CALEB, Late Captain of the Adriana of San Francisco to All I ask is justice. I am a man that don’t find fault unless badly treated. I hope not to lose my vote this year. Mr. Beach told me not to write any more to the Department. I would not have done so, but I don’t think things are going right about my case at this place, February 1, 1884

Captain Caleb to Mr. Miller.

My Dear Sir: I directed a letter to you at the Palace Hotel, San Francisco, some time past. I hope that you received it. I now wish to be permitted to write again, hoping I do not intrude or take up too much of your valuable time. I received your kind letter dated December 13, and many thanks to you for the interest yon have taken in me and my case, which I shall not forget, neither my many friends in California. I would be thankful if you would have the report that Mr. H. N. Beach made in my case at the State Department sent to me, and also the report of the United States consul, as I am well aware that there has been some foul play against me, and have good reason to believe the United States consul has been deceiving me all this time and working in the interest of some Mexican relatives of his. He will not tell me anything that passes in my case, and will not answer my letters. It is said that I am kept here as a sacrifice to save some Mexican’s reputation and losses. It is about time for me to open my eyes and to know who has done his duty by me. I don’t consider that I have been treated like an American citizen at this place or as a gentleman, and if the United States consul don’t inform me as to whom to look to for my right, I cannot see anything he has done to help me out of this deep distress. He never looked for testimony in my behalf to send to the State Department, and never was present in court while the trial was going on to see justice done me. He did not interest himself about me or the crew, and got on bad terms with my lawyer. I had no one to look to, I being sick in bed and not able to defend myself. I don’t know who the parties were who testified against me, as I never saw them. My trial never was read to me and my sentence was not pronounced by the judge who committed me. I have not heard one word about the appeal of my case, and there is no one to inform me. I could say much more but I am in the power of a certain set of men at this place who might make things more uncomfortable for me. Mr. Beach was not long enough in this place to give out the true facts of this case and that is why I wish to know of his report, or the part of it he got from the United States consul. All the men who were accused with me were at large all the time the trial was going on. When sentence was passed they left, and some of them are here now on the streets, no attempt being made to detain them. Is that right? A man cannot smuggle alone. I am about sixty years old, forty years at sea, twenty-five years master, and this is my first trouble with a vessel. Three years ago my vessel lost about $900. W. Ward, Sacramento street, paid the bill. I was half owner of the vessel when signed, besides $105 tonnage, dues, and pilotage. The men were paid three and a half months after seizure of vessel, their board while in prison, and three months extra wages and sent home. Is all this right? I am sick and I cannot gain my health. I have had the yellow fever and the effects of it are in me, with my other complaints, and God only knows what I have suffered in body and mind these thirteen months. No friends, never a kind word, and not a sight of the consul. If there is a vice-consul I have never seen him. General R. M. Rangil, governor, has treated me kindly so far. He is a fine gentleman. If any testimony is required, the interpreter in the case will give details. His name is F. R. Maytorena. He knows all the facts about the case. Please excuse a badly written letter, as I am not in a condition to write, and have no one to write for me. I beg to be excused for taking up your valuable time, and allow me to remain your humble servant,