Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-05-26

Washington, May Pa reporter for
the Associated Press to-day secured an
interview with Paul Bray, the step
son Of ex-Consul Waller, concerning
his and his step-father's troubles in
Madagascar.
Mr.. Waller was appointed counsul by
President Harrison, and when he ar
rived at the Capital the French repre-
sentative demanded that Waller re-
ceiye of authority from him. Know
ing that the natives, or Hovas, resisted
this claim of the French, Mr.. Waller
accepted this exequatur from the native
government. This action on his part
was the beginning of a feud. The
French refused to recognize Waller
officially or socially, and osuacised
him in every possible way.
When Mr.. Walters term expired and
he secured a concession OF lands from
the native government the French op-
posed him in every way.
Mr.. Waller was at Tamatave on busi-
ness connected with his concession
when he was placed under arrest. Be
ing interested with him in the con-
cession, said Mr. Bray, ! went to Maur~
titus in May, 1894, to finance the
scheme. but it was followed up by rep
reservations sent by the French au-
thorities characterizing the grants as
fraudulent and in every way calculated
10 prejudice our enterprise We there
fore spent the winter in Tamataye, and
were still there when Mr.. Waller was
takon into custody, and | was expelled
from the country. Little of our maD
had ever reached its destination.
Mr.. Bray said that both he and his
step p-father had been subjected to other
indignities during their residence at
Tamatave. He was arrested on one
occasion on the charge Of being a Hoya
but was released upon the representa-
tions Of the American consul.
Alr. Bray says that when Mr.. Waller
was arrested March 9TH. the house was
surrounded by French officers. Waller
was told of his arrest and the contisca-
tiou of his papers. but upon his request
to be allowed to see the order this was
refused and he was taken to prison.
not. however. until the house had been
ransacked. And not only Mr.. walters
papers, but Mr. Bray's papers were
also taken possession Of by the French
officials.
It was explained that Mr. Waller hay
violated the French treaty in attempr
ing to conduct correspondence OUTSIDE
of Tamatave without permitting it Il
pass through French hands.
Waller was in prison fifteen days
without seeing any one and when his
| trial. before a court martial, was
reached, it was concluded in three
| hours. Only twenty-five minutes was
taken for preparing the verdict, which,
since it covered ten or fifteen pages, is
evidence that it was made out in ad-
vance
Explaining the letter on which the
: charges against Waller were based,
Mr.. Bray says it was addressed to
| Walters wife, and was composed large
/ ly OF domestic matters. There ives but
one reference in it to French-Hova af-
fairs, and this was a suggestion that
Mrs. Waller should put the Hoyas on
guard against two Americans who We're
on their way to the capital. In wal
/ ler's papers a letter from a young
Hova, a personal friend, expressing
/ the belief that England would inter-
| fere in behalf of the HOyas as opposed
/ to the French interest, and reminding
I Mr.. Waller of promise to bring him
/ Cthe Hova) a revolver when he should
go to England, and asking him to pur-
chase four or five revolvers for some
of his HOva friends
Mr.. Bray has asked the State De
partment to secure Waller's release,
obtain damages for them and to pro-
tect them in their Madagascar posses
sions. He has already sustained many
losses, as others are cutting their rub
| Der trees and getting fortunes out of
/ the product to which they are entitled.
/ Their concession covers 225 square
miles, and besides the rubber trees,
| there is on the concession cocoa and
also much valuable timber, including
mohogany. ebony and teak, besides
copper, saltpeter, and probably gold.
Mr.. Bray has been assured that his
claims shall he vigorously DrpSSed