The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-26
CONSUL BEDLOE'S CASE.
TIE CHINESE GOVERNMENT MADE
CHARGES AGAINST HIM.

Abby-Our Other Consuls in China
Not Entirely Friendly to Bedloe.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 25-The suspension OF
DR.. Edward Bedloe. OF Philadelphia, United
States Consul at Canton. China. from the exer-
cises OF his consular duties. was based on
charges against DR.. Bodice made by the Chi
nese government. On account ofthese charges
and the Inference. II not the specific notiiica-
tion. that the Consul was persona non 0rdtd to
China. the state Department had no other
alternative than to relieve him from duty at
Canton. This could have been done without
suspendlng him. but the charges we're Of such
character that the department decided to
place DR.. Bedoe under suspension pending an
investigation. 1t was explained to-day by an
official who declined to enter into any detailed
account OF the case. that the action OF DR.. Bed
loe In granting an American register to the
alleged flibustering steamer Abby was not the
reason for his suspension and did not onter
into the present aspect Of the matter.
Nobody in authority Is willing to give any In
formation about the nature OF the charges filed
against DR.. Bedloe by the Chinese government.
All that the Sun reporter was able to learn was
that DR.. Bedloe had been accused OF violating
certain treaty provisions between China and
the United States. DR.. David j. Hill. the as
sistant Secretary OF State. has the investigation
In charge and Is more familiar with the case
than any other official. DR.. Hill is absent from
Washington and will take up the investigation
on his return when DR.. Bedoe will probably be
here.
One official said that the charges concern
Dr. Bedloe's consular functions alone and that
his honesty has not been questioned 1t is
admitted that Housewife Wildman. United
States Consu-General Mt Hong Kong. filed
charges against Dr. Bedloe in connection with
tha khhv inpidnDt From what lna cd
to-day. it lie evident that Consul General Wild
man has accused DIR. Bedloe CT being con-
cerned in other irregular proceedings than
granting the American register to the Abby.
There is no concealment Of the official belief
that DIR. Bedloe went beyond his authority in
granting the register. but that admission ia
always coupled with the declaration that the
Abby case does not figure as a cause Of the
lonsuls suspension.
The mystery OF the matter is the tacit ac-
acknowledgement by the State Department OF the
truth Of tho allegations OF the Chinese govern
ment. Just why Consul General Wildman
should be so prominent in the case is not ex-
planned The Canton Consulate is not within
the jurisdiction OF Mr. Wildman. but comes I'M
der John Goodnow. the Consul General at
Shanghai. M Wildman Is apparently an
Xious to secure tho removal OF Dr. Bedloe from
his consular office. and it is said that other
Consus in China have also had something to
say to the State Department in regard to the
case. That considerable bitterness exists be-
tween several Of the consular officers Of the
United States in China is not denied and DR.
Bedloe appears to be the centre OF all Of it.
The statement was made to-day by a promi-
nent official that the action OF DIR. Dedoe In
tho Abby case had been practically disposed Of
some time ago without injury to his official
status despite the charges OF Mr.. Wildnan 1t
was said furthermore that the presence OF Dr.
Bedloe in Washington was not necessary to the
investigation and that he was coming back
here by permission OF the department granted
| at his own request. When last heard from he
was In Paris The Canton Consulate is now in
charge OF Hubbard Taylor Smith. Consular
Clerk, who was transferred from Kobe. Japan.
where he has been acting Consul.
| Notification has been received at the Navy
| Department from ". +. Sylvester. Of New York.
| one OF the owners Of the Abby, that he is com
| Ing to Washington to contest the seizure Of the
! vessel. In his letter dated from London. Eng ;,
| he says that the ground of his contest will be
| that the Abby was taken when the Filipinos
| were the allies of the United States. The
| seizure occurred in September last. several
months before the outbreak OF the rebellion
| against American authority. but after the pro-
tocol of Peace had been signed between the
| that when the Abby was seized she was really
| British vessel. although she had cleared from
| Canton under an American register. her ga 10
| to a British syndicate having been made be-
| tween the time OF her departure from Canton
and the time OF her seizure.
| Edwin b. Hay. the representative OF the
| Abby's owners in Washington laid several
| papers In regard to the case before the State
| Department to- day and these will probably be
reviewed in an extensive brief which the State
| Department Is now preparing. 1t is apparent
| ly tho view OF the department that the ABBY
| case should be disposed OF In a prize court OF
| the United States. and should this prevail. it
| will be necessary to send the vessel to San
| Francisco An official said to-day that while
| the case OF the Abby and the present status
OF DR.. Bsdloe had no relation to each other. the
| Stste Department would unluestionably take
| cognizance of any information which Nigh,
| develop in q hearing before prize court show
ing that DR.. Bedoe was cupabe in granting
to the vessel an American register.
On the advice OF the Attorney General Of the
| United States. instructions were sent at one
| time to Admiral Dewey to release the Abby
| but on July last these were revoked. The
revocation was said to have been due to infor
nation received by the Government that the
Abby was engaged In Illicit trade at the time
the seizure was made. 1t has not been denied
by those interested in procuring the release o
the vessel that she carried cargo OF arms anC
ammunition on her voyage to tho Philippines
This cargo had been landed before she wal
seized by the revenue cutter McCulloch.
| arIRDED HIS MJSTRRSRS RODY