Office of the Historian

Mr. Bridgman to Mr. Hay.

Legation of the United States,
La Paz, Bolivia, May 20, 1901.
No. 265.]

Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith copy of a letter from George Melville, an Englishman who has been imprisoned at Corocoro for more than two months, accused of robbery.

As illustrating the delays mentioned in another dispatch, this case is a good example. Several letters of the character inclosed have been sent to this legation, and official and personal appeals made to bring Melville to trial.

One main trouble is disregard of commands from the foreign office by the local authorities at Corocoro. I can not determine as to the probability of this man’s guilt or innocence, but believe he states the facts in his letter as existing.

Similar cases are not infrequent here, and as no provision exists for relief are quite distressing.

I am sending to-day a second request to his accuser, asking his influence to bring Melville to trial.

Trusting I may be able to report definitely before long,

I have, etc.,

George H. Bridgman.
[Inclosure.]

Mr. Melville to Mr. Bridgman.

Corocoro Jail, May 6, 1901.

Dear Sir: I received your letter, and I am very grateful for what you are doing. I am now here fifty-four days.

Will you do me an act of charity, sir, which I will endeavor to pay when I get out? I get here 10 cents a day to live on; I am sick, and half starving; kindly give me a little help. Sir, will you see if any Englishman in La Paz (Mr. Bowman) will help me?

God only knows when I will be out of here. I have eight more witnesses to call up on my behalf, but can not do so, because I have no money. The actuary charges to make the orders calling them; he also charges for receiving their declarations, and the alguacil I have to pay for notifying the witnesses.

For pity’s sake, sir, help me if you can, so as to enable me to get my witnesses up, and so as to be able to get some food.

Again thanking you for all, I am, etc.,

George Melville.