The case of the Three Friends has been up in courts again.
You remember how she was seized, and the case against her was dismissed because Judge Locke decided that, as President Cleveland had declared there was no state of war in Cuba, the vessel could not be breaking any laws in carrying merchandise to Cuba.
This decision was appealed against, and was taken into the higher courts for further consideration.
The higher court has decided that as it was known that troubles of a warlike nature were going on, the Three Friends was guilty of breaking the laws, and should never have been set free. Chief Justice Fuller therefore decided that a new trial must be held, and the steamer once more taken into custody.
News comes from Siam that the government there has agreed to arbitrate the Cheek Teakwood claim, in the endeavor to settle which our Vice-Consul, Mr. Kellett, was wounded, as we told you in Numbers 16 and 17 of The Great Round World.
The Siamese government has also agreed to look into the matter of the assault on Mr. Kellett, and punish the guilty persons.
As you will see in Number 17, Mr. Olney hinted that Consul-General Barrett had been over-hasty, and that the Siamese were not to blame.
He made similar remarks about General Lee in Cuba.
He does not seem to want our Consuls to protect our citizens in foreign countries, and it is perhaps a good thing for the nation that he has no longer the power to hinder them in the performance of their duties.