Hoppin to Frederick T. Frelinghuysen, September 2, 1882

No. 140. Mr. Hoppin to Mr. Frelinghuysen.

Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith an extract from the Times newspaper of yesterday, in which it is stated that Mr. Meany informed the court at Ennis, the day before, that he was acting, in the proceedings he was taking, under instructions from this legation and on the advice of the American Government. This was repeated in other newspapers.

As the only communication we have had with Mr. Meany was to inform him and his friend Mr. Collier that Mr. Lowell was investigating his case under instructions from the Department of State, I thought it proper to correct at once this statement which he is reported to have made, and I accordingly addressed a note to Lord Granville on the subject which was delivered at the foreign office this morning and a copy of which I forward herewith.

I have the honor, &c.,

The press association Ennis correspondent says that Mr. Stephen J. Meany, correspondent of the New York Star, who was arrested on the 10th of August under the crime prevention act, and bound over in his own recognizances, attended yesterday at the police barracks in accordance with instructions from the American legation in London to surrender to his bail. The subinspector, however, declined to take any action and referred him to Mr. Purcell, stipendiary magistrate. Mr. Meany, acting on advice from the American Government, is determined to test the legality of his arrest, and has adopted this mode of bringing the question to a decisive issue.