The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-08-05
APPRAn RoM me. wALlnn.

A Gaze Which should Awaken tho sym.
PathisS Of American oltlEons-Tho EI.
cousura Family Destitute In Far.0n
Madagascar.
WASHINGTON, August 4.-The counsel
in the Waller case have united In the
following appeal for assistance for Mrs.
Wallsri
ut IS generally known that John 4.
Waller, formerly United States consul
at TamatRye, Madagascar, was arrested
aud tried by the French military Ru'
thorltieS who had occupied that town
last March, aud that hewas sentenced
to twenty years imprisonment at hard
labor for the alleged oilsnce oicommunl'
eating with the enemy. lie 10 now con-
fined In o military prison noar MarHsilles,
France. Mr.. Walters stspson, Paul
Bray, who was the only remaining sup
port OF the family in Madagascar, was
expelled from the island by the Fronch
military authorities aud Mrs. Waller
and her children were loft destitute at
AntananarivO, the capitol Of tbs island,
over 200 miles from the coast Through
the kindness Of Mr.. T. g. Woodford, an
American citizen. Mira. Waller and hsr
family we're furnished with means to
reach the sea at Valomandry, aud
thence to take passage TO Maurltius,
where they are now stranded aud living
on charity for want oil means.
"Mr. Waller was assistant superln'
tendent OF the Kansas asylum for the
blind, aud held other responsible posi-
tions In that state before he was ap'
pointed consul A. Tamatave, having
been one OF the presidential electora.at.
large from Kansas In 1885, Funds are
needed to bring Mrs. Waller and her
family home. She has important evi-
dsnce In support Of her husbands inno-
cence OF the charge on which ho was
convicted by the French conrt martial
aI Tamatave. Tho department Of state
10 iuauiring into WaIler's claim against
the French government for illegal ar.
rest and imprisonment. aud tho conhs'
cation OF 4 valuable concession which
Ind been granted to him by the queen
Of Madagascar, but hal not iuuds avail
able for bringing Mira. Waller aud her
children to the United States. Mr..
Waller was one OF the leading men OF
color; his efforts aud sacrifices in behalf
Of negro elevation cannot be overlooked,
and II IL hoped that systematic and
Immediate efforts will be made by the
colored psople in their churches and
through othoI agencies to raiso funds for
the relief Of this needy and unfortunate
family.
at 10 believed that q grIevouI wrong
has been douo TO Mr. Waller and Mr..
Bray by the French military authorl'
tics In their war Of conquest against
Madagascar. for which sooner or lator
apology will bs made TO the Uuitsd
States and indemnify paid to the suffer-
erS. But this appeal Is made 10 citizens
Of the United States, without regard to
the question Of Waller's guilt or limo.
cence. His wife and family are Ameri.
can citizens, and through no fault Of
theirs are destitute aud helpless far
away from home. It is to be regretted
that the government has not funds
available for such cases as this, and II
il on this account that m appeal Is
made to the general public.
"All contributions may be sent to the
department OF state, and rs the case 10
urgent an immediate aud liberal re-
sponso is invoked from the American
people. "CRANMoSB KENNEDY,
"JouS NJ. LISGsroS,
"W. T. McGUiSS."