The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-25
CONSUL BEDLOE ACCUSED.
sgsa. ENDED ON CHARGES or AIDING
FIx-xteKRO IkSUKRECTIONI

FIl-lk-KRO IkSUhRECTIONIsTS
Said TO Have Granted Gle nrance at Can
ton to tho Filtbustcr Abby Knowing She
wa. Loaded with Arms for ARuinaido's
Nen-Is ON His Way Homo to Answer.
wAsHINaror Aug. 24-Dr Edward Bedloe Of
Pennsylvania, United States Consul at Canton.
China, has been suspended from his consular
duties and 10 now on his way homo to answer
serious charges. One OF the allegations against
DR. Bedloe Ia that he granted an American
register to a steamer engaged In carrying arms
10 the Philippine insurgents. and 1t is said that
1t has been represented to the State Depart
mont that In taking this action the Consul was
aware Of tho suspicious character OF the
steamer Involved In the case are other mat
tiers which, II 10 reputed. will operate against
the return Of Dr. Bedloe to Canton In an official
cspscity, even II he is cleared OF the charges In
connection with granting the register to the
Alihuster.
The officials Of tho State Department are
very reticent concerning Dr. Bedloe's case
They gavo the impression to-day that DIR.
Bedloe was coming home merely on an or
binary leave Of absence. Influential friends Of
the accused officer managed to have the State
Department withhold ilnal action until DIR. Bed
Joe should have chance to be heard In his own
defence and nothing will be done until the
fullest inquiry has been made. great deal OF
evidence concerning the charges is on file In
the Department. and Rounseville Wildman, the
United States Consul General at Hong Kong. 10
credited with having furnished much Of 1t.
The alleged hlibuster s the steamer Abby.
Long before the present rebellious outbreak
in tho island OF Luzon. she was engaged in
carrying war supplies to the Filipinos. The
frat official report concerning her came from
Admiral Dewey in telegram dated Manila.
received at tho Navy Department on Sept. 81
lSssS. The Admiral said
Having received information American
steamer Abby left Macao Sept II with cargo
OF arms for Batangas. sent Mccullough. Ar
rived Batangas Odd; found her in harbor. hav-
ing arrived three days earlier and landed
cargo Only Filipinos on board. They re-
fused to give any In formation and had no
papers whatever Seized and brought her
here where now hold her. This steamer. for
mery Pasig. registered American vessel
United Statns Consulate. Canton. has intorma-
ton she made one voyage OF same kind be-
fore"
The seizure wns justified by the fact that the
Abby had no registry or clearance papers
She was subsequently released on representa-
tions from her owners in this country. and
nothing was heard OF her officially until sew
era months ago after the AguiDado insurrec-
ton against the United States had been in
operation some time. Then N. W. Sutterlie
OF Philadelphia applied for an American regis
ter for the Abby at Hong Kong. In one OF the
reports on file in the State Department, SUIT
terlie Ia charged with having absconded with
O large amount Of money belonging to Phil
adelphia bank. The vessel was loaded with
arms and ammunition and Sutterlie wanted to
have her cleared to another Chinese port.
Consul General Wildman refused. It 10 said.
70 nj ha To Claar ha hhv IN
an American vessel. but In some way she got
10 Canton. where the application was renewed
before Consul Bedloe. According TO the mea-
gre Information obtainable Sutterlie wanted
10 clear tho Abby for another Chinese rort.
bhe still had munitions OF war on board. Con-
Eul Bedloe. 1t Ia alleged. granted the applica-
ton for an American register and cleared the
Steamer.
Whether the Abby landed her cargo In the
Philippines or was actually hlibuster cannot
be ascertsned from the officials here. Ad-
mral Dewey's despatch Of Sept. 81 says that
the Consulate at Canton had information that
she had made zone voyage OF the same kind
before" but the Admiral did not say whether
the Abby was engaged in this traffic during
the existence OF the Filipino rebellion against
Spain or su bssquently.
There Ia reason to believe that the officials
OF the Government do not attach as much i'm
portance to the charge that DR.. Bedoe had
knowledge that the Abby was engaged In IL
legal traffic as they do to other allegations In
fact It was limited to-day that any trouble in
which DR.. Bedloo might have become in
VOWED with the state Department was due to
matters not connected with the Abby incident.
as they had boon practically disposed OF.
Or. Bedoes friends are sticking by him
closely and there is disposition. despite re-
ports to the contrary. to acquit him OF any