The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-09-30
HARD TO GET IN NOW
CONSUL GIRiMoNDI PROVES HIM
SELF UTTERLY BAD.
His and Other Like Cases Makes
State Department Exercise
Extreme Caution.

Washington, Sept. 25.-The strange
case of John j.. Girimondi has furnish
ed another warning to the state de-
partment that the character of Amer
lean citizens going abroad to repre-
sent their country must be rigidly
s~crutinized. 1T Is becoming more and
more difficult to get into the consular
service, and with good reason. Sew
eral black sheep, have cast oppro-
blum upon their country and brought
great embarrassment upon the state
department. A man must now pass a
strict examination to obtain a place
in the service, showing his fitness for
the place. His private standing as a
citizen, too, is quietly investigated be-
fore he is appointed. Something more
than the mere recommendation of a
senator is required.
Girimondi was appointed consul at
Santos, Brazil, by President McKin-
ley on March 2, 1900, and he was con
firmed by the senate a month later.
Girimondi lived in San Francisco,
where he became somewhat promi-
nent as a local worker in the swarm
ing Italian colony Of that city. Though
an ignorant man, his address and bear
ing were those of a man of culture
and education. Personally handsome
and dashing, he chad a way with him
which deceived the senators of that
state into believing him a fellow of
uncommon ability. Through the use
of strong endorsements he obtained
the backing Of his senator's, and was
appointed consul. By what hook or
crook he passed the consular exam
nations is not known. At all events,
he went to Santos-reputed to be the
graveyard of the consular service,
an unhealthy, fever ridden hole-and
entered upon his duties.
Within a year there were all kinds
of complaints against Girimondi. He
was lax in money matters; he neglect
ed his business; he became entangled
in affairs with the fair sex; and was
found to be short in his accounts. The
chief objection to Girimondi on the
part of the commercial interests was
that he spent most of his time in say
ing masses in the various churches,
to the fetal neglect of his consular
duties. Girimondi was the possessor
of a fine voice, which tuned well with
the prayers which went up from fair
devotees in the old cathedrals OF San
tos. Girimondi went so far as to don
the garb of a priest and celebrate
mass himself.
He was discharged from the serv-
ice. and the state department took
steps TO bring him to account for his
shortages. He came to Washington
last winter. but disappeared as
mysteriously as he came. He turned
up last month in Italy, his ancestral
home, where he acted as a priest at
Omaglapatrie, not far from Genoa.
He represented himself as still in the
consular service, and said he was on
his way to Persia, having been ap'
pointed a sort of supervising consul
for all Asiatic posts. The state de-
partment sent Consul Pierson of &C.
noa after him and Pierson found him
in a church at Omaglapatrie, cele-
brating mass.
The Italian authorities were after
Girimondi at the same time. He was
charged with the betrayal of an ital-
ian girl, the daughter of ar old house.
He was arrested on the charge and
thrown into prison. Consul Pierson
reported the facts to the state depart
ment early this month. The depart
ment, seeing that Girimondi was in a
fair way to be placed where he would
cause itypo further trouble, has drop
ped It's case against him and Will
leave him to the Italian courts. Inc
Italian government offered to turn
him over to answer for his irregular
tiles, but the state department, md
ing its accounts badly involved, re-
piled that it had washed its hands OF
him.
- G- mnLI|-.