The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1895-05-24
THE Case OF Waller
france Transfers the Mat
ter to the Courts.
indicating Either His Trial by the
civil Judiciary or His Ultimate
Release from Prison--Ampie Evil
oence for Claim Against France
ana Demand for Indemnity.

Washington, May 22.-The French
government, acceding to the demand of
the United States, has transferred the
case OF ex-Consul John /. Waller TO
ordinary or civil jurisdiction. This ac-
ton apparently nulliiies the sentence Of
twenty years confinement imposed on
Waller by a French military court in
Madagascar, and indicates either his trial
by the civil judiciary or his ultimate re
lease from prison. The matter has now
reached a stage where the United States
government has ample evidence on which
10 base claim against the government
OF France, possibly involving the pay
ment Of indemnity for the treatment ac-
corded Waller and the abrogation OF the
concession obtained by him of valuable
rubber forests
Startling Facts.
Waller is still in prison at Marseilles.
but may be transferred TO some civil
penal institution. The evidence in the
case received at the state department is
practically complete, and it is under
stood TO contain some rather startling
facts that have not heretofore become
public. Edward Telfair Wetter, Of
Georgia, who succeeded Waller as United
States consul al Iamatave, it has been
claimed, did not put forth his best et-
forts to extend relief OF his government
to a distressed citizen of the United
States.
Said We Were After a Coal Station.
1t is shown by the spondence sent
to the state department that the French
government was suspicious that the rub.
Der concession secured by Waller from
the Hovas was obtained TOR the purpose
of providing a coaling station for the
United States naval vessels. Such an
accusation was openly made in Madagas-
car by partisans of the French.
Taking Away the Rubber.
Whether or not this belief was actual
ly entertained by the French authorities
cannot be learned, but the documents
now On file al the state department assert
that after the French authorities had re-
fused to confirm the concession Of the
Rovas, French citizens took possession
of the rubber forests transferred TO the
ex-consul and the French vessels have
been taking away great quantities of the
product to the island of Mauritius and
Bourbon. The concession is situated on
the sea coast in the southeast part of the
island OF Madagascar and affords many
excellent locations for coaling station.
The Charge Against Waller.
The exact charge on which Waller was
tried has not yet become definitely
known in the United States, except
to a few of the officials of the state de-
partment and they decline to give any
information on that subject. Newspaper
dispatches have stated that Waller was
charged before the military court with
sending a letter TO the Hovas containin z
a suggestion of a revolutionary project
against the French authorities.
Bray at the State Department.
Paul Bray, Walters stepson, who re-
Gently arrived in New York from NADIA
gascar via Marseilles, spent nearly the
entire official day at the state depart
ment yesterday, reading the papers con-
corning the case, and late in the after
noon had an interview with Assistant
Secretary Uhl He declined to discuss
Walters case, holding that he might say
something to prejudice it, but expressed
mself as highly pleased with the steps
the state department was taking in the