Mr. Peirce to Mr. Gresham.

No. 282.]

Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith copies of the certificate of the death of Stanislaus Krzeminski and of the certificate of the attending physician, stating the cause of his death to have been pneumonia, which have been received by me this day.

I will forward the originals with the other documents relating to the case as soon as these latter are received by me.

The United States consul at Warsaw in forwarding these papers writes me the letter, a copy of which I append.

In my letter of the 9th instant, to the consul, I endeavored to impress upon him the importance of using dispatch in reporting to the legation as to the cause of Krzeminski’s death, certificate of which, it appears, he then had in his possession. I have therefore requested him to explain the delay in transmitting this document. It may, perhaps, be fair to infer that he did not consider the report upon the cause of death complete without evidence as to the cause of the disease and identification of the dead.

With regard to his telegram complaining of the delay in obtaining official papers, I at once, on its receipt, called upon Baron Osten Sacken at the foreign office, Mr. Chichkine being absent, and requested that telegraphic instructions be given to the authorities at Warsaw to facilitate and expedite the investigations of the consul, and obtained his promise that he would endeavor to secure this.

I observe that my predecessor in office, Mr. G. Creighton Webb, appears as witness to the signature of the attending physician. Mr. Webb had been active in informing himself regarding Krzeminski’s imprisonment, and before he left here told me that he had been informed [Page 548] by the minister of the interior that the unfortunate man would be released after certain formalities had been observed. This tallies with the statement made to me by the adjoint of the imperial ministry of foreign affairs before I informed him that I had been notified by the United States consul of Krzeminski’s death.

What information Mr. Webb may have obtained regarding the case when he was in Warsaw and witnessed the signature of the physician on October 3, I do not know.

I have already instructed the consul to obtain all the information possible regarding Krzeminski’s imprisonment. As it is not impossible that the disease may have been induced by exposure, I shall now request him to visit, if possible, the exact place of Krzeminski’s incarceration and report.

I have, etc.,

Herbert H. D. Peirce.
[Inclosure 1 in No. 282.—Translation.]

record of death.

The rector of the Roman Catholic parish of the Birth of the Most Holy Mother at Warsaw.

It is certified by this that in the books of this parish for the year 1894 under No. 839, the following certificate of death is recorded:

In the city of Warsaw, in the office of the parish of the Most Holy Mother, on the 6th–18th day of September, in the year 1894, at 4 o’clock p.m., appeared Andrew Domorowli and Stephen Bury, both prison guardians of age and living at Warsaw, and stated here in Warsaw on Drielna street, No. 24, in the examination prison of Warsaw, on yesterday’s evening at 7 o’clock p.m., died a prisoner Stanislaus Krzeminski, married, an officer, 62 years of age, born in Intomiosk, county Lask, Government Piotrkow, Sebastian’s and Elizabeth’s son, leaving after his wife Valeria.

Being so notified of the death of said Stanislaus Krzeminski, this act was read to the appearing and then signed.

For the rector of the parish.

Rev. A. Lawado.

Issuing the foregoing act out of the record books, I do certify its truth, by my signature and the official seal, city of Warsaw the (20th of September) 2d day of October, 1894 year.

[l. s.] Rev. Niewiarowski,
The Sector.

I, Joseph Rawicz, consul of the United States at Warsaw, do hereby certify that the signature of Rev. Niewiarowski, the rector of the parish of the Birth of the Most Holy Mother of Warsaw, is true and genuine signature, and that the said Rev. Niewiarowski is personally known to me.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the consulate at Warsaw, this day and year next above written, and of the independence of the United States the one hundred and nineteenth.

[seal.] Joseph Rawicz,
U. S. Consul.

I, Joseph Rawicz, consul of the United States at Warsaw, do hereby certify that the foregoing translation is true and correct.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the consulate at Warsaw, this day and year next above written, and of the independence of the United States the one hundred and nineteenth.

[seal.] Joseph Rawicz,
U. S. Consul.
[Page 549]
[Inclosure 2 in No. 282.—Translation.]

medical certificate.

I, the undersigned, Nicolay Laviagin, medical doctor, do declare under oath, before Joseph Rawicz, the consul of the United States, that I am at present acting physician at the examination prison; that I knew personally Stanislaus Krzeminski, and I treated him in the hospital of the examination prison during the time about from the 1st to the 17th day of September; that I have seen him for the last time on the 17th of said month, and he was, at that time, so weak that it was impossible for him to live over a day, and so he died that same day from pneumonia (cacherti corum). To the above I do place my signature, 2d day of October (20th of September.)

Dr. N. Laviagin.

I, Joseph Rawicz, consul of the United States at Warsaw, do hereby certify that the signature of Nicolay Laviagin, M. D., is true and genuine signature, made and acknowledged in my presence, and that the said Nicolay Laviagin is personally known to me.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the consulate at Warsaw, the day and year next above written, and of the independence of the United States the one hundred and nineteenth.

[seal.] Joseph Rawicz,
U. S. Consul.

I, Joseph Rawicz, consul of the United States at Warsaw, do hereby certify that the foregoing translation is true and correct.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the consulate at Warsaw this day and year next above written, and of the Independence of the United States the one hundred and nineteenth.

[seal.] Joseph Rawicz,
U. S. Consul.

Signed in the presence of—

G. Creighton Webb, New York.
[Inclosure 3 in No. 282.]

Mr. Rawicz to Mr. Peirce.

Sir: Referring to your three letters of 8th, 9th, and 17th instant, also telegram received yesterday evening, “report regarding Krzeminski without delay (sig.) Pierce,” I beg to communicate that to-day I have answered by wire:

American Legation, Petersburg.

Notwithstanding personal influence, great endeavors, and official correspondence, for reasons of formalities the official papers about Krzeminski have not been received by consulate. They have been promised this day.

Rawicz, Consul.

To explain the above I beg to state that on the 2d October (20th September) I sent explicit inquiry concerning the death of late Stanislaus Krzeminski to the authorities of the prison where he died, but until to-day no answer was received, although during that time the secretary of the consulate called on them in person several times, and almost every day they have been admonished by telephone.

Same time with my correspondence with the authorities I have procured the certificate of death and medical certificate, in a private way, [Page 550] but not considering: them sufficient proofs, I have awaited the official ones, but not having them yet, I have forwarded to-day to the legation the first ones, in a separate registered envelope, all translated and legalized.

As soon as I shall receive official particulars I shall communicate them to you, together with my report.

Your obedient servant,

Joseph Rawicz,
U. S. Consul.