New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-22
EX-CONsUL WALLER'S CASE.
HIS SENTENCE OF TWENTY YEARS MrRIioN-
MENT AppAEENTIY N.ILANIEn

/
MENT APPARENTLY NCII!FIEn.
Washington. May 2l-The French Government
acceling to the demand of the United states. has
transferred the case Of ex-Consai John L. Waller
TO ordinary or civil jurisdiction. This action ap-
parenily nu1os the sentence of twenty years con-
hncncnt imposed Waller by a French military
court in Madagascar. and indicates either MS tire!
by the civil judiciary his ultimate release from
prison. The matter has now reached stage where
the United States Government has ample evidence
on which 10 base claim against tn Government
Of France. possibly involving the payment Of IN
dennily for the treatment accorded Waller AM the
abrogation of the concession obtained - hi II
valuable rubber forests Waller Is sti IN prison a.
MarsGlllos. bu; may be transferred to some eva
penal institution.
Tho evidence IN the received NJ the state D.
partnent is practically complete and II rs under
stood TO contain some rather startling facts taa;
have no; heretofore become public. Edward Tc'fa.r
Wctter OF Georgia who succeeded Waller as I ni'''
States Consul at Tama,avc It has boa elaine j.
did put forth his best efforts TO extend siei -
a distressed citizen OF the United states.
1t is shown by the correspondence sent = iN
State Department that the French Government WIS
suspicious tina; the rubber concessions secured nf
Waller from the Hovas was obtained FOR Nh, pnr-
pose of providing coaiing station for Tinted S''i
naval vessels. Such an accusation vas openly IN lc
in Madagascar 10y part'sans o' ihe French whether
or MT this better was actually entertained by i'e
ffencH authorities cannot u' 'ilN|i Dut tN' '.'' -
mcnts row on nic ct the State Department assert
that. after tho French authorities had Refused -
confirm the concession OF the iioVas French cifi-
zens took possession OF The rubber forcs's trans
ferrcd to the eX-Consul. and that French vessels
have been taking away great Quantities 81 th"
produc, the islands OF Mauriius and Bourbon.
The concession is situated n the s.ncoast IN th'
southeast par; OF the Island Of Mliagaecnr. AMI
affords many excellent locations for c)a.ng sta
ton
The exact charge which Waller was tired
has not yet become definitely known IN the United
States excepting to a few OF the officials Of Tie
State Department. and ;hoy decline to give any
informa ton that subject. Newspaper dispatches
have stated that Waller was charged before .he
military court with sending "A letter 20 The Ho'as
containing a suggestion OF a revolutionary project
against the French authorities. /; now appears
that the alleged letter taken possession OF
by the French through the application OF Ariic.e
II OF decree Issued By the Chlci OF the Nay u
prob biting all corrcs pond"nce except through
the channel of the local posiofice" Waller. II
charged eEdea vorcd 10 send letter addrcs =
"M Tcissier. merchant at Tanauarivo. VIA N1id-
mandry. by a British merchant ship" The letter.
Journey Tanenarivo was deposited by the BIT
ish mail In the Tematay' b1s,'S'ticer , whf ,,,
is said TO have contained Information conccru.nt
The strength and SANITARY c9ndition OF the l" my
relating 10 the French forces and for'ihcn.
Rs ns "sl as 81 SsG sSn on 'r the mo"
Of French officers and soldiers and dcnouMcns
two American merchants rs French spies
Paul Bray. Walters stcpson. who recently ar
rived in New York from Madagascar. spent ncaf.y
tho entire official day at tho STATE Department to-
day reading the papers concerning the case. and
ate In tho afternoon had an interview With Acting
Secretary TN. He declined 10 discuss Walters
case holding that he might say something 10 pre-
iuilcc IL. bat expressed himself highly plea i
with the steps the State Department was taking
In the matter. At Xar2ibar Bray was OBLIGED 20
.oaVe Tho French vessel which his stopfathcr
Was being conveyed to Mar .llcs bat he secured
passage 10y another vessel TO thli port and had
an Interview there with Ambassador Eustis. He
SAWS that while the ship with Waller hc
treated with consideration ana has no complaint
10 make on that score.