The Seattle Barber Who Became a Spy

SEATTLE, April 21.—To the Editor: As to John Waller, United States consul at Tamatave, who has brought himself into so much international prominence by getting himself sentenced to twenty years' imprisonment by a French court-martial, permit me to say there are a dozen or more citizens of Seattle who may be surprised to know that five or more years ago this same John Waller was well known to them. He had often put his arm around their necks, and, suspending momentarily his towel, meekly asked: 'Does your honor pull?' and received, doubtless, an affirmative reply. For this present figure in international relations was not then United States consul, but John Waller, a Black barber on Massachusetts Street. He incidentally practiced law, having been admitted to the Douglas County bar more for the honor than the emoluments. To those acquainted with Waller it is not difficult to believe him guilty of being a spy, and of conveying to the Hovas information of a French attack; the writer alleged that Waller, though able, was 'possessed of an intemperate race prejudice.' In a case once famous for the atrocity of the crime and the swift retributive justice that overtook three of the criminals, he was one of counsel for the defense of a Black woman accused of murder, and conducted the case strictly on race lines. That Waller should have carried his affections and prejudices to the Hovas is not surprising; having obtained secrets of a French attack, he may have carried them to his unfortunate race.