Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-07-23

Demand Redress-WaIer's Con
cessiOn
Washington, July 22.--The negotia-
tions with the French government re-
specting the case of ex-U. S. Consul
Waller, who is now under confinement
in a French Jail at Marseilles, are in a
most unsatisfactory shape, and this, too,
in spite of the best efforts of the de-
partment exerted through Ambassador
Eustis to secure justice for Waller. 1t
is becoming evident that if anything is
to be accomplished it will be only by
the display of much more determined
stand than has ye been assumed by
our government. Letters received here
from the prisoner show that he is still
a sick man, suffering from congestiye
chills, and much weakened and debili-
tated from his confinement and the
change in climate. His step-son, Paul
Bray, who was deported from NADIA
gascar at the time of Walters depOrta-
ton, was at the State Department to-
day seeking for information as to the
intentions of this government and to
convey such news as he had received
from his unfortunate step-father He
says that his mother, who is still in
T.. 10 10 in, ~
steps are being taken to bring her to
the United States.
Great pressure has been brought to
bear upon the State Department to in
duce it TO secure justice for Waller and
many prominent men have interested
themselves in the case. The two Sena-
tors from Kansas, of which State Waller
is a citizen, have been particularly ener-
getic. and Senator Martin has called in
person at the State Department TO
URGE PROMPT ACTION.
Some of the New England Senators also
have taken part in the representations
in Walters favor. and one Of them,
Senator Gallagher has secured a formal
disclaimer Of the report that the De-
partment had abandoned the prosecu-
tion Of the case.
The Department some time ago in
structed Mr.. Eustis, our Ambassador at
Paris, to make a thorough inyestiga-
ton of Walters case, to see him and to
procure a copy of the record OF the
court martial showing the evidence on
which Waller suffered the eXtraordin-
ary severe sentence Of confinement for
twenty wears. The Ambassador has
not been very successful in executing
his instructions. though it appears
that he has done all in his power to
carry them out.
For one thing the French govern
ment has absolutely refused the am
bassadOr the right to see Waller per-
sonally, a very extraordinary attitude
to assume where the rights of an
American citizen are concerned. Then,
it has failed SC far to supply the am
bassador with the desired copy OF the
court martial record in order that our
government might satisfy itself of the
sufIiciency of the evidence upon which
Waller was convicted At first it was
alleged that it was delayed by the ne
cessity of securing the record from the
court in Madagascar, but the time
which has elapsed since the request
was preferred is believed to have been
more than ample to secure such a re-
cord. and the department has nothing
for its guidance but a bare synopsis of
the charge and the sentence. 1t is
said
BY WALLER'S FRIENDS
here who are acquainted with what |
took place in the court martial, that |
there was no reporter that of the threel |
witnesses who were examined. at least |
one. and that the most important, was |
not sworn or identified, and that alto |
gether the proceedings were extremely |
irregular and a travesty upon justice. |
The fact that Mr.. Eustis as yet has !
been unable to secure anything like |
a record appears to give weight to |
these statements. /
In addition to the necessity for press |
ing for Walters release the State De- |
partment will have to look after his |
concession The two are not necessa- |
rily connected, for according to the De- |
partment's view, regardless of what |
part Waller may have taken in the !
struggle of the Hovas against the |
French. his concession must be main |
tained for the benefit of his family if |
his original title was good, which is
assumed to be the case. Then as to |
Paul Bray. Walters stsp-son. it is clear |
that he was deported from Madagascar |
and suffered hardships without the yes
tige of a trial or any legal proceeding, |
and as he is a full-hedged American
citizen, this must form the subject of
A DEMAND FOR REDRESS.
Altogether the case is one threatening |
to hold out many difficulties in the way |
of an amicabe adjustment. but in view |
of the pressure which is being exerted |
on the State Department it may be as
sumed that II will endeavOr to do so be-
fore Congress meets again, and the sub
iect is further complicated by instruc-
tions from the legislative branch sim
liar TO those which formed the basis Of |
action in the Mora case.
HAD BEEN ON A SPREE.
Louisville, KY, July 22.-Dr. Samuel
7, Butler. a prominent dentist OF this
citv. committed suicide at the Louis
Vile Hotel to-day by taking morphine
Butler had been on a spree for several
davs and went to the hotel yesterday
and secured a room. He was discov-
cred in his room about 1880 o'clock to-
day and died at II o'clock. Dr. Butler
is reDuted to be worth several hundred