The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-06
THREATENED SECRETARY EsY
POLICE GET MAN VINO WROTE
MANI LETTERS 70 HIN.


Against Germany -Sent 70 Bellevue.
Francis W. Beuaue. n photographer. 4"
years old. who lived In furnished room at
1853 East Fifty-third street, was taken to
the forkville police court yesterday be
cause 81 letter he wrote TO Secretary OF
State John Hay, at Washington. and was
committed to Bellevue Hospital for e1-
animation as TO his sanity. The letter con-
tanned what was thought to be threat to
do bodily harm to the Secretary,
Beuque had written number OF letters
previously TO the Secretary Of State de-
mandinR that the United States Govern
ment compel the German Government to
pay him S4i 600 on an alleged claim The
State Department officials long ago ceased
to answer the photographer letters and
last Tuesday a letter was received from
him declaring that he would give the
Secretary three days in which to say whether
he was going to do anything about
pressing his claim. The writer added
that il the Secretary did not take up the
matter he would do something himself.
when I take action" he wrote. there
will be something serious. and am sure the
public will believe that was justified and
did it in self-defence.
1t was thought that the man had brooded
80 long over his supposed claim that his
mind had become deranged, and il was
decided that some action should be taken.
Detective Muller Of the Washington police
was sent TO this city on Friday with copy
Of the letter, and went to Police Head
quarters The photographer had given his
address. and Detective Sergeant jackson
and Muller went to the Yorkvile police
court and showed the copy of the letter to
Magistrate Cornell
jackson made complaint as the basis
for a warrant He declared that on Sept.
Beuque wrote incoherent and unreason-
able letters to public officials and was dis
ordered in his senses and not fl to be at
large The photographer lived In fur
nished room on the top floor front Of a four
story tenement. He had been living there
since last March. and was known in the
a.. as quiet peaSceable man who had
The detectives went to his room yester-
day morning. They explained that they
wanted to get him to do some pilot Geographic
work. ard, after talking for a time. they
asked him about the letter he had written
to the Secretary of State. He ackr owledged
that he had sent the lett er, al d his visitors
to the court to explain the matter. He
replied that he had no OBJ jet ion, ar put en-
his hat ard accompan led the detectives
He was neatly dressed ar had the APP
pearance Of man OF intelliger CO. The
Magist rate asked him if he had ar thing to
| ment officials ut Washr gton.
yes, I have been asking them to assint
me in gettrg justice from the German
Government, he answered.
Il read the letter, ar believe the writer
was rot Of so,rd mir d. l will commit
you to Bellevue Hospital for exami' ation
az to your sar ity," amour ced the Magis-
jackson. The photographer made pro-
test ar d quietly walked downstairs with the
detectives.
Beuque was born in this city Of German
parents. ard, when he was very your z,
his family went to Hamburg, Germany.
He started Photographic busir esq there
which apparently proepered. He returned
to this country about fourteen years ago
and wrote to Secretary OF State James
G. Blaine that he had a claim against the
German Government. He said that the
Govern ment had persecuted him because
and, IN COZ sequer ce, he was obliged TO sell
out hls bush ess at great loss II was
worth $4,000, he said, ard he sold II for
49, 0O.
The State Department ir vestiRated his
claim ar d wrote to him that his grievnr ee
against the German Govern merit was
matter to he settled by the civil courts
ard r OF by diplomatic represer tat iors. He
didn't accept that view Of the matter ar d
has been pressing his claim before every
Secretary of State sir oe then. He also
wrote to each Pres idert ard asked that the
Secretary be required to atterd to the
matter. No serious attention was paid to
his letters. az he was cor sidered harmless
crank. until he wrote the one which con-
tanned the supposed threat.