The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-02-12
NO DOUBT OF THE Ey.cONsuL,S GUILT
Olney Says No Court Gould Have
Failed to Condemn Him.
PLOTTED AGAINST AMERICANS.
Tried to Have Two OF Them Shot q
French Spies by tho Hovas-GavM
Information. t4a Al Il


Eustis has been instructed to accept the
offer of the French government to re.
lease ex-United States Consul Waller
from further imprisonment ana pardon
his offensc on condition that the AFFAIR
be thereby terminated us between
France and tho United States and that
the latter make no claim In behalf or
the prisoner. based upon his arrest. con-
vlction or imprisonment Waller may.
however, sue In the French courts for
damages for III treatment.
These facts showing the termination or
the celebrated Waller incident appear In
tho documents sent to both houses OF
congress Ivy the president today In answer
to II resolution OF inquiry on tho SUBJ
ject
Secretary olney says there Is no doubt
whatever of Walters guilt; that the
evidence fully sustains tho charge. and
no court could have hestated to con-
denim him. President Cleveland says that
Secretary olneys conclusions do not ap-
pear to admit OF any reasonable doubt
Accompanying the correspondence,
which IL volumlnous, Is report by
Secretary olncy summarizing its features
and explaining the reasons which AMI
Stated tho executive In terminating the
incident MS above described. In the be-
ginning the secretary gives the history
of tho Crockett case, showing that Will
er. while United States consul at Tama-
tavc acted as administrator OF the estate
OF Crockett, DECEASED United states
citizen, and was guilty of maladminis-
tration; that when Mr.. Voter took
charge OF the consulate In january, 1894.
Waller had disappeared and the consulate
records were In great confusion.
Wetter caused n oivil suit 10 be brought
against Waller on account of the Crockett
estate. aud before a court composed OF
innate friendD and Mcssrs. Ryder and
Howe, Waller was convicted OF gross mis-
management of the estate, OF abuse and
neglect of trust and removed from tho
position OF administrator. besides being
ordered to make good the sum OF Si96l and
interest TO the Crockett heirs. Wetter
asked leave of the State department to
prosecute Waller crluinaily and the de-
partment replied that II could give no In
structions.
OF the nature. extent, validity or value
of the concession or land grant near Fort
Dauphin.
Secretary Olney tells next how. after
the capture of Tamatayc by the French
IN December, 1894. Waller was arrested
by them and tried by n court known as
marine first permanent council of war"
The charges were dispatchinE q letter
70 his wife from Tamatavo without the
same having been viewed by the French
nuthoritios. second. attempting TO corr
respond with the enemies of France and
TO furnish information pre1ndicial to the
military and political situation OF France.
The trial took place In open court and
Waller was sentenced 70 twenty years
imprisonment an appeal being rejected.
The evidence and record OF the trial were
furnished by the French government
without any admission OF Its duty to per-
init an inspection.
Concerning the second and most tm-
portant charge against Waller. Mr.. Eustis
reports as follows. In order to under
communicated by Waller. II must be born
In mind TINT tho French had garrison
~ ramatavc and The Hovas had ono az
lrarainfe. These two points were dis
tant from each other n few miles. In u
letter to TeSsier he, describes the situation
nj Tamatave. TINT smallpox is raging;
than 400 French soldiers In tho hospitals;
that they have dysentery and fever and
that unless there should he n change very
soon the fatality of both soldiers ana
citizens would be very great. Then he
speaks of the necessity Of provisions: OF
tho arrest Of several Hovas. who were
reported 10 have been shot. he declares
that rnpes and outrages We're committed
by French soldiers upon Malagasy women
and says u seems strange that civilized
men should commit such crimes. and
inc been destroyed by the Frcnch troops
Whether this information was true or
false, 1t was certainly calculated to In
crease the horrors of war by provoking
oscillations on the part OF the Hovns.
lie writes that all mail leaving Tama-
tnve for Anhtanrivo IL read by the Colo
mel OF the French army before It can
pass; that he has n chance to send this
letter. by the English steamer Via Natal.
because It will escape the eyes of officials
In his letter to his wife he denounres
~ and "P." who are identified MS Draper
and Purdy French Spies and asks her
10 Inform Tessier and friends Of the peo-
pie When asked by the presiding officer
why he exposed these two men to be exc
cuted. he replied that he did II from mo-
tlves OF revenge. j am credlbly informed
that these two men were American citi-
zens walters wife In acknowledging the
receipt OF this letter was not to mention
anything In II. but simply to say Your
a received" and after she aud TeSsier
had read II to destroyYit and not to men-
ton It's contents except 10 Tcssier and
secreta ries--the, latter are interpreted rs
meaning secretaries of the Hovas governs
fncnt These letters nre In the hand
writing OF Waller. and at the trial he
having written them.
After examining the original letters OF
Waller have no doubt whatever Of his
guilt II was not q case OF inadvcrtant
and imprudent writing, but was q deith-
crate attempt to give information 20 the
enemy TO tho prejudice OF the muitary
situation OF France. The whole tenor 81 y
the correspondence discloses his guilty y
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