The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-09-17
WALLER'S ARREST.
An American Eyewitness Describes
the Outrage.
Tried on Evidence OF Papers Written
Before War-No Witnesses Called.

The latest arrival from Antananarivo is
Mr.. Ethelbert q. Woodford, an American
traveller and engineer, who reached Mar
seilles on the 18th instant, from NADIA
gascar. Since that date he has presented
TO Mr.. Eustis, the United States Ambas-
sador in Paris full report OF the case
OF Mr.. Waller, the American ex-consul
at Tamatave, whose summary condemns-
tion to 20 years imprisonment Is now the
subject of an international question be-
tween the governments OF France and the
United States. Mr.. Woodford, who has
also collected large quantity OF docu-
mentary evidence regarding foreign
rights on the island, arrived in the capi-
tai on the day of Colonel Shervinton's
departure, and remained there for six
weeks. Mr.. Woodford said:
81 left Antananarivo on May 81, six
weeks later than the British officers, and
am the only man now in England who
has come direct from Madagascar. / ar
rived in London three days ago from
Paris, having reached Marseilles on the
18th inst / reached Madagascar in March
last in order TO transact some banking
and private business. On arriving at
Tamatave i'll the steamship Djemnah, on
March IL, all the passengers had landed,
and Mr.. Cooper, my secretary, and L
were preparing TO leave the ship, when
we were notified that the French COM
mandapt had sent orders that We were
to Mr.. Wetters, the acting American con-
sui, claiming my right as an American
subject to land. Mr.. Cooper being q
| British subject, addressed similar let
| ter TO the British consul. The letter to
| the American consul was opened by the
| French officials and was received by the
| consul torn open. As a result Of ener-
| getic action by the two consuls, my Sec
| rotary and myself were permitted to land
| late at night, but our baggage was COM
| pletely overhauled.
son landing 1 heard that Mr.. Waller,
| the United States ex-consul, was in
| prison, having been arrested on charge
| OF communicating with the Hovas. A
| week later, on Monday, March Is, Mr..
| Waller was tired by military tribunal,
| aud, after, about a couple OF hours, was
sentenced to 20 years imprisonment. He
was convicted solely on documentary evil
| dence, for the most part dated previous to
the war. and no witnesses were called.
The charges were based on a number of
letters written by Mr.. Waller to his wife,
W hich was intercepted by the French.
Among the documents seized was an ar
ticle OF mine written to an American jour
nal, in which i criticised the French oc-
cupation. This had been cut from a
newspaper and enclosed by Mr.. Waller
to his wife. There was also letter from
a Hova lad o. 10 TO Mr.. Waller, asking
the latter to purchase him some stores,
among other things four revoIvers. 1t
was in this evidence that the American
ex-consul was condemned. The feelings
OF Mr.. Wetter and myself on herring of
this sentence can be imagined, but we
were the only two responsible Americans
! in Tamatave, and we were helpless, as no
American guDboat was near the coast
The United States Consul attended the
tr al and did all that was possible, and l
am convinced that, had an American
warship been at Tamatave, he would have
insisted on the American commander
| placing Waller on board under the pro-
lection of the American flag. As it was
we could do othing. / visited the pris-
oner after his conviction, and on March
he was shipped on the Djemnah for
| France. His stepson was also exiled, and
| his wife and children were left destitute.
On my arrival In Paris last week at once
| proceeded to the American Embassy
where l laid the case before Mr. Eustis,
the Ambassador, and lodged a protest
| against such treatment of an American
| citizen. L found that the United States
Government had already taken vigorous
action, and that Mrs Waller and her
| children, whom / had taken from Antan-
anarivo to Mauritius, and had there been
left almost destitute, were on their way
home. London News.