Upon my arrival at Manila I put in a complaint against Captain
Barcello, and also against Padre Moreno and the commandante of
the district, as accomplices in the above fraud and robbery.
The case dragged along, as is customary in Spanish countries,
and about a year later my funds were all exhausted. At this
time a Spanish friend at Manila, acquainted with my misfortunes,
took me to his home and lent me some money, shortly afterwards
sailing for Europe.
With this money I returned to Love, expecting to find at least
a portion of my timber left which I intended to ship. Upon
arriving at Love I found that Captain Barcello had been there
before me and had seized and shipped everything but a few
worm-eaten logs. Barcello had even hauled the timber I had cut
in the mountains, and aided by his accomplices had cleaned me
out entirely during my absence.
I saw it was no use to complain further, and so I set to work to
cut some more timber, and after much trouble and expense got two
cargoes ready and left for Manila, intending to go from there to
Hong-Kong to sell what I had last cut.
Learning that Barcello was in Manila and was about to leave for
Hong-Kong, I applied to the Alcalde, Señor Torranco, who had
my suit in charge, to stop Barcello from leaving the country,
as my case against him had not yet been decided.
This didn't benefit me much, as the Alcalde wouldn't grant my
request, and although a case of robbery and fraud was pending
against him, Barcello was allowed to leave without hindrance.
I then applied for my passport, but to my surprise this was
refused me, on the ground that my suit should first be decided.
I then returned to Love, having authorized Charles Germain to
charter for me, and in due time I had despatched three cargoes
to Hong-Kong, but finding that my presence in Hong-Kong would be
absolutely necessary for the success of my business I applied a
second time for my passport, and was again refused.
Thinking that if I offered security I would be allowed to leave
the town, I named a friend who was willing to go on my bond, but
the Alcalde shut me off from this chance by sending his clerk to
my friend's house, and succeeded in so frightening him that my
friend withdrew his name as my bondsman.
I know that this act was done deliberately, as at this time,
and during the whole of my suit, the Alcalde was on the most
intimate terms with Captain Barcello.
My next step was to protest against Señor Torranco trying or
hearing my case, as I showed conclusively that he was hand and
glove with Barcello. This had the desired effect, and the case
was transferred to another Alcalde. Torranco had, however, served
his friend well: he had stopped my passport at a vital point in
my business on a frivolous pretext.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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