The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-09
HIGH JINKS IN MONROVIA.
SHOOTING or FAULKNER ONLY
ONE or NAVY THINGS.
Pistols Out ltand'. and Ra7ors. TOO-Sec.
rotary Srurreon Was In Fear 81 Ills
1Me-(ros ISLANDS, Friend Ellis Gets
Piace-NO Complaint b, Liberia.


wAsuHoroS, Dec. s.-Thc frs move
Of the State Depart men. in the trouble
hat prevails in the American cation
a, Monrovia. Liberia, aud which brought
about the shooting Of Thomas j. X. Faux
ner 10y DR. j. X. A. Grassland, the United
states Minister there, has been tho secc-
ton OF George W. Ellis Of Kansas to SIC
coed James Robert Spurgeou Of Kentucky
a. socretary Of the CATION. Ellis's nomi-
natl ion was sent 10 the Senate by President
Roosevelt Oh last Thursday. II has not
been confirmed He is Ia Monrovia and
il n party to the difficulties III which the
Minister has become involved
Further invest igation to-day of the
troubles between Minister Grassland and
Faulkner developed the existence of
sensational condition Of things In the
American legation. From all accounts ia
the legat ion roof sheltered a number OF
warning factions and, for all the Depart
nent knows. they iaay he there yet.
All those concerned are American negroes
DR. Grassland said in his report Of the shoot
ing of Faulkner that the latter tried Ia
cut him with a razor. Faulkner charged
the Minister with attempts 10 assassinate
him.
Secretary Sturgeon. in his account of the
matter. remarked incidentally tha, he was
in fear Of the Minister and kept loaded
revolver on his desk in the legation Office
The Minister he said. also kept "A revolver
in his own desk. He expressed the opinion
that DR., Grassland is mentally unbalanced.
II il evidcn, that the trouble began
through an arrangement concerning the
renting of the legation building at Mon
rovia. When Minister Grassland got there.
about nine or ten months ago. he rented
rooms in a residence building Of which
Faulkner was the lessee.
Faulkner lived there with his bride
After while the owner of the building
agreed TO transfer the lease 10 the Minister.
and the latter subet part of II 10 the Faux
ner-, who continued to live there.
In his official report Of the shooting
Minister Grassland said that the transfer of
the lease angered Faulkner. who became
his enemy. The shooting, he continued
was done in self-defence. Faulkner. accord
ing 10 the Minister'S account. did attack
him with a deadly weapon, 10 vii n razor,
and did cut him and cut AZ him Then
the Minister shot Faulkner. who did not
die
In one Of the letters received at the State
Department from Monrovia, II II charged
that the shooting was the outcome of too
close attentions paid hy tho Minister to
Mrs. Faulkner.
VI ia the Minister and Faulkner ver.
living under the same roof and carving
around ra2ors and pistols with deadly III
| tent on each other. Seo Rotary Spurgeon
was having trouble with the Minister
Grassland took Fills with him To Mon
Iovia with tine intention of having HIM at
pointed secretary of legation. Naturally
Spurgeon did not like This. a. fliss APP
pointment meant THAT h" would losa h-
place. But 'he appointment was vested
in the President of he United States and
Mr. Roosevelt and SECRETARY Hay saw NO
occasion for BUSTING Spurgeon
While they were obliged lo conduct Nj
cial business together, tro.siand end
SpurgeOn were personal enemies and ueli her
| made any bones of telling the other tina, he
did no. like him. Spurs"on, in II letter ri
complaint 10 the State Department, Of his
treatment AT the hands of the Minister
told of an Interesting incident
He said that one day Minister Cross land
sent for him and OH going To- the Minister :
office he found with Grassland a man who
was an enemy Of Spurgeon'- They We're
| sitting AT the Minister, deck and between
| Them were two cooked reyover- Spur
| gcun left the room III "A hurry. After that
| he kept a revolver on his own desk. T..
said IN the letter TINT "neu"' 'N" Mn
! i>'"r ra.sci through hi, (Spug ru's)
| offi - h. always ant d 20 know , by l. :
| s'clctary 'hau ,ual tuiuC nH his J".S
Ellis seems to have had grievance He
| got shor' If funds a. Monrovia while wait e.
! ing TO I've appointed To Spurgcons place
| and Nro,e some letters 20 the STATE De
| par,ment in which he said that Minister
| Grassland had induced him 10 go 10 Liberia
| on the promise of ha' ing him appointed
| secretary of legation. After the reports
of the shooting reached the Department
| and II was evident tina, tros rland and Spur
geon could not get along together II was
| determined to appoint Lllls in Spurgeon :
place. sill another member of he lega-
| ton hou"chold has been writing 10 the De-
partmcn' H. j. a negro boy Who holds
The place Of runner. Thoh probably means
mesSCTgr in III" legation. He wrote "a
Secretary Hay, charging thar Minister
| Grassland had spanked him
The State d, apartment officials have de-
| 'ermincd not 20 take any action in the case
| until full report Of the shooting ARRAY
| has been received from Minister Cros sland
Secretary Hay has telographed him 70
sond truthful" account and i is e1rect 20
that this Nill come by mail. So far as IN,
| State Department .iroWs, n" legal measures
| have been instituted against Grassland.
Tho LloIlan Government has not com