Mr. Hill to Mr. Townsend.

No. 80.]

Sir: I inclose herewith for your information a copy of a letter from Hon. B. R. Tillman, bringing to the Department’s attention the case of Mr. Thomas de St. Bris, an American citizen, who was arrested and assaulted by the police of Middelkerke, Belgium, on suspicion of having stolen some jewelry.

You will make an immediate investigation of the case, and if the grossly discourteous treatment of this respectable American citizen by the police is substantiated, proper reprimand and regrets will be expected.

I am, etc.,

David J. Hill,
Acting Secretary.
[Inclosure.]

Mr. Tillman to Mr. Hay.

Sir: I inclose a letter and some newspaper clippings, which you will please return after reading them. It seems to me that Americans traveling abroad are entitled to decent treatment as long as they behave themselves, and to secure redress through their Government when they are wronged or imposed upon.

Since we have become a “world power” it would appear that the national influence might be carried in this direction, as well as in others, and I shall be glad if you will offer any suggestions as to how this man shall proceed in order to make his case one that you can prosecute vigorously.

Yours, truly,

B. R. Tillman, U. S. S.
[Subinclosure 1.]

Mr. de St. Bris to Mr. Tillman.

Dear Sir: I am over in Europe making historical researches for a new work on American history, and had a nervous attack from overwork, whereon the doctor ordered me to go to Middelkerke, a quiet seaside place, to spend a month. The inclosed [Page 18] extract from an English and French newspaper will tell you what happened to me, and as my father was a South Carolina man, I think I ought to let you know. I sent a claim for damages to the Hon. Lawrence Townsend, United States minister plenipotentiary at Brussels. He was out of town when I called, but the secretary told me that the Belgian Government decline all responsibility for the acts of their village chiefs. The vice-consul at Ghent said that they would give nothing for slapping me in the face after taking me falsely into custody, and that the consular rules order all consuls to keep on as good terms as possible with foreign governments.

In consequence of this United States citizens are constantly arrested, as they only give a letter of apology for it. These police have thousands of photographs of thieves for whose capture high rewards are offered, and if there is any resemblance they try to find some excuse for searching all your papers. Some time ago a New Yorker (well known) was arrested for sketching a tree in the country, under the laws ordering arrest for sketching fortifications. These arrests when known to one’s enemies do tremendous damage, as they only tell half the story.

There ought to be a law (if our Government do not wish to enforce it) holding foreign governments responsible for illegal acts of their police chiefs, and also for unjustified arrests. Of course I would not get large damages, as I only make $1,500 a year, but I have an income of $1,500 from United States securities.

I don’t want to go to expense about this claim, but if a lawyer could get a payment I would divide with him half of what I got as compensation for his trouble.

I believe we are no worse off than any other nation, but it seems outrageous that we can be so damaged and treated without compensation.

The police only arrest people in moderate circumstances, as it is more difficult to enforce a claim. I have been so upset by this outrage that I can not write a decent letter yet.

Perhaps you can lend me a hand in this matter.

Believe me, etc.,

Thos. de St. Bris.
[Subinclosure 2.—Newspaper clipping.]

an american wrongly arrested in belgium.

A singular incident has just occurred at Middelkerke, in Belgium, where, owing to a mistake of a landlady and over officiousness on the part of the police, an American gentleman, vice-president of a bank, has been subjected to considerable annoyance and vexation.

It appears that he rented a room with the intention of passing the season at Middelkerke. He had hardly taken possession of the room when the landlady of the house sent men to remove a wardrobe which had been forgotten. In shifting this wardrobe head downward some jewelry, valued at 500 francs, slipped out of the top drawer and fell into the body of the wardrobe.

The landlady, on finding the drawer empty, ran to the village police office and brought the chief officer. This functionary rushed violently at the new occupant of the room, pointed a revolver at his head, and demanded, “Where have you hidden the stolen jewels?” Of course, he denied all knowledge of the matter, but he was dragged downstairs and handed over to a policeman, after being slapped in the face by the chief. He was then conducted to various shops in the place and asked where he had sold the jewels. The next step was to take him to the police station, where he was stripped and all his luggage searched; his private note book was scrutinized and various indignities perpetrated.

His passport, photograph, and various papers of identification were utterly disregarded by these village officials and the American banker made to feel very uncomfortable.

At last it began to dawn upon the mind of the police that a mistake had been made, and the chief said: “Well, if I am wrong I beg your pardon.”

Then the landlady herself came upon the scene and apologized, for she had found the missing jewels in the body of the wardrobe.

The American consul then arrived, and the denouement was the discovery of a mare’s nest.

The American gentleman is naturally very indignant and is lodging a claim with the Belgian Government. The moral of the story is that travelers should make themselves acquainted with the furniture and its contents when they occupy strange rooms in strange places.