The record-union., 1896-04-12
Tells in Detail the Story Of His Expert
ences Abroad.
The French Press Advised That He
Should Not be Recognized as Consul
at Tamatave, Madagascar-One or
His Wffe's Servants Assaulted on
the Street.-The Ex-Consul Accused
by the French OF Trying to Build
Up New Hayh.

NEW YORK, April lin the second
cabin of the New York, which arrived
from Southampton this morning, was
John L. Waller, late United States Con-
sui at Tamative, Madagascar, who was
convicted of treason by the French and
sentenced to twenty years solitary con-
finement. He was transported to
France, where he was imprisoned until
February 10th, when he was released
through the Intervention of the State
Department at Washington. AS to the
merits of the case, Waller, when ques-
toned, said that he preferred not to
speak until he had consulted with his
friends here.
Mr.. Waller when seen in the after
noon at 121 West Seventeenth street
told in detail the story of his expert
ences. He said:
When 1 went to Tamative in 1891
was impressed by stories in the French
papers to the effect that 1 should get
my exequatur through the French
Presidency, because the French Gov
ernment claimed a protectorate over
Madagascar. My predecessor. John P.
Campbell, had obtained his through
the Malagassy Government, so l fol-
lowed his example. Then the French
press raved and advised that 1 should
not be recognized as Consul.
Then the French officials began to
slight me, and in February, 1891, one
of my wife's servants was assaulted
on the streets Of Tamative. That was
the beginning. After three years Of
bad treatment from the French officials
] was succeeded by Edward T. Wetter,
a Seuthener. / was in the hospital at
the time. On March 10, 1894, received
from the Malagassy Government val
liable concession, consisting of 225
square miles, or 144,00O acres, of land
in the southwest coast of Madagascar
| was not the United States Consul
then. I then sent my stepson, Paul
Bray, to the island of Mauritius to get
settlers for the land, and while he was
away sent him cable saying: Do not
bind settlers TO trade at our stores.
Then France again began to abuse me
through the press and declared that
was trying to build up new Hayti
Now" added Mr.. Waller, 'I did no
favors for the Malagassy Government
for the concession. That concession
was given me under provisions of the
treaty between the Madagascar Gov
ernment and the United States, and the
latter at that time recognized only the
Queen as the sovereign of the island.
That treaty provided that the citizens
of the United States may enter into
negotiations with the Malagassy Gov
ernment to secure land grants, and that
they shall be protected In the same by
and under the MalagaSSy treaty The
value of the grant was between x3,OO0,-
600 and S4 200, ,000.. Under the provis-
ions l will have to pay 5000 at the end
of five years, and after that pay to the
Malagassy Government 10 per cent on
the total income derived. The life OF
the concession is sixty years.
Now, as to my Imprisonment. l was
arrested on March 5. 1894. Five French
soldiers came to my house and de-
manded my papers. Luckily my con-
cession papers had been sent away.
They took everything else. They got
the papers of registry of my lands. some
of which / had sub-let. / was taken be-
fore Captain Lovesot, whose interpreter
called me liar because / would not ad
NIT to treason and various other
crimes. Then / was thrown into prison,
with three soldiers on guard over me.
My preliminary trial lasted four hours,
and / was not allowed any witnesses.
After reading the testimony, which was
Inaccurate, / was forced to sign it. The
Prosecuting Attorney then told me to
get a lawyer, and that 1 could see
friends, with the exception of Paul
Bray, my stepson. / went to Acting
United States Consul Wetter, who did
not come to see me, but sent lawyer
rlo he a
the case and worked on 1t until twenty
then informed me that he must have
$500 at once. 1t means twenty years
or $780, said the amiable lawyer.
Acting Consul Wetter then informed
me that he had expended S36 to prose-
cute an American citizen named John T.
Lyans on a charge that think was in
humanity unjust to him. Then through
q friend he got Mr. LIE Grace to take
the case He studied 1t for twenty
hours, and at the trial. which lasted an
hour and half, he cross-examined no
one. The FIVE Judges were out twenty
minutes, and rendered a verdict of
guilty. / was to get twenty years of
solitary confinement. Next day Mr..
lie Grace said he would get me new
tildi, anu pSUQlHk u WAS again lHIOWU
into prison.
"S. E. Woodford came to me and told
me that Consul Wetter had q knife
ready for me. and advised me to write
and ask his pardon for a certain al
lusion / had made to him in a letter to
my wife. / did so. / got this reply
You are charged with being guilty OF
a violation Of the law, and although the
United States would probably interfere
to prevent oppression. you cannot ex-
pect clemency or relief That letter, OF
course, was opened, and a guard came
to me with 1t and said: See, your own
Consul says you are guilty. How can
YOU blame the French?
IAN hour afterward my counsel came
and in that time Wetter also arrived
Mr.. lie Grace said: 1T is most unfor-
tunate that such letter should be writ
ten pending trial Wetter replied: L,
q a violation of international law for
an officer Of friendly power to break
the United States Consular seal, yet II
ts a matter OF indifference to me whether
Government seal that / place on q
letter to you is broken or not