Omaha daily bee., 1895-08-23
REVIEW OF WALTERS CASE
First Reports Looked as Though Nothing
Gould Be Done For Him.
PROVED TO HAVE BEEN DISTORTED
Ambassadors Eustis. After Repeated
Urging. Secures the 7ight 20 Sec
the in Pr~ison-in-
~structcd TO Confer with Him.

WASHINGTON. Aug. 22.-The following is
given In official circles as a fair review Of
the Waller case as far as reported to the
State department: There Is no doubt that
while in a country occupied by the French
Mr.. Waller wrote letters to the people the
French were opposing. These letters were
traced to him and were made the pretext
for his arrest and conviction. The arrest
and conviction were irregular. His trial was
not fair and during his imprisonment, both
before and after conviction. he was treated
with great harshness. He was brought to
France, chained to the deck OF a steamer,
and. though i'll and suffering, he was i'm
prisoned without proper care. The French
government has not explained in any salts
factory manner the irregular arrest and
trial. 1t has been attempted to excuse it ny
saying that in time of war military courts
are different from civil proceedings in time
of peace, but this explanation, in the opinion
of the United States, does not meet the case,
and in the opinion of the State department
there is still a strong probability that
Walters treatment was due to the conces-
sions he claimed in Madagascar.
When the case was first presented to the
Department of State it appeared that there
was little that could be done for Waller.
Inc HTSI eNlueUCe IuTnlSUeu DIV the French
government of Walters indiscretions made
his case look doubtful, but later develop
ments, including the failure of the French
government to explain the irregular proceed
ings of the trial and the unnecessarily harsh
and inhuman treatment OF the prisoner and the
demonstrated fact that Waller had some
equity rights, at least. in Madagascar, made
his case appear in a far better light. In
view. Of what has come to light as a result
Of later inquiries it is held that the United
no L~a -A-l . - a.
Walters release and indemnity for his
wrongs.
PERMITTED TO SEE WALLER.
Acting Secretary of State Adee authorizes
the statement that information has been
received from Ambassador Eustis in response
to urgent instructions cabled him some three
weeks ago, that the record of the proceedings
and evidence In the court martial OF Mr..
Waller at Tamatave is expected to reach
Paris toward the end of this month. Mr..
Eustis also reports that access to Mr.. Waller
has been accorded to him after repeated and
urgent request made on the reiterated orders
of the Department of State. The department
not having been advised whether Mr., Eustis
has taken advantage Of this permission to
delegate a competent deputy to visit the
prison near Clairvaux, where Mr.. Waller is
at present confined and confer with him. Mr..
Adee has instructed him by telegraph that
he should do so at once, II he has not al
ready done so.
Mr.. Adee adds that this result was reached
after repeated telegraphic instructions.
which shows the constant ac-
tivity OF the Department OF
State In Mr.. Walters case, and 1t is hoped
that the production Of the evidence before
the court martial will enable the department
to form a judgment touching the conviction
of Mr.. Waller.
The international right of this government
to demand the evidence upon which convic-
ttnn NO rnnnhal In nrInr Chat a. $500, A.
termine its action in the case is unques-
tionable, and Is fortified by abundant pre-
cedent. In the case of the American citizens
lately tried by court martial In Honolulu on
charges of treason to the government OF the
Hawaiian republic the proceedings of the
were promptly forthcoming. The delay of the
French government in responding to the first
demands Of the United States In Mr.. Walters
case has not been fully explained, although
It was alleged that the record of the pro-
c~eedings OF the court which tried him re-
manned, in fact, in Tamatave. Notwithstanding
that our consul at that place was informed
on April II that it had already been sent to
France. and the delay had been occasioned
by the necessity of sending for 1t.
The department has no later information of
the movements of Mrs. Waller and her four
children since the dispatch of Consul Camp
bell of Port Louis. Mauritus, announcing
that under the departments cabled instruc-
tons TO provide them with passage home
they were to sail from that place for France
on the Goth of this month. on their way to
the United States. Mr.. Eustis has been in
structed to meet them on their arrival and
provide them with passage to the United
States by first steamer.
PARIS, Aug. ga semi-oficial note was
issued today saying it is inexact that the
United States government has demanded the
release of Mr.. John l.. Waller and the pay
ment OF an indemnity on account of his sem
tence to twenty years imprisonment by a
court martial on the island of Madagascar,
where Mr.. Waller was formerly United States
consul.