The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-03-28
RED TAPE.
State Department Has Not Been
Officially Notified
OF the Trial and Sentence of
John L. Waller.
MAY ASK ABOUT IT
When Gov. Morrill's Message to
the President is Received.
Az ASK ABOUT IT

WASHINGTON, March 2s.-It was said
at the white house yesterday after
noon that the telegram from Gov. Nor
rill, of Kansas, urging the president to
take active measures at once for the
protection and release of ex-United
States Consul Waller, reported to have
been unjustly imprisoned by the
French government in Madagascar,
under sentence of a court-martial,
had not yet been received by
the president. The state department
has had no confirmation of the report
from United States Consul Wetter at
Tamatave, nor from Mr.. Campbell, our
consul at Mauritius, which is the near
est cable point to Madagascar. It is
probable that the governors message
may cause the state department
to cable to one of these consuls for
an account of the affair, instead of
waiting until report comes to
hand through the mails from this re-
mote point, which, though it might be
sufficient in ordinary cases. would
hardly meet the requirements OF a case
involving the imprisonment of an
American citizen. Gov. MorrilPs
course in addressing himself directly
to the president in such matter is
said to be unusual, but may, perhaps,
be based upon the presidents
set by the state department
in calling upon the governor Of
Louisiana and the governor of Colorado
recently to protect citizens of foreign
countries within their respective states.
There seems to be an impression, based
upon letters alleged to have been writ
ten by Mr.. Waller to friends in this
country, as well as to the state depart
ment, renouncing his American citizen
ship, that he has lost his citizenship.
No such letters have been received at
the state department., and if there was
any such communication in a private
letter, it is said that it would carry
little weight. Mr.. Waller has the
reputation here of being a keen, alert,
business man. He was an excellent
consular officer, and it is inconceivable
to the department officials that he
would surrender voluntarily his Amer
lean citizenship.
SPAIN IN SOME MORE TROUBLE.
BALTIMORE, Md, March 29.-At 2
o'clock on the morning of March 10,
Spanish sentries murderously shot and
killed a seaman of the British steam
ship Laurestina, and badly wounded a
Cuban negro at st. JagO, Cuba. The
British government is investigating
the matter, and complications between
England and Spain may result.
The Laurestina arrived at this
port yesterday afternoon from. ST.
Jago, and her officers denounce
the shooting as murder. They stated
the seaman was John Lowe, aged
So years, a resident of Leeds, Eng.
who had shipped at Cardiff, Wales. On
the night of March Is, the crew went
ashore for stroll, and walked up from
where the vessel was lying to the town
of st. Jago, a short distance away. The
boatswain, Lowe and another seaman
were in one party, and after a walk
about the town, started to return to
the ship. When nearly there Lowe
determined to return to the town,
and started back in company with
Cuban negro. En- route they had
to pass a Cuban fort garrisoned by
Spanish troops. Suddenly a sentinel
sprang out of the darkness as they
neared the fort, and in Spanish COM
manded them to halt. Lowe did not
understand the command and started
to hurry away. The next instant the
sentinel raised his musket and fred;
Lowe dropped to his knees and rolled
over corpse. The negro then
started to run, when he, too, was shot
and mortally wounded. The dead man
and the wounded negro were carried
inside the fort. At daybreak Capt
Gavin, of the Laurestina, went to the
fort and demanded the body of the
man. This demand was refused and
he has made formal complaint to the
British government.