Mr. Patenôtre to Mr. Wharton.

[Translation.]

Mr. Secretary of State: I have the honor to call your attention to the following facts which have been brought to my notice as having taken place on the 30th of May last, in the little city of Jeannette, Westmoreland County, Pa. Mr. Auguste Lelang, one of my countrymen residing in that locality, wishing to celebrate Decoration Day, hoisted the American flag between two French flags from his second story window. During his absence one Thomas Spiers, a policeman of West Jeannette, accompanied by two other persons, climbed up to the window in which these emblems were placed, tore down the French flags, threw them into the mud, and tore them. I at first refused to believe that such an act had been perpetrated. It seemed the more inexplicable since the Federal Government, as I am happy to state, has always been glad to assign a place to France when the War of Independence was to be commemorated, and since, on that very 30th day of May, I was requested to furnish a tricolored flag for the decoration of La Fayette’s statue. Before asking your attention to the facts in question, which were communicated the very next day to our consul at Philadelphia, I took pains to ascertain their correctness.

You will find inclosed a report of the investigation which has just been held on this subject, at the request of our consul, by Capt. Lejeune, a chevalier of the Legion of Honor, who resides at Jeannette. This report is signed by three of the residents, who were present when the flags were seized and torn. The facts, moreover, do not appear to be disputed. As you will see, the chief of police of Jeannette censured the conduct of his subordinate, but declared that he could not dismiss him, except in obedience to superior orders.

You will doubtless think, as I do, that the best way to close an incident that is so much to be regretted, would be to remove at once an officer who has been guilty of an act which you will certainly condemn as severely as I do. I take the liberty to insist that this case be promptly settled. Our national holiday, July 14, is near; it will call forth, at Jeannette as well as in all places where there are numbers of French residents, patriotic manifestations which will again be the occasion of placing the flags of our two countries side by side, and it is much to be desired that, at that time, the policeman who has been guilty of so vexatious a violation of duty may no longer be in his present position.

Be pleased to accept, etc.,

Patenôtre.
[Inclosure.]

Investigation relative to the removal, May 30, 1892, of two French flags from the second-story window of Mr. Auguste Lelang, at West Jeannette, Pa., by a policeman who climbed up to the window for the purpose.

To the Consul of France at Philadelphia:

Mr. Consul: On the 30th of May last, Decoration Day, most of the French residents of Jeannette decorated their houses with American flags. Mr. Auguste Lelang, [Page 173] after having first hoisted the American flag from one of the windows in the second story of his house, afterwards hoisted two French flags, one on each side of the American flag.

As the workshops were closed on that day and the workmen were free, they took advantage of the opportunity to go to merry-makings or meetings. Mr. Auguste Lelang was absent all the afternoon, together with his wife and children, and he had locked his door.

At about half-past 7 o’clock in the evening, after the flags had been undisturbed for almost all day, Thomas Spiers, a policeman of West Jeannette, accompanied by a townsman named John Koekerel, both of them being assisted by a man named Harliman, who lent them a ladder, placed the ladder against the front of the house, climbed up and pulled down the two French flags, which they afterwards tore and threw into the mud. Mr. Auguste Lelang had the remnants of these two flags sent to the consul of France at Philadelphia.

Many women and children witnessed this scene, the men being almost all absent. However, Francois Diffemback, a brewer, Joseph Mommaerts, a baker, and Jean Vertingen, also a baker, saw the act and signed this paper, together with Capt. H. Lejeune, chevalier of the Legion of Honor, who was instructed to make an investigation by the consul of France at Philadelphia.

On the day following Auguste Lelang asked the policeman why he had committed that act of violence and brutality. The policeman replied that he was not responsible to Mr. Lelang for what he had done, and that he had pulled down the flags because he wanted to. Mr. Lelaug was not satisfied with this and went to see the squire who has charge of the police of the town, who, while he said that the French residents were right, and disapproved the conduct of the policeman, retained the latter in his place, saying that he was awaiting superior orders before acting.

The foregoing is a correct statement of the facts, and Capt. Lejeune would have informed you of them at once if he had not learned that Mr. Lelang had taken the initiative in the matter.

Consequently the signers of this statement, in which all the French residents of Jeannette concur, they all being proud of their nationality and loving their flag, demand that reparation be made for the insult.

The witnesses signed after the statement had been read to them.

H. Lejeune,

Diffemback,

Joseph Mommaerts,

Jean Vertingen.

State of Pennsylvania,
County of Westmoreland, City of Jeannette, United States of America.

I, a notary public in and for said county and State, hereby certify that the above statement was duly signed in my presence this 15th day of June. A. D. 1892.

[l. s.]
A. L. Bethune,
Notary Public.

Examined and transmitted to the minister of France at Washington.


[l. s.]
L. Vossion,
The Consul of France.