Julius White to By the President: Wm. M. Evarts, November 1, 1880

No. 289. Mr. White to Mr. Evarts.

Sir: Regarding the case of Aaron Weill, the subject of my dispatch No. 160, of the 16th ultimo, I have to state that he is still detained in prison.

On the 19th ultimo I again addressed the acting minister of foreign affairs, Count Limburg-Stirum, on the subject, in a note, a copy of which is inclosed. In explanation of one part of the note I may say that Count Limburg-Stirum, in my first interview with him upon the subject, cited the proverb “ignorance of the law excuseth no man,” and hence I took pains to again remind him more distinctly than before that it was not Weill’s ignorance but his knowledge of the law, as both sides until then understood it, which led him into difficulty. Having again received a note from Weill, dated the 26th ultimo, stating that he was still detained, I, on the 28th ultimo, sent another note to the foreign office, of which a copy is also inclosed.

On the 30th ultimo I received from the acting minister of foreign affairs a note stating that, on the strength of the additional views presented by me, he had requested of the governor of Alsace-Lorraine a thorough and speedy reconsideration of Weill’s case.

I have, &c.,