Mr. Boutell to Mr.
Hay.
American Legation,
Berne,
Switzerland, September 24,
1904.
No. 60.]
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your No. 60 of August 31, 1904, relating to the case of Jacob
Wertli, who applied to the legation for a passport through the American
consulate at
[Page 817]
Zurich. In
accordance with your instructions, the legation has attempted to
investigate the case, and has also instructed the consul at Zurich to do
so. The legation wrote to the civil office at Bremgarten for information
as to the birth of Jacob Wertli, and received the same information as
that given to the consul and embodied in the consul’s letter, a copy of
which I inclose herewith. Mr. Wertli himself refuses to call at the
consulate at Zurich, or to explain any of his conflicting statements.
The legation has, therefore, refused to issue the passport, in
accordance with your instructions, and has informed by card the various
embassies and legations, as well as the consul at Zurich.
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure.]
Mr. Lieberknecht to Mr. Boutell.
American Consulate,
Zurich, September 23,
1904.
Sir: Referring to your letter of the 9th
instant, with inclosure of a copy of Department’s dispatch No. 60,
in regard to the passport application of Jacob Wertli, I beg leave
to report:
My inquiry addressed to the Civilstandsamt (recorder of vital
statistics) at Bremgarten, Canton Aargau, elicited the fact that
said Jacob Wertli is well known in Bremgarten, but that his birth is
not registered there. The recorder, Mr. Gelvig, then went to
Zufikon, the community in which Jacob Wertli is said to be at home,
and made personal inspection of the register of births there, but
said name was not to be found. Mr. Jacob Wertli has a sister living
in Bremgarten by the name of Sidler Wertli, but she is unable to
give date or birthplace of her brother, but thinks he was born in
the Canton of Berne, but others think he was born in the Canton of
Solothurn.
I have addressed a letter to Mr. Wertli requesting him to call at
this consulate, but up to this writing he has not yet appeared, and
I believe he will not. In a conversation with Mr. Simon, who took
his application for passport, he informed me that Mr. Wertli could
not produce his marriage certificate, as he has lost it.
Everything seems to indicate that Mr. Wertli has made false
statements sometime and somewhere. The Civilstandsamt at Bremgarten
promised to give further information about Mr. Wertli if they could
at any time find out something, and I shall promptly report to you
whatever I may learn in the case.
Your obedient servant,
