Mr. Hill to Mr.
Townsend.
Department of State,
Washington, July 29,
1901.
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.
Trenton, S. C., July 20, 1901.
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,
[Subinclosure 1.]
Mr. de St. Bris
to Mr. Tillman.
Hotel de Flandre, Bunkerque,
France, June 26,
1901.
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.,
[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.
