Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-22
He Claims That the Charges Were
Not Sustained.
WROTE A PRIVATE BUSINESS LETTER
And on That the Whole Prosecu-
ton Rests.
WHAT IS THOUGHT HERE

ator Baker is in receipt of an autograph
letter from John Waller, formerly Ameri-
can consul at Tamatave written from the
latter's cell at the Maison Centrae lie Clair
vaux, commenting upon his Imprisonment.
Waller says in part:
"As you are Il lawyer of long experience
I ask you to carefully notice the testimony
of Capt. LeaveZot and notice that it was on
his testimony that the prosecution seems to
have based the charge that l was guilty of
corresponding with the enemy of France.
Il submit that the evidence for the prose-
cution utterly fails to sustain or support
the charge under which l am in solitary
confinement for twenty years. and by the
failure of which the case against me should
have been dismissed by the prosecution in
SO far as it related to violation of the
penal code named in the indictment.
Il further submit that the testimony Of
the only witness on this point fails to show
or prove that either my wife or George e.
Tessien are enemies to France in any sense
whatever.
1T seems, then, that the whole case
against me rests upon the letter which l
wrote to Ratsmania, a young Malaysia
man. This relates solely to business af-
fair with which France has nothing to do
nor does it relate to or concern the French
government in any particular whatever.
The American Demand.
PARIS, August pa semi-oticial note
was issued today saying it is inexact that
the United States government has demand
ed the release of Mr.. John l.. Waller ana
the payment of an Indemnity on account Of
his sentence to twenty years 1mprison-
ment by a court-martial on the Island OF
Madagascar, where Mr.. Waller was former
ly a United States consul.
Ground for Demanding Reparation.
The following is given in official circles
as a statement of the Waller case, SO far
as the facts have been reported to the
United States They claim that there is no
doubt that while in a country occupied by
the French Mr.. Waller wrote letters to the
people the French We're opposing. These
letters were traced to him, and We're made
the pretext for his arrest and conviction.
This arrest and conviction was irregular.
His trial was not fair and during his I'M
priSonment, both before and after conVic-
ton. he was treated with great harshness.
He was taken to France chained to the
deck of a steamer, and though i'll and suf-
fering he was imprisoned without proper
care.
The French government has not explain
ed il any satisfactory manner the irregular
arrest and trial 1t has attempted to ex-
cuSe 1t by saying that in time of war mill
tary courts and trials different from
civil proceedings IN time of peace, but this
explanation, in the opinion of the United
States, does not meet the case, and in the
opinion of the State Department there is
stiA a strong probability that Walters
treatment was due to the concessions he
claimed IN Madagascar.
When the case was first presented to
the Department Of State it appeared that
there was little that could he done for
Waller The first evidence furnished by
the French government OF Walters indiS-
cTetionS made his case look doubtful but
later developments, including the failure of
the French government 10 explain the ir-
regular proceedings of the trial, and the
necessarily harsh and inhuman treatment
of the prisoner. and the demonstrated fact
that Waller had some equity rights, at
least, in Madagascar, made his case APP
pear III a far better light.
IN view OF what has come to light as
result of later inquiries, it is held that the
United States has good ground for de- !
harding Walters release and Indemnity |
for his wrongs.
MIR. tustis Sees Waller.
The Acting Secretary of State, Mr.. Adee. |
authorizes the statement that information |
has been received from Ambassador Eustis |
in response to urgent Instructions cabled |
him some three weeks ago. that the record |
of the proceedings and evidence in the |
court martial OF Mr. Waller at Tanatave |
is expected to reach Paris toward the end |
of this month.
Mir. EEstis also reports that access to
Mr.. Waller has been accorded to him after |
and urgent request made or the |
orders of the Department of |
State.
The department not having been advised |
whether Mr.. EGstiS has taken advantage |
of this permission to delegate a competent |
deputy to visit the prison near ClairvauX,
where Mr.. Waller is at present connned |
and confer with him, Mr.. Adee has instruct
ed him by telegraph that he should do so
at once, if not already done.
Mr.. Adee adds that this result, reached |
after repeated telegraphic instruction,
shows the constant activity of the Depart
ment of State in AIR Walters case. and it
is hoped that the production of the evil
dence before the court-lnartial will enable
the department to form judgment touch
ing the conviction Of Mr.. Waller
Another Sinepnycnt Beach Suit.
Calvin r. Mutt this afternoon filed a
suit in equity against John F. Waggaman
Harvey l.. Page and Samuel Maddox, trus-
tees of the SinepuXent Beach Company,
similar in nature to those brought yeSter-
day by Messrs. Larcombe and Addison. and
published in the Star. Mr.. Mutt claims
that he paid 5000 for stock in the COM
pany.
Caught II Green Goods Mnn.
For several months complaints have been
fre1llent of green goods OperationS in New |