Morgan to José Fernandez, August 26, 1884
Mr. Morgan to Mr. Fernandez.
Sir: I have again to call your honor’s attention to the case of Mr. Howard C. Walker, the circumstances of which are fully related in my notes to your honor of the 13th of March and 15th of May, of the present year, respectively.
Since your honor’s note to me of the 15th May I have received further information concerning the condition of this unfortunate man.
He was accused, as I have heretofore informed your honor, of having stolen a number of logs of wood, which were said to have been laden on the Norwegian vessel Circassian.
The vessel was unloaded, and no timber with the marks which it was alleged Mr. Walker had stolen were found thereon.
Nevertheless he was still kept in prison. His health failing, he was released, and he remained at liberty for some months, when he was remanded to prison, where he remained another series of months, when, his health again failing him, he was released upon furnishing a bond of $40,000. I am informed that the property which he is alleged to have taken was never worth $2,500.
He has endeavored repeatedly to have his case tried, but in vain. The authorities will do nothing. He cannot leave the country if he desired to do so, because his bond would be forfeited if he did, and his friends would be forced to pay $40,000.
He has been under arrest since the 19th of March, 1883, and he has never been able to obtain a trial. This is tantamount to an absolute denial of justice. It is even worse than this in my judgment.
It is the wanton exercise of power in the authorities under whose jurisdiction he is punished for a crime which the records, as I am informed, show he was never guilty of.
On the 17th of March last your honor informed me that you had asked information upon the subject from the governor of Vera Cruz, and on the 28th of May last you informed me that that official had in his turn asked for information thereof from the superior tribunal of justice of that state, since when I have heard nothing from your department upon the subject.
I have therefore to request that your honor’s Government will take the necessary steps to secure to this citizen of the United States a trial, or in default thereof that the bond exacted of him be annulled, and he be set at liberty.
I renew, &c.,