davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-12-13

give him advice was SO presumptuous
and unheard of. as to arouse his bitter
enmity at once"
But "there were others" who did not
like Waller and they began at once to
take advantage of the feelings of the
consul These men were Duder
and Poupard. Poupard disliksd
Waller because he had not
made him administrator of the
estate of an American named Crockett
who had died while Waller was consul,
Waller himself being made administra-
tor at Mrs. Crocketts request. Ponpard
wanted the place because he expected
to make twelve or eighteen hundred dol
lars out of it. Poupard was also piqued
at Waller because he had not given the
selling of wrecked vessel to him which
would also have been very profitable
The Crockett estate referred to con-
sisted of about $1,000 or $1,000. This
Mrs Crockett had desired to have in
vested for her children, she herself hav-
ing ranches and cattle so that she did not
need more.
Waller accordingly had placed this
money in notes at Antanauarivo, the capt.
tai of madagascar in the interior.
Poupard aud Duder, enemies of Wal
Ter aud always anxious to make him
trouble. went to Consul Wetter and told
him that Waller was misusing his place
as administrator of tho Crockett estate.
Then, without any inquiry into the mat
ter, probably because he hated Waller
anyhow, he demanded that Waller turn
the notes and papers over to him. AS
Wetter had absolutely no right to do
this, Waller was going to insist on his
own rights ard not deliver the papers.
Paul Bray however saw that such action
would only result in the stirring up of a
fuss, and as the administration of the
Crockett estate was only bother to Wal
Ter anyhow he advised him to deliver the
papers TO Voter and save trouble. Wal
Ter. therefore, did so. This was in May,
1894
Nothing more was heard of the matter
until nearly five months after. Waller
was sitting on his veraada when Wetter
passed by, not deigniug to come in. and
said: 'W aller come down to the office
want TO see you"
Waller went down and was astonished
to be told by Wetter that he had to make
good the amount of the notes in the
Crockett estate before he could leave
Tamatave; that the notes were worthless,
and Waller had to pay up.
This was five months after the notes
had been turned over to Wetter. and here
was the first whimper about their invali-
dity.
1t appears that Poupard and Duder.
Walters old enemies, had gone again to
Wetter and told him the notes were
worthless, and without the least substan-
tiating evidence Wetter had, as before,
done just as they said.
Before this time Waller was making
preparations to come to America; had
written Governor Morrill, and others that
he was coming, and would take some
part in the campaign if he arrived in
time. Poupard and Duder knew, there
fore, that they had to act quickly.
Wetter had rugged up consular court
with Duder and men named Ryder and
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-12-13

MIR. Walters family is now in Wash
ington at SIG A street n E. 1t consists
of Mrs. Waller, John l. Jr. boy OF 13,
Minnie, %, Helen, 8, and Madame Raza-
fin Karefo, who is the wife of an officer
in the Hova army. Shs came
to this country with the family on &C
count of the war in Madagascar. She is
only II. The children are all bright and
intelligent and have the best of manners.
Paul Bray, Walters stepson, is an ex-
ceptionally we'll informed man, a direct
and correct talker. He says that he is
satisfied the French opened the letters
which he and Waller wrote all the time,
for out of 700 letters sent out while they
were in Madagascar they only received
about doz8n replies. All the letters
which he writes to Waller now or which
Waller writes to him are of course read
by the Frehch officials. Every letter
from Waller has the initials OF an off
cial in it aud a check mark In blue pen
Gil
Waller is allowed to write only once a
month to Mrs. Waller and once to Mr..
Bray. A letter is expected now in few
days. NJ. F. n.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-12-13

ing taken up by the argument of the
charges were made in French, and all
the evidence was submitted in the same
language. Waller, as is we'll known, was
condemned to twenty years imprison-
ment- aud was taken in chains on ship
board to France, where he now is.
During this trial the United States con-
sui. Wetter, didn't come near until about
ten minutes before it was over, when he
came and stood in the door of the court
room. He understood French, and so
would have bean able to know whether
the trial was fair and the evidence suffi-
Gent. Yet here was an American citizen
ontrial before foreign military court, in
his own town, under his own supervision
as consul, and he comes and stands in
the door to hear the sentence.
If Wetter had not begun imme diately
on assuming his Office as consul, a ma
lignant and bitter persecution of Waller,
the latter would now have been in Amer
lea and the trouble with the French
would never have arisen.
To show the uuprincipled conduct of
Consul Wetter. Paul Bray cites the case
of the American named Lyons who was
sent to Tamatave as the agent of George
Ropes, a Brooklyn, n. Y, firm. Lyons
was to supersede R. W. Geldart, who
had been the agent Geldart had a
good thing and didn't want to give it up.
so he entered into q scheme with Consul
Wetter, as Bray tells it and as was pub
lished at the time, to drive Lyons from
the country. Lyons asked from Wetter
IA personal letter of recommendation for
his agent at Antananarivo, and Wetter
gave it to him. Now comes Geldart
and says that Lyous broke the consular
ooaI On NO Iott nd
had Lyons arrested. Wettsr asked Wal
Ter and Bray to sit with him as judges
in trying Lyons This they did, but
when he found that Bray was inclined
not to allow him to railroad a case
through against Lyons he tried to get
Bray to step down. This proposition
was made through an officer of the
court.
To shorten long story, Wetter failed
utterly in this trial in which he
appeared as presiding judge,
ing witness, to make a case against
LYONS. One of his own witnesses, Max
Wilson, British sailor, declared that
Lyons didn't break the seal but that he,
Wilson, read the letter himself and there
was no seal on it. During the whole
trial when Lyons counsel attempted to
make objection or take exception to
testimony or rulings. Wetter as judge
would say, keep still" "You sit down. "
Finally to cap the climax of injustice,
when the attorney which he had en-
ployed to prosecute Lyons said: "Fhe
case is closed" Wettsr made this re-
markable statement which is so fragrant
ly unjust and monstrous as to be laugh
able, mo, this case isn't closed. We
will postpone it indefinitely until enough
evidence can be collected to convict the
accused"
Lyons was put under $4,000 bail but
jumped it and escaped to the United
States, az was printed at the time of his
arrivAL He is now in Brooklyn.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-12-13
WORKING THE CoNGREssmEN.
People Who Pretend to Have a Residence
in Kansas Want Jobs.

People Who Pretend to Have Residence
in Kansas Want Jobs.
From the State Journals Special Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Dec. 13.-'It is asto2ish-
ing" said Kansas congressman today,
show many people there are in Washing
ton who have a residence in Kansas?
One would think there were barely
enough left out there to conduct the or
binary transactions of the state from tia @
number who come to US every day seek
ing positions, aud who say they are resi-
dents of Kansas. Apparently every man
and woman who ever passed through
the state on the train, or who has an
uncle or cousin or wife's relation out
there, considers that sufficient to come
to US and ask our assistance in secur-
ing place. People who have lived
in Washington SO long that they still
think the capital of Kansas is at Lecomp-
ton write to some relative or acquain-
lance in the state aud get them TO write
letter TO US saying they (the persons
asking places) are residents of HANS
saS.
1--WE get comparatively few requests
from bona f1de constituents asking for
| places but these hangers on in Washing
ton torment us to death.
"They come to US, many of them, and
tell US they are from Kansas and if we
| can't 90 anything Tor tnem they go 10
the Iowa fellows or the Illinois delega-
ton or any other state and try to work
them the same way. They are a nuis-
ance which ought to be abated but they
| are from everlasting to everlasting"
Besidea the regular Office seekers who
worked the formerly or now of Kansas
racket, even the beggars have taken it
up. Representative BAKER says that be
fore he got up the other morning be
was sent word that colored man who
was begging wanted to see him a: the
door. He said he was from Emporia,
| Kansas, and was out Of money or any
thing to eat. In some way the man had
found out that a congressman from Kan
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-12-13
TALBOT INJUSTICE
The Story of John Walters
Sufferings
Told to the Estate Journal"
Correspondent
BY YOUNG PAUL BRAY.
First Complete Recitation of
the Whole Affair.
Other Washington News of In
tereSt III Kansas.

From the State Journals Special Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Dec. 13. - The Waller
case has been before the country for
nine months and more, ever since the ar
rest of John l. Waller in Madagascar on
March last. During that time the diff
ferent incidents in the story of his arrest,
conviction and Imprisonment have been
chronicled in the papers as they occur
red
But the first continuous and complete
history of the case is now being given to
Representative Miller and those of the
Kansas delegation, whom he has asked
to assist him, by Paul Bray, step son Of
Waller. This story Paul Bray related to
the JOURNAL correspondent before he
began his work with the Kansas mem
bers
From Paul Bray's recital of the events
leading up TO Walters arrest and impris
onmenti it is shown that while the officers
OF France may have been guilty of gross
injustice, undoubtedly were, one man
alone, and he the United States consul at
Iamatave irresponsible for the imprison-
ment OF an American citizen in foreign
prison. 1t is 4 story of race prejudice
and the vindictiVe hate OF the southerner
for the negro.
Edward T. Wetter, the United States
consul at Tamatave, Madagascar, is
Georgian and naturally has the con-
tempt OF all southerners for the black
Face. AS Paul Bray says he has been
trained in the school of which Henry
w. Grady was the master, which has for
ITS motto. THE negro has no rights
which the white man is bouad to re-
spect.'
The story as Bray relates it began in
May, 1894, a year before Waller was ar
res ed by the French authorities. Wet
ter had succeeded Waller as coasul at
Tsmatave. Wetter's resentment was
h7ss aroused when Waller, as the consul
just going out of office, left him a letter
giving him some advice as to how to
deal with the Hovas or natives of NADIA
gascar.
This" said Bray, "was too much for
his Georgian blood. To have niger
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-12-13

Howe as Judges. Two of them, Duder
and Howe, at least bound to give de-
cision against Waller. This was the
court which declared that Waller should
not leave Tamatave until he had made
the notes good Waller protested that
he was under no obligations to make the
notes good even if they were bad, which
was not the case, the only testimony that
they were worthless being that of his
enemies, Poupard and Duder. But he
would get the money on them if allowed
to go to Antananarivo, 24O miles into
the interior This they would not let him
do Waller then sent word to Antan-
auarivo, and received assurances from
parties there that they would furnish
the money. Waller then gave Mrs.
Waller, who was at the capital. authority
to sign for him, but such a thing as a
woman performing a business transAc-
ten being unknown in Madagascar, this
was not acceptable. Waller was there
fore in the power of his enemies, the
United States consul, Poupard and Du-
der. He could not leave Tamatave, on
account of the decision of a court made
up of men who were plotiers against
him, and he could not get the money on
the notes unless he did leave.
It was while compelled to stay at Tam
atave this way by the persecution of an
officer of his own country
that Waller wrote the letter which
was the cause of his arrest and convic-
ton by the French.
This letter was to Mrs. Waller who
was at Autananarivo, The obj ectionable
passage in it said SD and P, Thought to
be Duder and POupard) are on their
wav to Antananarivo and l believe they
are French spies"
At this time all direct communication
between Tamatave and the capital was
shut off on account of the war. No let
ters were allowed to be mailed at the
postoffice for the capital. But Waller
took his letters on board a British ship
and gave them to the engineer, telling
him TO mail them at Natal, town south
west of Tamatave farther duwn the coast
Here mail steamer would take the mail
to Vatomandry, and at this place mail
for Antananarivo would be taken off and
into the interior to the capital. 1t
CHANGED that the vessel which took the
mails containing Walters letters was an
American one and when 1t got to Vato-
mandry the French would not allow it to
come into port for some reason. The
commander seemed to be new in his posi-
ton and not confident enough of himself
to demand his rights, so he didn't stop
but went on up to Tamatave.
Here the French seized all the
mails and rifled all the letters and in
spected their contents. Walters were
of course among them. When they found
the passage before quoted they were in
great glee. Here was just what they
wanted. A letter which they could use
against man whose concession they de-
sired to contiscate if possible and whose
own consul was against him.
Waller was then Immediately arrested,
March 5, 1895, and kept in Jail fourteen
days without any one being allowed to
see him. He was tried on March 10
The trial just lasted three hours and
twenty-five minutes, most of the time be-
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-12-13
SENATOR BAKER's TENSION BILLS
Number Introduced Concerning Pri-
vate CIaiIns Of Kan.ans.

vate Claims OF Kansans.
From the State Journals Special Correspondent
WASHINGTON. Dec Ex-senator Baker
has introduced a number of private pen
son bills in the senate for the relief of
residents of Kansas. One is to increase
the pension of Nancy Carson Blunt,
widow of Major General Blunt Of Leayen-
worth from $50 per month to $780,
Major General Blunt commanded the de-
partment of Kansas in 1862 and perform
ed special and meritorious service in Ar-
kansas and Kansas in 1883 and 1864
The pension of $40 which Mrs. Blunt
now receives is not considered such az
the services and rank of her husband de-
serve.
Other private pension bills introduced
by Mr.. Baker are for Martha Allen OF To-
peka, and Charles E. Jones OF 2 aoIa. The
latter bill was introduced by Senator Mar
tin in the last congress- and passed both
houses but failed to secure the presidents
signature for lack of time.
A private bill for the relief of W. Ii. L.
Pepperell, postmaster at Concordia, has
also been presented by Senator Baker.
1t is to reimburse N. Pepperell for money
which was stolen from the Concordia
postofice by burglars, which Mr.. Pep
perelI as postmaster had to make good.
Bills to correct the war department
records so they may get pensions have
also been presented by Mr. Baker for
StaInaker Marteney of Coronado, Wichi.
ia county, aud Jerome Kunkel of LS-
compton.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-12-13
sas lived in the house and he doubtless
expected to make the most of it.
STORY ABOUT r. d. FISHER.

Three Hundred a Year and Grasshoppsrs
in Kansas
From the State Journals Special Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 13.-There are still
at this late day echoes of the election of
house officers at the beginning of the
session in the form of comments and
stories which are just now being told:
IL was greatly interested in the candi-
dacy of the fighting chaplain of Kan
saS and his defeat. which was caused by
the detection of his state delegation
from the combine ticket" said Wash
ingson man. "There was one thing very
attractive about the Kansas minister.
His candor and honesty were charming
l overheard c story about a remark of
his that | think is true, and is good
enough to be true if it is not There
was strong movement for the election
of local minister, and this came to the
ears of the Kansan
why, said he the people of Wash
ington pay their preachers good salaries
and why they should want Ahis $500 in
crease don't see.'
"'But how can you afford to come from
Kansas and accept it?'wa asked.
"'Well. you see,' the minister replied,
when man has preached in Kansas for
$500 year and a supply Of grasshoppers
5000 IN w Washington is very attractive
ut ia to be hoped that either tho salary
or the quota of gresshoppers will be in
creased when Rev. Mr.. Fisher returns to
his people"
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-12-13
UNDERWEAR
DEPARTMENT

Greatest bargains ever offered,
having closed our entire lot of Gia=
ser Brothers, st. Louis, at oOc on
the dollar.
Double front and back fIeeced
CameIs Hair Observation-Disclosures. 39c
Hygienic Fleeced ............. A9c
Derby Ribbed silk, front pearl
Buttons, 49c
Fancy wool blue and brown. 40c
All wool, natural and medi-
Gated .................. zoe
Imported English ribbed wool. Csc
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-12-13
HANDKERCHIEF
and MUFFLER Dept.

White Hemstitched Handkerch iefS
handsome drawn work .... Sc
Wilson Bros. latest novelties in
Linen HandkerChiefS,
Zoe, 12c, 15c, 19c and Csc.
Silk Hemstitch Handkerchief 24c
Brocaded Silk Handkerchiefs. 24c
Initial Silk Handkerchiefs -. 33c
soc hemstitched Handkerchief
in Silk, latest fancy borders 33c
Wool Mufflers. .......10c 24c
Silk and Wool MuffIers .A5c
Silk MuffIers ................4 49,
Dreaded Silk MuffIers. .65c Csc
See our hobby English
Shawl MuffIers in PIaidS
and BrOCadeS.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-05-21
Give. Admiral Mead. . H-buke.

WAsHINGToS, May Il The only notice
the administration will take of the
breach of discipline indulged in by Ad-
miral Meade in his recent interview, is
presumably contained in n severe rebuke
for insuboriination in the order retiring
the admiral at his own request. The
president says that he regrets that a
service SO distinguished as that OF the
adpiral's should be tarnished at its close
by conduct at variance with a commend
aide career, and inconsistent with the
example which an officer OF his high rank
should furnish Of submission to the re-
straints Of wholesome discipline and
manifest propriety."
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-05-21
HILL AND THE NORTHERN PACIFIC.
The Road Not To lie Consolidated with
the Great Northern, He Says.

The Road Not To he Consolidated with
the Great Northern, He Says.
ST. PAUL, May 2l.-President j. J. Hill,
of the Great Northern railway, arrived
home yesterday from Europe. He pos.
itively refused to be interviewed, saying ne
had not yet been induced to talk for pubii-
cation and would not do So but finally
gave the following statement TO the Asso.
ciated Press: You may put this down
as an assured fat: the Great Northern
and the Northern <Paciiic will never be
consolidated under one management. You
may add that the Northern Pacific will
not be broken up ut all Such reports
are canards, and not to be considered for
a moment. The autonomy of the North.
ern Pacific will be preserved and it will be
controlled by its shareholders.
There Will be a strong effort made TO
develop the country along the line of the
road, to sell the lands that await. settle
mcnt, and sell them at greatly reduced
prices, If necessary. l want to add that
it is my hope that n time has been reached
when the roads will all have to give up
what they have been doing. The game
OF cut-throat in the railway business of
this country has got to be discontinued,
and II it is not the credit of the country
Will be still more seriously impaired
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-05-21
Two Returns from South Dakota.

HURON, May 2l.-Frost the past two
nights has cut corn, barley and early
sown fax. Many fields of corn which
had been worked the second time were
Sunday night frozen to the ground. Po.
tatoes have been cut down. Some locali-
ties report the Russian thistle killed by
the frost, but in this county it seems to
prosper with cold nights. Apples, plums
and other fruits have been cut off by the
frost. Many fields Of corn will have to
be replanted.
YANKToN, May 2l.-This immediate Sec
tion of South Dakota has SO far escaped
harm from the frost of the last three
nights, and growing grain and corn are
not damaged in the least. Fruit trees
potatoes, and vegetables generally have
been hurt, but not seriously. People here
are anxiously waiting for this period of
low temperature to pass, as crops this
year are SO important to South Dakota.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-05-21
TWO NEGROES A MONTH.
Record Of Judge Lynch in lafayette Coun.
~, ssGreat State" Of Florida.

~, ssGreat State" Of Florida.
MADISON, May 2L-There is no longer
any doubt that Sam Echols, Sim Crawiey,
and John Brooks the negroes who out
ragged and murdered Miss Mamie Arm
strong in Lafayette county, were fiayed
and burned A man who has just reached
this place from Lafayette county says that
the belief Is general that the negroes were
tortured to death. One man who ven-
tured into the swamp into which the ne
groes were carried asserts that he found
the place where tie negroes were put to
death. He says that it was evident that
the negroes We're tied to trees and the
skin stripped from them with knives.
Then wood was heaped about the bleed
ing forms, the match applied and the
wretches were soon dead. This man says
that he found some strips of skin about
the place, which bears out the assertion
that the negroes were flayed. Everything
is quiet in La Fayette county, and there
Is no fear of trouble between the races.
The better class of negroAs denounce the
outrage and murder of Miss Armstrong
as bitterly as the whites. Twelves me-
groes have now been lynched in six
months, and it would seem that the hor-
rible fate of the last three should prevent
further attacks upon white women.