Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-16
Dramatic Appeal to President
by Pittman's Brother.
CASE IN CONSUL'S HANDS
Department Will Not Act Unless
There Il Further Abuse.
AMERICAN PHYSICIAN HELD
Investigation Order In Case of DR..
Lawrence Burgheim, Said to
Be Madriz's Prisoner.

BEVERLY. July 18.-In rather dramatic
fashion yesterday afternoon President
Tafts attention was directed to the sit
uatiCn that exists in Nicaragua.
While the President was in conference
with Senator Dick ana Wade Ellis Of
Ohio an automobile dashed up the road
to the Burgess Point cottage and young
man. under great stress, demanded that
he be permitted to see the President.
He was E. F. Pittman. brother Of Will
liam Pittman. the young American ensi-
neer who was discovered starving in a
dungeon at Managua a few days ago by
the American consul there.
Prisoners Mother Ill.
Even the secret service man on duty
was impressed by the visitor. who was
he nervously exhibited the newspaper
dispatches of yesterday morning and
made an earnest plea that the govern
ment act in the case.
The matter was called to the Presi-
dents attention and he instructed Secre-
tary Norton to communicate with the
State Department at Washington and
learn just what the situation il and what
has been done to have him safeguarded.
seen Senator Lodge and urged him to
use his influence with the State Depart
ment.
my mother is desperately Ill.," said the
young man. and worry over my BROTH
er's safety, we fear, will kill her.
In Care of Consul.
Unless further neglect and mistreat-
ment is shown by the Madriz govern
ment toward william Pittman the State
Department will leave his case in the
hands of United States Consul Olivares
in Managua.
The filthy quarters in which the prison
or was kept before Consul Olivares Wis
tied him and the failure to furnish the
prisoner with food will be remembered
by the department when q day of reck-
oning with the Managua government
comes, however.
The State Department claims to be en-
tirely ignorant of the reported intention
of two MadFiz commissioners to visit
Washington on peace mission.
On the strength of press reports the
State Department today telegraphed to
United States Consul Moffat at Bluefields
directing him to ascertain whether Dr.
Lawrence Burgheim an American citizen
of Houston. Tex, is held prisoner by
the Madriz forces. The report was that
DR.. Burgheim had been compelled to treat
the wounded at BlueheldS BLUM.
Stern Measures Adopted.
Evidence of conditions of unrest in
Managua were received at the State De-
partment in TRANSACTIONS of public orders
issued by the military governor in Man.
aqua during the month of June. One Of
these orders prohibited private individ
uals from leaving the city without pass
port and from leaving during the night
without written permit from the author
tiles.
Persons disobeying this order were
classd as revolutiOnists Another order
absolutely prohibited friendly gathering
in private houses and in public estab-
iishments after o'clock in the evening
except with the previously obtained per-
mission of the authorities.
Germany Not Alone.
That the German government was
singled out for. criticism for having rec
ognized the Madriz government of
Nicaragua in direct opposition to the
position of the United States is regarded
az somewhat peculiar, In view of state
ment just issued to the effect that the
Austrian, Danish, French, Norwegian,
Belgian, Swiss, Chilean and Argentine
governments recognized Madriz as the
valid President Of Nicaragua, before the
kaiser wrote his now famous great and
good friend" letter.