The evening times., 1896-12-01
ASKS A LARGE INDEMNITY
Law Librarian Curtis Claim
Against Switzerland.
TWICE ARRESTED ABROAD
He Was Thrust Into Prison and De-
nied the Right to Communicate
with His Friends-Letter From
MIR. Olney, Passport and Private
Papers, Showing Identity, Ignored.

1t is not an enjoyable experience to be
arrested twice while on a pleasure tfip
abroad, and it is adding insult 10 injury to
be taken INTO custody on suspicion OF being
crimin nal of the worstNknd.
Yet just such a fate befell Mr.. George r.
Curtis, the law librarian OF Congress, who
returned recently from Europe, where he
was twice incarccrated and denied certain
rights and privileges to which he is entitled
by his American citizenship.
The stupidity, perhaps cupidity, OF the
Swiss police is likely tu cost that mountain
republic a pretty penny, as Mr.. Curtis Will
demand indemnity in large sum Tor tie
annoyance, expense and in jury sustainedby
his various and adventurous contacts with
the bluecoats of Switzerland.
Since his return Mr.. Curtis has placed
his case in the hands OF Hon. Alexander
Porter Morse, the eminent International
lawyer, and ii Will receive active attention
by the State Department, owing 10 the
aggravated nature OF the case, and also
because the home office" wis-particularly
afrronted, as no heed was paid by the Swiss
to the letter of Introduction 10 American
ministers and consuls given Mr.. Curtis by
Secretary olney.
No difficulty will he experienced in
proving the case, as the facts were brought
to the personal attention of Mr.. Pcake, our
minister to Switzerland. and Mr.. Ridge
ly, the United States consul at Geneva.
THE TRIP ABROAD.
Mr. Curtis finds some little amusement
now in relating the story OF his inprison-
ment, although 1T the time 1t evidently was
humiliating, annoying and expensive He
is a handsome, cultured man Of the world
and he tells his adventures in a most en-
tertainng fashion.
Il went to Europe before the hot spell
in August. | LANDED at The Hague. Hol-
land, and spent three weeks doing the
Netherlands, in the meantime presenting
my letter of Introduction to the American
minister there.
Then went to Germany; OF course, see
ing the Rhine, and rambling around Weis-
baden and the other fau!ons towns.
y crossed into Switzerland and pro
cceded To Lucerne, where | spent about
two weeks. l did tile place pretty thor
oughly. Such weather as we had II
rained. or. rather, driZZlcd, nearly all the
time. 1t would bc wet two or three days
and then would come day when the sun
pecpcd through the clouds.
Passing on to GrindelwaId, there il was
1t was | first became acquainted with the
Swiss police system. We in America can
not appreciate what a dcSputic affair il T.:
almost as bad as the Russian, From the
moment Of arrest you are cut Off from
tFienus. relatives anu tHe WORM.
II had spent the nj rht on the mountain
and returned to Grindclwald just before
noon. | went to my room and was pre-
pairing for my hath when an attendant m
formed me that | was wanted in the office
to receive "A telephone message. | went
downstairs and was ushered into n room
where found three men waiting. At once
they told me that | was under arrest.
81 made a vigorous protest, declared |
was an American citizen andjHsisted that
they must be mistaken. 1 showed M Y pass
port, Mr.. olncy's letter OF introduction,
personal and official letters sent from
Washington to me, my hank book and
even the receipted hotel bills from Hol-
land. Germany and Luccrne.
They declared that an those made no
difference. must 20 with them. | made
up my mind to take 1t quietly, although it
was decidedly disa sreeablc. l asked for
time to get my luggage in shape, but they
barely allowed me to sweep the things on
my tables into valiSe. / had TO 20
without clothes | had sent 20 a tailor To
DC mcnded. l also lost a number OF val
uahle articles In the hurry l was marched
from the hotel 10 the station through the
streets.