Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-04-22
Details Regarding the Charges
Against Ez-Gonsul Waller.
TRIAL LASTED LESS THAN four HOURS
Taken on Board the Vessel in
Chains.
NOW LODGED N PRISON

MARSElLLES, April 22-The case OF
Mr.. John L. Waller, formerly United
States consul at Tamatave, Island of NADIA
gascar, who was recently senteaced by a
French court-martial to Imprisonment
for twenty years, ard who arrived on
Saturday last on board the steamer
Djemnah. is attracting considerable at
tention in view of the fact that it has been
announced that the United States ambassa-
been instructed to inquire into the mat
ter.
The Trip to Mnrseillcs.
Mr.. Waller was manacled while on board
the Djemnah between Tamatave and Ma
junge, on the northwest coast of the Island
Of Madagascar. But from that port on he
was allowed to take two hours exercise
daily on deck, guarded by a soldier.
During the voyage Mr.. Waller spoke but
little. although he frequently asked to be
allowed permission to write. The Frerch
officials declined to grant his request en-
account of his refusal to agree TO show
them the letter he intended to write. When
before tine court-martial Mr.. Waller, it is
claimed, refused to speak in French, ard
the services of an Interpreter had to be
employed during the trial.
Another American Implicated.
Mr.. Waller's nephew, who is twenty-five
years of age, is said to be implicated in
the proceedings which led to his uncle's
arrest. trial and condemnation, and the
young man was condemned to expulsion
from the Island of Madagascar. He en-
barked as a seccnd-ciass passenger on
hoard the Djemnah, but landed at Zanzi-
bar without having been able to communi-
cate with his uncle.
For the present Mr.. Waller Is incarcerat-
ed in. the prison at Fort st. Nicholas, at
this port. 1t is thought probable that he
will again be called upon to appear before
a court-martial.
The Letter Waller Wrote.
PARIS, April 22.-The correspondent of
the Temps at Tamatave, Island of NADIA
gascar, states that John L. Waller, for
merly United States consul ut that place.
was indicted on two charges-namely. vio-
lation Of an order of the French admiral
governing correspondence. and, secondly
writing to the enemy.
The evidence, the correspondent adds,
showed that Mr.. Waller intrusted to an
officer of a steamboat bulky letter, which
was posted at Natal, and which was ad-
dressed to IN. Tessier. merchant, Anita
nanarivo, via Vatomandry."
Unfortunately, the English mail was not
dropped at Vatomandry, but was landed at
Tama tave, where the envelope attracted
the attention of the authorities, who open
ed it and found that 1t contained particu-
lars regarding the strength of the French
garrison, the number of sick and the i'm
portance of the outposts. etc. The en-
velope, it is further stated, also contained
an inclosure addressed to Mr.. Walters
friend, F. Underwood Harvey, editor Of
the Madagascar News, asking the latter
to insert it in that paper. This inclosure,
it is stated, contained abomnable calum-
MES regarding the conduct of the French
soldiers, and denounced two of Mr.. Wal
ler's compatriots. American merchants,
who were going to Antananarivo, as being
spies in the pay of France.
The trial of Mr.. Waller. continues the
correspondent of the Temps, lasted only
three hours and three-quarters, at the end
of which time he was condemned to twenty
years imprisonment.
Mr. Waller appealed against this SEN
tence but 1t was eventually confirmed.
According to the correspondent of the
Temps it was son-in-law of Mr.. Waller,
Paul Bray, a native of Texas, and not his
nephew, who accompanied him on board the
Djemnah. Mr.. Bray, it is added, was eX-
PEELED from the Island of Madagascar for
constant hostility to the French authori-
ties and troops, and for completely with his
father-in-law in communicating with the
was handed over to the American consul at
Zanzibar.
Ambassador Eustis Not Instructed.
United States Ambassador Eustis, in an
Interview today with u representative of
the Associated Press, denied that he had
investigate the case of ex-Consul Waller.