the
report, however, If my inform alton is
correct, there will be serious trouble, as
understand, the report was not re-
celved at Washington. then went d.
rect to Antaansnarivo, and found that
mrs. Waller and four children we're in
state OF restitution and living on the
them and when 1 was leaving took the
family with me to the coast and got
aboard the steamer for Mauritils, where
we landed almost pennilees.
The heavy additional expense of
resculng the Waller family was unex.
pected to me. could not, however. do
otherwise. There were grown up girls
In the family, and l knew the fate that
would be In store for them when the
French should occupy the capital. On
the Journey overland to Vastamadry,
which Is seventy miles south OF Tama-
tave, seven days were required. Our
party consisted OF eighty carrieur, Mrs.
waller, children and myself. There
~as no incident on the journey, owing
TO the Hovss being friendly to myself
and Waller.
II did not land at Tamathve, as Mr..
waller had warned me that the French
were seeking me and would shoot me II
they could catch me, owing to my visit
to the capital where they knew had
been In communication with the Hoya
government and the army officials /
left the Island of Nauritius and came on
here via Paris, at which latter place 1
com municated all knew of the osle to
United States Ambassador Eustis,
through whom l am informed the
United States government has sent to
Mauritus for Mrs. Waller, who sails
from there to day and who will come to
Paris
MIR Woodiord adds to the above that
the French In Madagascar are mere fill
busters, and are committing frequent
nigh handed outrages. All mails, both
from and to the island, are inspected by
French officials, especially letters to
and from the United States. Mr.. Wood
ford's own mails, he says, were opened
while he was there.