The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-06-03
State Department Unable to
o4ct Until Missionary Es-
tablisbes ConniOance OF
Turks in Her Capture.
OUTRAGE TO DIGNITY
Wishes No Indemnify, But
Demands Satisfaction VIII
Not Return to The East
While Her Mother LfOes.

The case of Ellen NJ, Stone the Amer
i2an missionary who was captured by
IL igands in Bulgaria. and held for ran.
som. and who. on this account. seeks
II have the United States press a claim
1or Indemnity against Turkey. has been
turned over 10 Judge Penf1eld, the So
hoitor for the State Department He
IS conducting correspondence with Miss
S:cne. who is now in Chelsea. Mass.
end who declares she does not intend TO
Ieturn 10 Turkey so long as her mother
shall live, unless there is imperative
Iced for her presence there. Mrs. Stone
Is FAR advanced in age, and was greatly
distressed during The six months her
saanghter was held in captivity
Thus far Judge Penfield has been un-
able to obtain from Miss Stone the re-
erired affidavits and other proofs nee
essary to establish claim Miss Stone
insists she has never made a claim for
indemnity. but she has asked the Gov
eminent TO make claim for satisfac-
tioE for what she calls this fragrant
outrage TO dignity and honor"
No Report Received.
There is not only much difference
as TO opinion, but as to facts as well
between the officials of the State De-
i.artment and Miss Stone In her lon,
statement to the department. recently
received, she speaks OF having made a
report upon her capture about a year
ago. This is not the case. The first
communication which could be called
r be
Miss Stone about three weeks ago an6
1t contained nothing upon which the de-
i'artment could act. and she failed to
SUPPLY the necessary legal proof
1t is admitted that her case was men
tioned to State Department officials in
an Informal way by several persons
chiefly clergymen and missionaries. who
have called upon Secretary Hay from
line 10 time. but the department has
never received from Miss Stone the re-
ports which she says she sent AS mat
Ter of fact. Miss Stone has not even sup
piled the department with the names
of the persons who are to be the bene-
ticiaries of the claim for Indemnity. if
cne is 10 be made.
Rules of Procedure.
The State Department has well-estab-
hshed rules of procedure in matters OF
claims against foreign countries. In
the first place, in order to establish a
claim upon which this Government must
act. IL must be shown by proper legal
evidence that the authorities of the
country in which the offense complained
OF was committed willfully refused and
neglected to provide proper protection;
that they were implicated in the wrong
perpetrated. or that they refused 10
prosecute and punish the Offenders II
is these rules that this Government rec
ognizes when claims are made against
this country, and under which claims
have been paid.
Therefore, before this Government
can do anything in the matter il will
be necessary for Miss Stone to show that
the wrongs inflicted upon her were com
mitted by Turkish subjects: that the
authorities were implicated in them.
countenanced them. and neglected to
give her proper protection, or that moth
ing was done toward prosecuting and
Furnishing the offenders II is believed
she will find II difficult TO do this. Her
captors were the enemies of Turkey, and
no Turkish authorities were implicated
in the outrages perpetrated against her.
Turkish Government Restrained.
Furthermore, 1t is shown by the re-
ports OF the American representatives
in Constantinople that the Turkish gov
eminent sought TO go TO her relief, but
was prevented from doing so by appeals
from Miss Stones friends that she
would be killed by the brigands in case
an effort was made TO forcibly iiberate
her The Sultan. 1t is stated. complied
with all the requests made by members
OF the American legation in Miss Stones
behalf