Statement of Mrs. John L. Waller.
I, Susan Waller, a citizen of the United States of America, born in Urbana, Ohio, Champaign County, married to John Louis Waller, at Lawrence, Kans., Douglas County, on April 1, 1878. My maiden name was Susan Boyd, but was the widow of T. D. Bray at the time of my marriage with John L. Waller, being of lawful age. I make under oath the following statements:
On or about the 5th of September, 1894, I went in company with John L. Waller, my husband, to the house of Rabatrano, a Malagasy man residing in Antananarivo. While there he asked Mr. Waller if he would purchase for him a revolver, as it was not safe in his country home without one. Mr. Waller replied that he would soon be going home and would be pleased to send him one. A few days after this visit, Ratsimandresy and his brother, two sons of Rabatrano, came to see Mr. Waller and brought with them an old revolver, requesting him to send them three of the same model which they brought, as they each desired one for themselves and one for a friend who also lived in the country. Mr. Waller agreed to send these four revolvers, as well as a [Page 386] list of merchandise which Ratsimandresy wanted, such as shoes, hats, broadcloth, etc.
On September 20, 1894, Mr. Waller left for Tamatave en route for America, and before leaving told Ratsimandresy to write a list of all the things he wanted in plain English, and give it to me and I would forward it to him at his stopping place in England. The young man prepared the list, and I sent it addressed to Mr. Waller at No. 4 Bedford Place, Russell Square, London, E. C., by the first mail which left for Tamatave after the departure of Mr. Waller.
The mail which came up from Tamatave after my letter had been sent, brought the news that Mr. Waller had been detained in Tamatave. I do not know whether Mr. Waller stopped this letter at Tamatave or whether it went to its destination in England.
I sent another letter for Ratsimandresy on December 30, 1894; this letter is referred to in my husband’s letter from Tamatave, dated February 3, 1895. I did not read the young man’s letter carefully, but only remember of his writing personal affairs, at the same time referring to our intention to go for a visit to his father’s country home. My husband, in all of his correspondence with me, has never mentioned one word about the existing trouble between the French and Hova Government. His caution to me in regard to same in a letter dated December 22, 1894, is as follows:
“Let me caution you to have nothing to do or say anything about the trouble between the French and Hova Government, as such would only tend to embarrass you.”
Another, dated February 3, 1895: “Keep yourself aloof from all political and other matters pertaining to the difficulty between the Government of France and that of the Hova. This is the position assumed by our Government, and all Americans will be expected to assume that same attitude.”
- Susan Waller
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John P. Campbell,
United States Consul
Witness to signature and the swearing of Mrs. Waller before the United States consul.