H. Pinckney Walker to Morgan, May 3, 1884

Mr. Walker to Mr. Morgan.

Sir: My name has been previously presented to you by Capt. J. H. Hoff, consular agent at Coatzacoalcos, in connection with the affair of the Norwegian bark Circassian. I am an American citizen, resident of Saint Louis, Mo. My father, Col. Leo D. Walker; my relations there, whom you undoubtedly know—uncles, Samuel B. Churchill and Francis T. Bryan; other members of my family, the Schaumbergs, Smaringins, Goods, Wash, Clarks, and Taylors of the old Taylor homestead. United States Senator Blackburn is a connection of mine; Senators Hampton and Butler warm and intimate friends of my mother’s family, the Turnbulls of South Carolina. I, for the past two years, have been shipping or river clerk for Mr. R. H. Leetch, of this place, the heaviest mahogany merchant in the Republic, and in pursuance of my legitimate business shipped on board the bark Circassian, together with other timber, some hundred and odd logs of mahogany, which I afterwards learned were claimed by one Jose” B. Teran, but all bearing the brand of Mr. Leetch and undoubtedly his property. The ship has been discharged by order of the tribunal and not one log was found with the mark claimed by said Teran, yet from pure maliciousness I am still held a prisoner. I thought no more of the matter until suddenly one day, the 19th of March, 1883, while discharging my duties as clerk, I was arrested and thrown into a miserable prison, and an accusation or charge brought against me for robbery of timber.

I became very ill with fever, and was taken out of prison and sent to my house. After my recovery nothing more was said to me until the 12th of February last, when I was again arrested on the same charge and again thrown into prison, where I have remained, and from whence I am now writing. Confined here with the most reckless class of criminals, lepers and Indians, with all classes of diseases, I have once come near dying, and am still in wretched health. Mr. Leetch has offered to give any amount of bond required for me, but it is refused. The judges are ail acting in the most illegal and extraordinary manner, and are men of utter irresponsibility, who, outside of their clique have not the respect of the most ignominious Indian. I have formally accused them all before the tribunal. I feel that I am the subject of a deliberate conspiracy, planned to satisfy private malice. Innocent of the accusation brought against me, my character having been hitherto untarnished, and after being a prisoner for more than fourteen months without trial, and a determination being evident not to allow me one, and seeing no end of this matter in the near future, I make a positive and urgent appeal to you, as my minister, to take immediate telegraphic action to secure my liberty and rights as an American citizen, for I will die in this horrible prison, which, from its crowded and unhealthy condition can be truthfully compared to the Black Hole of Calcutta.

I ask only a faithful and prompt execution of the laws of the country, which would set me free, and I appeal to you as the representative of our nation to afford me the assistance which is in your power, and which I feel sure you would have sooner extended had you been fully cognizant of the facts of the case.

Awaiting your reply before taking further steps, I am, &c.,