The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-08-20
OF WALLER.
Ethelbert Woodford Arrives in
London from Mauritius.
He Tells of Mrs. Walters Escape
From the French.
MIR. WALLER WRONGED
A Report of His Trial Was Sent
to Washington,
But for Some Reason 1t Never
Reached the Department.

added to the case of ex- United States
Consul John L. Waller at Tamatave,
Madagascar, by the presence here of Mr..
Ethelbert Woodford. who assisted Mrs.
Waller and her children out of NADIA
gascar after her husband had been sem
fenced to Imprisonment for twenty years
for alleged illegal communication with
the Hovas, against whom the French are
Waging war.
bIr. Woodford went to Madagascar last
February on business with the Hova
government. Mr.. Woodford while there
lent aid to the family of the United States
consul He has arrived here upon his
return and has had an interview with
representative of the Associated Press.
Mr.. WOOdford states that upon his arrival
at Tamatave. he found Mr. Waller in
prison. According to Mr.. Woodford, the
sole evidence against the ex-consul was
embodied in letters to his wife and from
HOva friend, wherein the occupation of
Madagascar by the French was discussed
and description given of alleged outrages
upon women.
MIR. Woodford declares however that
the reason for the French action against
Consul Waller is the fact that he had OBJ
tanned valuable concessions from the
Hovas and that Mr.. Waller had received
his exequateur from the Hovas govern.
ment, though opposed by the French
who had the right to determine who
shall be the consul at Tamatave. On
May IS last, says Mr.. Woodford, ex- Con-
sui Waller was hurriedly tried and SEN
fenced.
AT the time l was in Madagascar"
said Mr.. Woodford, Edward T. Wetter
of Georgia was in charge of the United
States consulate at Tamatave and l was
his guest for a month"
81 was naturally interested in the af-
fairs of the consulate. and saw all the
correspondence of the United States gov
eminent with reference to the Waller
case. The Americans were naturally
much interested, and we thoroughly dis
cussed the war, but there was no Ameri-
can gunbOat near, and no protection of any
kind. Nothing remained for the Ameri-
cans to do but to submit to the action of
the French and report the occurrences
to Washington, which was done.
"As to the report, however, if my in
formation is correct, there will be serious
trouble, as I understand the report was
not received OF Washington. 1 then
went direct to Antananarivo and found
Mrs. Waller and four children were in a
state of deetitution and living on the
charity of Hova friends. I assisted them
and when / was leaving took the family
WIN LAO W bhO SOoSS 0AA 0OO6A0 LA0
steamer for hauritius, where we landed
almost penniless.
The heavy additional expense of res
cuing the Waller family was unexpected
to me. l could not, however, do other
wise. There were grown up girls
in the family and l knew the
fate that would be in store for them
when the French should occupy the
capital. On the journey south to Vat
tomandry which is 70 miles south of
Tamatave, did not land at Tamatave as
Mr.. Waller had warned me that the
French we're seeking me and would
shoot me if they could catch me owing
to my visit to the capital where they
claimed l had been in communication
with the HoYa government and the army
officials.
Il left the island of Mauritius and
came on here via Paris, at which place
l communicated all l knew of the case
to United States ambassador Eustis,
through whom I am informed the United
States government has sent to Mauritius
for Mrs. Waller, who sails from there to-
day and will come to Paris"
Mr.. Woodford adds to the above that
the French in Madagascar are mere fill
busters and are committing frequent
high handed outrages. All mails, both
from aud to the island are inspected by
French officials, especially letters to and
from the United States
Mr.. Woodford's own mail, he says, was
opened while he was there.