The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-10-18
WALLER'S HOPE.
Made Possible by Discovery o: Flaws
In the Prosecution.
PRAISE FOR AMBASSADOR EUSTIs
Made Strong EndeavorS to
Secure Justice.

WASHINGTON, Oct. IS. = 1t has been
understood all along that the fate of ex-
Consul Waller, who is still held in i'm
prisonment by the French at Marseilles,
hinged on the proceedings OF the court
martial which sentenced him, and, there
fore, the state department has directed Its
efforts mainly To securing "A copy OF the
record Of the court. Now, that the record
Is in Paris, "a careful examination OF the
document has been made, and already
there have been developed some points
that in the end may form the basis Of a
demand for tho release of the prisoner.
In Mt least two points IL has been found
that the proceedings OF the court-martial
were in violation of the French law, and
II such case arose in the United States
this would be sufficient ground for the
setting aside of the proceedings and the
sentence aud the release OF Waller In
the first place tho court was composed OF
five officers, whereas the French military
regulations are said 10 require at least
seven persons ID sit ON the court.
But more important than this, IL has
been discovered that Waller was not really
tried as charged, but that rs the trial pro
gresscd evidence was taken on another
charge not included in the original mat
ter, and that IL WAS upon what might be
called supplementary but irregular
charge that Waller was convicted
Aside from the other points in the case,
this matter of irregulnrty OF the proceed
ings may in the end 20 far 10 make up the
cause OF our government as presented
through Ambassador Eustis.
To Plead For Her Husband.
Mrs. Waller, her three daughters and
son are on their way tn Washington to en-
deavor to persuade the government TO take
action toward securing her husbands re
lease.
Mrs. Waller has said she had several in
teryiews at Marscilles with the representa-
tive of the United States government, but
obtained little satisfaction. She left NADIA
gascar Sept. 81 and since Oct. . has been
In ignorance of her husbands fate until
pilots boarded the ship Wednesday. Mrs.
Waller talked freely in New York of her
husbands case. She said;
First OF all. am told that Minister
Eustis has been criticised by those who
sympathize with my husband, and I want
to correct any false impression that may
have obtained. Mr.. Eustis treated us and
Is treating my husband with the utmost
CODslueFttlOn anu ttnutTntSS. he
every possible influence for our assistance
and benefit.
Il do NOT think my husband will live o
year in the French prisons, for he was sick
u whole year before his arrest on March %
last. He had fever, contracted mt lama
tare, and Is now quite feeble in health,
though only AZ years old He has only an
hour or SD of exercise each day. In charge
of n keeper Of the prison, which is seven
hours by rail from Paris, in the mort h OF
France.
"My husband was charged with treason;
with aiding TO arm the Hovas, and it was
set up that the grant of concession Of 226
square miles OF land i'm the southwest
part Of the island Of Madagascar was the
price he received for aiding the Malagassy.
Now In fact the deed OF gift was given
months prior to the alleged acts of the
treason, and have forwarded to Secretary
Olney documentary evidence sufficient to
completely prove the innocence of Mr..
Waller"