Mr. Willis to Mr.
Gresham.
Legation of the United States,
Honolulu, June 1, 1895.
(Received June 17.)
No. 113.]
Sir: I have to acknowledge your No. 83, of the
14th ultimo, in regard to the claims of sundry persons who asked
indemnity for wrongs done them by the Hawaiian Government, and
instructing me to report upon certain matters in connection
therewith.
Karl Klemine and N. Peterson were informed before they left here that
they were not entitled to the protection of our Government, both having
been abroad and never fully naturalized. Klemme is, I am informed, in
California, but Peterson has been permitted to return here.
Henry von Werthern, Henry A. Juen, P. M. Rooney, and Arthur White are in
the United States. I am at present unacquainted with their address, but
think it is San Francisco. If desired, I will endeavor to secure their
statements as to whether, when here, they contemplated a return to the
United States to participate in the obligations incumbent upon its
citizens. John Ross, John Mitchell, C. F. Molteno, and James Dureell are
in the Hawaiian Islands. Molteno can not, however, at present be
located. He was born here of an English father. He went to America in
1876, returning here in 1882. While in the United States he voted in two
Presidential elections.
I transmit additional statements of Ross and Dureell and Consul-General
Mills upon the question referred to in your dispatch, by which it will
be seen that von Werthern, Klemme, and Mitchell appear to be [Page 857] the only registered voters.
Further information may be secured on the return from the United States
of Mr. Taylor, who is the custodian of the election returns.
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure 1 in No.
113.]
Statement of John Boss.
Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaiian Islands, ss:
I, John Ross, of Waikiki, Honolulu, aforesaid, being duly sworn,
depose and say that I am a naturalized citizen of the United States,
as appears by the records of 1859 of the city and State of New York.
Furthermore, that I was in the service of the United States Navy
from December, 1861, from which, as will appear from the records of
the Navy Department at Washington, D. C., I was honorably mustered
out with the rank of acting ensign, U. S. N.
I further depose and say that I have never, directly or indirectly,
by any oath of allegiance, word, or deed, committed or done any act
whatsoever to waive, lose, or prejudice my rights as an American
citizen, or to forfeit my allegiance to the United States or my
rights and privileges to the protection of its flag.
I further depose and say that I have never committed or attempted to
commit any offense against the Hawaiian Government punishable either
by the civil or military laws of that Government.
I make this solemn statement as supplementary to the one sworn to by
me before the United States consul general at Honolulu, Hawaiian
Islands, on the 6th day of April, 1895, and which to the best of my
knowledge and belief has already been presented to the United States
Government through the United States envoy extraordinary and
minister plenipotentiary accredited to the Hawaiian Government at
Honolulu.
Sworn and subscribed to before me, Ellis Mills, consul-general of
the United States, this 1st day of June 1895.
[
seal.]
Ellis Mills, Consul-General.
[Inclosure 2 in No.
113.]
Statement of James Dureell.
Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaiian Islands, ss:
I, James Dureell, of Honolulu, aforesaid, being duly sworn, depose
and say that I am an American citizen by birth, having been born in
the city of New Orleans, State of Louisiana, United States of
America, on the 1st day of August, A. D. 1853, my father being James
Dureell, and my mother Isabelle, his wife, whose maiden name was
Thautier. Owing to my having left New Orleans when a mere boy, I
have no papers of identity with me.
Until September, 1894, I resided continuously within the jurisdiction
of the United States, and since that time in Honolulu.
I further solemnly swear that I have never, directly or indirectly,
by any oath of allegiance, word, or deed, done or committed any act
whatsoever to waive, lose, or prejudice my birth rights as an
American citizen, or to forfeit my allegiance to the United States
or my rights and privileges to the protection of its flag.
I further say that I have never committed or attempted to commit any
offense against the Hawaiian Government; and I make this statement
as supplementary to my statement of April 9, 1895.
Sworn and subscribed to before me, Ellis
Mills, consul-general of the United States, this 31st day of May,
1895.
[
seal.]
Ellis Mills, Consul-General.
[Page 858]
[Inclosure 3 in No.
113.]
Statement of Consul-General Mills
Consulate-General of the United States,
Honolulu Hawaiian
Islands, May 31,
1895.
Hon. Albert S. Willis.
Sir: In accordance with your verbal request
to me to ascertain if John Ross, Henry von Werthern, Henry A. Juen,
P. M. Rooney, John Mitchell, Arthur White, C. F. Molteno, James
Dureell, Nick Peterson, or Karl Klemme registered as voters, to take
part in the election of delegates to the constitutional convention
of May, 1894, or actually participated in said election, I have the
honor to say that I first endeavored to procure a copy of the
printed polling list. None of these could be found in the office of
the commissioner of agriculture, who, in the absence of Mr. Wray
Taylor, is the custodian of the election records.
I then visited several of the printing offices in town, thinking I
might possibly be able to procure an old proof. I found the office
where the lists were printed, but all the old “copy” and proofs
having been thrown away, I was, of course, unsuccessful.
I then called on the minister of the interior and the chief clerk of
the interior office, but they could throw no light on the matter,
and referred me to Mr. Marsden, the commissioner of agriculture.
Returning to the office of the commissioner, I asked permission to
examine the books. This was granted. After searching for some time I
found a book labeled “Special Election, May, 1894.” This,
Commissioner Marsden informed me, contained the names of all who
registered for the election in question. The book was not arranged
alphabetically, but I went carefully through all the names and found
the following entries: “Henry von Werthern, March 27, district 3,
precinct 2; C. Klemme, April 10, district 1, precinct 2.”
I discovered that the book did not contain a full list of the
registered voters, as there were names well known to me that did not
appear therein. After further search I found an indexed book of the
registered voters, and there, in addition to the two names before
mentioned, I discovered the name of John Mitchell.
The three persons named—Von Werthern, Klemme, and Mitchell—appear to
be all out of the list you gave me who registered. I then endeavored
to ascertain if they had actually voted, and searched the records of
the various precincts with that end in view. I could find nothing to
throw light upon that part of your inquiry. Mr. Marsden informed me
that he was unable to help me in the matter, but Mr. Taylor, if
present (Taylor is in the United States), could doubtless do so.
I am, etc.,
Ellis Mills,
Secretary of Legation and Consul-General, U. S.
A.
