The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1898-01-14

John w. Hinton. of Milwaukee, whose
1895. has presented a petition to Con-
gress asking for legislation to punish
American consuls who rob citizens of
the United States who die abroad.
He bases his request on the written
acknowledgment of First Assistant
Secretary of State Day that. after ex-
animation the case of Clyde Shrop-
shire, American vice consul at Paris in
1895. with a view to his prosecution,
this department has reached the con-
clusion that under our laws there is no
penal liability which can be enforced
against him"
Mr.. Hinton declares that at the time
his son died several thousand dollars
in cash were in his possession. The
money, says Mr.. Hinton, was taken by
the Paris police and promptly paid
over to Shropshire, who receipted for
it officially.
Mr.. Hinton asserts that, in addition
to this, $1,000 was cabled to pay his
sons funeral expenses and that several
hundred dollars of this sum were re-
has ever been rendered by Shropshire,
it is alleged. for the funds thus coming
into his hands.
The petition of Mr.. Hinton contains
a letter written by him to the Presi-
dent, and the correspondence between
himself and Judge Day.
In stating his case to Secretary Sher-
man. and commenting upon the advice
of Judge Day to consult his attorney
in regard TO obtaining redress through
civil process. Mr.. Hinton says:
Il believe that / am within the truth
in asserting that the citizen or the
subject of no other government. wheth-
er monarchical or despotic, but has
better prOtection-has more rights, and
those rights better guaTded-thau, un-
der your ruling, has the helpless an6
neglected American citizen who unfOr-
tunately dies in d foreign country.
Our Government. according to your
rulings. is entirely deficient in any CO.
ercive power to punish its agents for
embezzling the funds of it's citizens
dying in foreign countries.
For nearly sixty years | have faith
fully kept. and ever viii keep, my oath
of allegiance to this Government. yet
cannot refrain from noticing how in
beetle is that Government. which per-
mits its agents to rob me. and, when
redress is sought. and the restoration
of the stolen money 20 its rightful own
er is asked for. cOnfesses its inability
to restore the stolen funds in its pos
session to their rightful owner.
Had a private citizen embezZled
funds belonging to me. the prosecution
of the criminal would be certain. but
when an authorized and publicly ac-
credited agent of the American Gov
ernment. whom IL has placed under
bonds. embezzles funds from the dead.
he is shielded from prosecution.
The Government retains the stolen
money in its possession by its agent.
and when the owner of thes e;nbezzled
money applies 10 the Secretary of State
he is CURLY told that in regard to your
civil remedy against Shropshire you
should consult your attorney.
In concluding his appeal 10 Congress
Mr.. Hinton says: Why does not the
Government sue the bOndsmen. as the
bond runs to the Government?
What a spectacle the United States
Government presents to the civilized
world with its published cOgnoyit OF
its inability to punish its officials for
embezzling. while they are under bonds
not to embezzle. the funds which come
into their hands,"
Nlce-CoHSui ShIOpSuIIt NdS ItIloNeu
from office in July. 1896. 1t was said
that he had been involved in question
able money transactions, but had not
meddled with Government funds.
Later it was asserted that his brother
in New York had adjusted matters with
those who claimed to have been de-
frauded by the vice-consul.
In 1894 Shropshire was prominently
mentioned among the candidates foI
United States Senator from Georgia.