The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-04-13
WALLER Was ABUSED.
EE.COGHSl'S Troubles Abroad Were
Many.
TELLS HIS TALE OF WOE In NEW
YORK

When He Arrived Yesterday-Was Impris-
oned, Maltreated and Abused-The
Story of a Land Grant of Many Millions
Declines to Tell Who is to Blame for
Troubles.
New York, April 11.-John L. Waller,
formerly consul at Tamatave, who arrived
today, told the story of his experiences.
After reviewing his work and his treat
ment by the French officials while he
was consul and being succeeded by a
southerner, Waller tells of his receiving
a valuable concession of land in NADIA
gasear.. He said: 81 did no favors for
the Malagssy government for the con-
cession. That concession was given me
under the provisions of treaty between
the Madagascar government and the
United States. The value of the grant
was between $4,000 o0 and 81, 600, 0OO
Under the provisions, will have to pay
$50 at the end of five years, and after that,
pay to the Malagasy government ten per
cant on the total income derived. The
life of the concession is 60 years.
oNow, as TO my imprisonment, was
arrested on the 9th of March, 1894. Five
French soldiers came to my house and
demanded my papers. Luckily my con-
cession. papers had been sent away. They
took everything else. They got the pa
pers Of my registry of my lands, some of
which l had sublet. | was taken be-
fore Capt. Lovesot, whose interpreter
CALLED ME A LIAR,
because would not admit to treason and
various other crimes. Then I was thrown
into prison with three soldiers on guard
over me. My preliminary trial lasted
four hours, and I was not allowed any
. witnesses. After reading the testimony,
was forced to sign it. The prosecuting
attorney then told me to get a lawyer,
and that l could see friends with the ex-
cepbion of Paul Bray, my stepson. | SEM
to Acting United States Consul Wetter,
who did not come to see me- but sent a
lawyer named Gerrardeau. The latter
took the case and worked on it until "a
hours before the trial cane up and then
informed me that he must have $500
at once. 1T means 20 years or $500 said
the aniable lawyer. Then l got NJ.
LeGrace to take the case. He studied it
for "a hours and at the trial, which lasted
one and q half hours, he cross-examined
one. The i've judges were out 20 min
utes and rendered a verdict of guilty. I
was to get 20 years in solitary conine-
mont Next day, LeGraee said he would
get Me new trial and, pending it,
was again thrust into prison. E. g.
Nocdford came to me and told me that
Consul Wetter
HAD A KNIFE READY
for me and advised me to write and ask
his pardon fir certain aIlusion had
msde to him in "a letter to my wife. l
did 50. ! set this reply. You are
charged 9sith being guilty of a violation
u las. III although the United States
would lraAEl5 interfere to prevent op-
preston. you cannot expect clemency CT
relief That lister CT course was opened
and a guard came to ME and said: See
you cansuls arc guilty. How can you
blame the kTeuchY An hour afterward
my counsel came and in that time Wet
ter also arrived. LeGrace said: 1T is
most unfortunate such a letter should
have been writtsn pending trial.
Wetter said it was a violation of in
tenational law for any officer of friend
~ power to break the United States con-
sular seal, adding, yet it is a matter of
Indifference to me whether a government
SEAL that l place On letter to you is
broken or no5.' Regarding my letters
to Minister Eustis, he said that if ne
cessary he would send them, but that he
did not wan: to burden his mail with
my mail"
Mr. Waller told of his suffering on
the trip to Zanzi bar and his sufferings in
prison and OF his final pardon. He will
TO Baltimore on Tuesday and to Wash
ipgton on Wednesday. He declined to
say what he would do regarding his con-
cession or whom he blamed for his troub-
les