The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-08-11

Il
! James DurreM, an American citizen, on ac-
cornt OF his causeiess arrest and I'M
rrisonment during the prevalence Of mar
/ tial law last January. Mr.. Willis letter
! Is as fellows.
Legation Of the United States
Honolulu. July q, 1885,
Hon. Francis NJ. Hatch. Minister oil ro1-
.sirHI have the honor to place here
| with "A copv OF tn affidavit OF James
| Durrell, who was born In the state OF
Louisiana in ls5s. and reaiueu ~, az ''e
| United states until Septemper' osi; -.
| "Ho then came to this city an o1-
tained temporary employment as a COOK
] I'm the Arlington Hotel .,..-,t ,eo
| "On November 8, 1884, ne purchased tne
| lease and goodwill Of a cigar store dnu
soda-water and fruit stand, anu sI"1u'''s
/ built up a lucrative business. .,,..
| ION January 9th last, "hile PWn
| seated in his store, he was arrested VIII
! out explanation or conFlctloh ot 9nR
| charge against him, and coniihSl III III . yn..
| On common prison fare unul fepIudly
| 9-tb foliov,ine. "A period of seven weeks
| and then discharg without any ui"';
| charges. explanation. or oppot1Nrl'S ~.
defence nor has he since ms release Oee"
] Informed of the cause OF MS dIita.. -,
| ole declares that he has never, py
! v,o~l or deed forfeited his allegiance TO-
| or his right e. protection py 1lts t no-
| eminent: that he has neither loihi.o'tl,. lohr
! enuke ANYTHING directly or hitil.N ~ ~
! AGAINST the Government OF ltaWali OF ~
| laws. that he has never eNpresstd M Mscn'.-
! monts antagOnistic TO tndt 'oN l.'S' ,.,ii,',t'
| or in any way counsrlled. ehcpul"e -, -,
| aided or abetted its enemies. tlthtI III
| armed rebellion or secret plottinS, anu
| tbat ha never pOssessed any NORMA
| tion which. under existing laws. It was
his duty 10 report TO your Government
rRIMA FAclE CLAIM.
.rbese statements establish, in the
| oniuiou Of the President OF the United
! states prima facle claim for indemnity
! from the Hawaiian Government to Mr..
II am n structed. therefore, TO bring
| this case 10 the notice of the HaWaiah
authorities. leaving no doubt IN thell
| minds OF the confidence felt at Nash-
ington. that Hawaii VIII not Ie.uae
| To tender adequate reparation TO this
| injured citizen of the United states, nor
| hesitate 20 take prompt measures 10 eN-
! onerate him from the impuiation which
! this arbitrary treatment lett upon MS
| good name.
with sentiments Of high esteem. etc,
| l am your obedicnt servant, .
"ALBERT ;. WILLIS,
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
| plenipOtentiary of the United states.
To Mr.. Wills letter was appended a copy
| of MIR. DurrelFs affidavit. 10 be sworn 10
! before United states Ccrsul Ellis Miils
I on the lfu AIIiIt tt7Is
In addition 20 the allegations set forih
! hy Mr. Willis Durreli. he claims damag
/ of S-i.rn. on account OF inlurlnS ms ousi-
| ness his feelings and MS reputation.
SIR. Hatch read the letter Of SIR. WINS
| I'm the Senate on the 18th. In answer TO
| question he stated that the Government
| would Investigate the matter, ana send
| a reply 10 the communication.
! Marshal Hitchcock. who mad been CON-
! pilin- the evidence on record i'm his oihte
against Durren declined 70 state the
| nature OF it. He stated, howev. n, tLat
| his report would show that the evidence
against Durrell was abundant. and would
| fully satisfy the American peonle ti'at
DEE vas properly arrested and connnei.
He s,d that Durrcll was three-fourths
/ Amcrican-indian. ana Ohe-iOufth negro
having Nnky hair.
rENiFs THE sTAIKMENTs.
The marshal denies that the affidavit
contained false statements about the diet
| and treatment iu the prison, as Wen
] as being untrue about the complainant
! innocence of trcasonanle language
It is learned that from the time OF his
arrival here. Durren. Ike "a majority OF
c0i0rcd men. became sympaihizer WIN
| ROvalists. and laterly fen particularly
| under suspicion as being engaged lu thc
| conspiracy which eliminated ln the IN.
/ surrfctiOu OF January, Wmcn, dltet thr
| outbreak martial law was proclaimed ana
| all persons strongly suspected OF drtNe
c0ublipifv were arrested. BuTfll was one
of the first. the evidence against INN ne-
| ing especially strong. AS "a rule, ohly
me leading conspiratOrs We're brought TO
tral before the military commission DC
sides those captured bon actual war.
OF the persons arrested and confined
on good evidence OF completely, the large
| majority We're released without trlal, as
the Government desired TO avoid severity,
and the labor and expense attending the
/ carefully conducted trials was feft great.
| Durrcll, being an obscure person, was
| thus released without trial The store
Specified in the aihlayit is small snel
few feet square. renting for Sl- per
| month. The bustuc-s-sodd, milk snakes,
cigars. and frult-may have amounted 10
gross receipts. - or - per day. a. BE-
longs 10 the grade known as peanut
THE Hawaiian Star observes: when
not engaged iu a lucrative business, ait.
| Durren worked as a cook. and We are
relahly informed that he was rather
| Indifferent mechanic. q couple OF nun
! dred dollars Will. in all likelihood, pdtch
UP his mental anguish, and that ium
Will certainly put him on easy street
the 5000. then. must bee for the alleged
outrage on an American citizen. II thar
is really the case. then the figure should
bee multiplied several times. 30 triouna!
would entertain such charge for pull
ing the tail feathers from the American
Eagle.'
APrRfHrEsIos FIT.
The Government is viewing this action
! Of Air. Wills with serious apprehension.
| They fear that IL indicates active hos
| ulfty towards them on the part OF the
| American administration, and that II is
| designed to encourage and tend the way
| 10 A serious series Of similar demands
from Great Britain. and perhaps other
MOVERS. which would be distressing and
perhaps ruinous 10 this Government 20
comply with.
IL Is felt by them TO be a singular thing
thar the American Minister. after near
! lv four months OF silence, suddenly pre-
sonts such matter. which thus comes
IN the nature of a surprise.
| IL Is also raises the question why, oa
receiving the claim on last April from
so presumably unquestOnable character
as this American negro, the Minister
made no inquiry about his case from the
authorities here, who could probably have
satisfied him OF It's groundlessness.
| Why has he transmitted, without IN
| ouirv 10 his Government so apparently
doubtful a claim. the getting up OF which
| indicates that II was instigated and ar
ranged by others than the claimant
| such are some OF the thoughts OF Sus-
! picion which the demand mas awakened
in the minds OF MI hatch ana his col
| leagues. . ,. ~,
| aaminfsfration a disposition 20 take up
and urge against them any sort OF
clatm however unworthy, for some reason
moi exnressei They feel the motive OF
this action TO be the continued hostility
witch they hold the President has IN so
| many WAYS manifested towards TINS Gov
4 ernment. as.. -,
| - ....rn,uanr exuldlupl about SIX