Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1899-09-01
Officials Are Expecting Import
ant Developments.
.THE INNOCENCE OF BEDLOE
Charges Preferred by ChIaeSe ritniS-
ter That Consul Granted Ameri-
can Certificates to Chinese SUBJ
jects Permitting Them 10 Go TO
the Philippines plea for Relics aSe
of Abbey.

Washington, Aug. 31.-The recall of
Dr. Edward Bedloe, consul at Canton,
China, and the seizure of the Abbey,
and the events leading up to those
acts, are engrossing a great deal of at
tention from department officials. At
the state department this afternoon it
was reiterated that Consul Bedloe had
been suspended from office. but it
intended to reflect on his honor or
Integrity. But in addition, it was
asserted that the consul clearly over
stepped his authority in granting
American registry to the Abbey under
the circumstances.
Still another complication, it is said,
enters into DR.. Bedloe's case. He may
have to answer charges preferred
against him by the Chinese govern
ment These charges are said to have
been submitted through Mr.. WI Ting
fang, the Chinese minister at Wash
ington. They are being investigated
by Assistant Secretary of State Hill,
now on leave, and Third Assistant
Secretary Cridler. 1t is stated in
these charges that Consul Bedloe
granted American certificates to
Chinese subjects which allowed them
to go to the Philippines. DR.. Bedloe's
friends do not hesitate to declare that
this is a conspiracy to ruin him Off
osa no
he will be cleared on this score.
: 1t does not seem possible frcm evil
deRce-in the department 20 form any
conclusion about the outcome of DIR.
-Bedloe's connection with the Abbey
case. The vessel is now being held
by Admiral Watson, and will not be
released except upon orders from the
navy department. If she is released,
there still remains the question of
DIR. Bedloe's granting American regis
try without, as charged, having fully
informed himself as to the circum-
stances.
Col. E. B. Hay of this city, attorney
for William Fred Sylvester CT New
York, owner of the Abbey, makes
strong plea for the release of the YES
sell He states in a letter to Secretary
Long, that she was bought of ]. H.
Grimes of Shanghai, China, on July
20, 1898. She was formerly the Brit
ish steamship Pasig. and was bought
by Grimes from Sam Yung, cf Victoria
and Hong Kong. The consideration of
the sale to Sylvester was $4,000. and
the bills of sale were registered at the
United States consulate at Canton, in
with the regulations pro-
vided in such cases.
The letter further states that cerSifl-
Gates were given under the seal of Ed
ward Bedloe, consul at Cantcn, GER
tifying that William Fred Sylvester
had bought the British ship Pasig,
hailing from Hong Kong; that he had
the name to the Abbey. and
that the said Sylvester was citizen
of the United States. The letter fur
ther states:
said steamship was delivered to
and received by the said William Fred
aforesaid, and by him held until on or
about September Is, 1898, when said
was sold by the said Syl-
vester Pending the final settlement,
transfer and delivery of the ship and
the proper documents, said steamship
was seized by Admiral Dewey, be-
cause, as he said. 1t was simply on
of her not having the proper
papers The said steamship has been
held by him ever since under
instructions from the department
at Washington that his action
in seizing said ship was justifiable
and he was instructed to hold said
ship until further orders.
1.-The purchasers of said ship refuse
10 comply with the terms of sale until
said steamship is released by the
United States government Therefore
il is necessary that speedy relief be
granted in order to prevent said Syl-
7ester from sustaining irIsparable
oss and damage, which delay is daily
Increasing"
In answer to the charge of Admiral
Dewey that the ship, did not have
proper papers, Mr.. Sylvester states
hat this is due more to lack of knowl-
edge of maritime affairs than any in
entional desire tc work injury to the
United States government. 1t is said
hat shortly before the time of seizure