The evening times., 1895-11-18

Mrs. waller, the wife OF the imprisoned
ex-consul, and her lawyers are TO have
conference this afternoon, at which time
she VIII protest against the proposed action
OF The State Department In writing to Mr.
Waller and offering him immediate release
OF telling him that they are perfectly will
Ing TO fight the case out to the end.
This action on the part of the State De-
partment is regarded by the friends Of The
ex-cOnsui as a direct temptation to him to
come out Of the French prison and thus
waive all claim 10 pecuniary indemnity.
They say that with a man in the condition
waller Is known TO be, sick and not having
seen his wife and family for so long a Pc
riOd, II will almost be a miracle IL he does
not hail the cha nee of immediate relief.
Mrs. Waller, it is understood, will pro-
test against the writing of any such letter
by the State Department.
She says that with the trials and tribu-
lations through whichhe husband has gone,
that 1t would be practical admission OF
the weakness of the case, II such a compro-
mise as the release should be made, il it had
to be obtained with the waiving of all fur
ther claims against the government of
France.
SHE WILL MAKEA PROTEST.
III the State Department persists in
writing the letter to Waller, it is said,
she will enter a most Wig orous protest to it,
and request to be allowed to inclose letter
within the official communication of the
State Department.
1t would, of course, be impossible for her
to write TO her husband and advise him
against accepting the immediate release
with The, waiytpD nf fh Ia,t.
would have to pass the Censorship OF the
prison officials, and it would never reach
the imprisoned man.
Mrs. Waller was seen this morning by a
Times reporter, and when asked il she had
received letter from her husband lately
said:
Il am looking for one every day. The last
time we heard from him he had written
to my son, and in consequence am expect
ing a letter every day. Whenever the post
man rings the bell think that this time it
has arrived. wrote him a sufficient length
OF time ago for me to receive i reply within
the next two or three days.
II know the health of my husband is
much worse than he writes, as the prison
officials would not, am sure, allow him
TO write me the true situation. The doctor
at the prison may also make his case out
TO him Ia be better than it really is 1 know
ton they can. for ! am sure they do not
want him to die ON their hands
If Mr.. Waller were released now he would
not live long, and 1t would be an injustice
to the family aud myself if everything
possible were not done to clear his name.
Ny heart has been wrung so often that it
almost impossible for me to suffer more,
and if he were released now it would sim
ply mean that he would be allowed to come
hnTnp n 10 ip NOT n,
America A man as sick as he is might die
at sea and buried in the ocean
IF he dies in the French prison I VIII
know that he died like a man, and then
some day 1 will be able TO go there and
get his body. or at least see his grave. II
he came home he would have to be brought
to the house OF Mr. Simms, where am liv-
ing with my entire family, and il would be
indeed severe task to bring a sick man
into the home of these kind people.
DOES NOT BLAME THE NATION
People come here aud tell me that he
could go to the hospital, but that would
not make much difference. 1 am sure The
French officials VIII give him tie best medi-
cal attention they can command
MY children are all in favor of his not
waving a single right as we know that it
is simply persecution. We do not blame
the whole French nation for this, but it
is the work Of officials who have mis-
represented the government. The whole
cause OF this persecution is that Mr.. Waller
was friendly 10 tile natives and treated
them well, and in consequence acquired the
ill-will of the French colony. Another
thing the investigation, II it really ever
does come up, will show the American con-
sui 10 Madagascar in a very bad light. /
feel positive that he is constantly writing
the Department here letters, in which lie
throws cold water on tie whole affair.
'.The entire colony down there are
French, and the consul when he goes
there gets in with a certain set, and while
he may be a true American he is afraid to
take a decided stand one way or the other.
He is both afraid of the French and of his
home Government.
II am TO have a consultation with my
attorneys this afternoon, and expect to
get some definite information as TO what
the Department of State really expects
to do"