The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-07-27
WALTERS OWN STORY
He Writes Letter to His
StepSOn Paul Bray.
Remarks He Intended to Make
to the French Court.
DIDN'T GET A CHANCE.
Declares He Conveyed No Dam
aging Information.
Did Nothing He Should Have
Suffered a Day For.

WASHINGTON, July 81. = Ex- Consul
Waller has written letter to his stepson,
Paul Bray, inclosing a copy of the re-
marks which he had expected to make
before the French court martial by which
he was tried in Tamatave, but which it
appears he did not have an opportunity
TO deliver. Mr.. Walters letter is dated
in the prison at Marseilles, June II, and
was received here a day or two since,
through the state department
The document is interesting in that it
reveals somewhat more of the details of
the Ofense withwhich Waller was charged
than have yet been made public and also
because it contains Walters version of
the occurrence which he has heretofore
had no opportunity to give to the public.
The document is as follows:
To the Honorable Judge: 81 do not
know whether a word from the accused
will have very much weight with you or
not, but I thank you for the privilege of
speaking in my own behalf.
II am charged with having violated
article -, of the penal code, by CORES
pOnding with the enemy and giving him
Information as to the movements of the
French troops in this place. This charge,
l am sure, cannot be sustained nor be-
Iieved by the honorable court when your
hOnors shall have made a careful and
impartial examination of the letters to
my wife, MIR. Tessie and the young HOva.
81 call the attention Of the court to the
fact that none of these letters refer to
any of the movements of the French
army in Madagascar or elsewhere. 1t
seems to me that this fact cannot be ig-
nored or overlooked which fact alone
should warrant an acquittal of the &C
cused, because it follows that in order to
violate the article of the code under
which | am charged it must be clearly
proven that the accused has correspond
ed with the enemy to the extent of lay
ing before him the military movement
and operations of the army of the repub-
lie.
II maintain that the letters now before
your honor will admit of no such con-
struction. when placed under fair and
impartial analysis. which l am quite
sure you will do in this case.
sit will be found that | refer in these
letters to my wife 10 certain wrongs done
by certain soldiers, whom l did not
name, because unable to do so; but the
mention of these has nothing to do with
the military operations of the army. In
deed should feel sorry to see an army
moving in that way. | am sure your
honors would not hesitate to condemn to
your wives and friends in the strongest
terms all such deeds.
Livery gazette in France would con-
demn such deeds, and l believe that nine
ont of ten French soldiers in your army
would denounce and condemn them. Why
then should l be sent to prison for TWEEN
ty years for the mention of these wrongs
to my wife and friends? The honorable
judges will notice that | refer in the let
ter to my wife to two assaults upon me
by certain soldiers whose names | am
unable to give.
''As TO the first of these attacks in
formed the French authorities, through
the acting United States consul. Suisse
| quently the chief of the French police
called at my house in Madagascar.
| Without the clear establishment of
which charge l contend that. l should
not be imprisoned even for d day.
II should not fail to call the attention
of the honorable judges to the fact that
in all criminal matters where one is on
trial. charged with grave Offense all
the circumstances of the case must be
taken into consideration and the accused
| given the benefit of every reasonable
doubt.
"The court will see all the extenuat-
| ting circumstances surrounding the case.
! Again | maintain that the court should
ascertain, so far as possible the future
! Intentions of the accused under charge
|
it in the intention of the accused
to remain here, and whether he
| has actual arrangements with the enemy
! to assist them against the army of the
republic.
EThe letters and the evidence will
! show the contrary, which is a circum-
stance which should be placed in my
favor in coming to judgment in this
case.
The time of my departure from the
capital, September Is or IA, 1894. must
not be lost sight of. l have explained
the Draper and Purdy matter with me.
and show how they have robbed and
then made a laugh about it, and they
have cen paid money by me on contract,
which they have never even attempted
to perform, which failure has resulted in
a loss to me of more than $4,000.
at is these men whom 1 actually
meant in my letter, and which I desig-
mated D. and p, having before warned
my wife against them. and mentioned
| them as D. and p, in postscript to the
letter. While it is clear to me
that it was indiscreet to make
such mention of them, yet
cannot believe that this honorable
court will, after a careful and impartial
examination of all the circumstances anC
facts of this case believe that have VIC
lated article - of the penal code.
France has always been noted for hel
love oil justice and liberty. and for hel
broad and generous treatment of al
of whatever nation ality, and 1 believe il
the careful, deliberate judgment anC
wisdom Of your honors you will not close
the doors CT the world againsta man WIZ
has never borne arms against you"
Band Concert at Garfield Park.
81 MarahalCs han