The New York herald., 1873-07-13
TEE GORDON KNOT.
The Manitoba Complication in
a New Light.
Change In PaIlic Opinion Favorable to the
Attempted AbdNctors Of the Absconding
Lord-United States Consul Taylor
on Common Law and Leg Bail

FORT GARRY, Manitoba, July II, 1878.
The most important event on the fourth day OF
the Investigation OF the case or Lord George Cor
don was the Introduction OF papers found in the
possession OF Minneapolis detectives, which was
question OF the legality OF the arrest OF this gen.
tieman. Consul Taylor will publish the following
card in the newspapers tomorrow, developing:
the theory OF the deience:-
TRk UNuED SHAPES CONSUL ON COMMON LAW AND
BAIL.
To THE PUBLIC-Having, in comnOn with the
entire community Inexperienced the clause OF
the legal right to arrest Gordon and the letters
addressed to me on the subject being IN custody,
have availed myself of information derived from
Hon. Il. M. Wilson,, from Minnesota, to present
staten. mt OF the grounds which, II permitted to
appeal, am prepared TO urge upon this Court and
l leel, therefore, justified III making the present
publication.
Gordon was arrested in New York for embezzle-
coming his BAN Tor $37, ,600 Gordon ran away to
Manitoba. AS the bond was about to become l0r-
the oail piece and executes power OF attorney to
Hay authorizing him to act. Hay, with the author
ny, goes with an assistant. TO Manitoba, ana
makes the arrest by common law. bail has the
the right to take mis- principal wherever and when
ever ne can md him. When a prisoner is
leased from prison he is considered in the
continual custody OF his bail This right Is
NOT controlled BY states or national lines,
right has not been taken away by statute treaties
anu extractlOns OF laws have nothing to do with
Gordon Is not sought on account of embezzlement.
bat 20 reileve Roberts OF his liability There is
process, no international arrangement, by which
Roberts can obtain him. No governmental demand
can be legally made or responded to tor the pur
pose of restoring Gordon to his ball Roberts must
take HIM by his common law right. What Roberts
can do his duly authorized agent can do.
The taking OF Gordon, by Hay, was no violation
OF law. The common laW right exists in Manitoba,
uncontrolled by any statute. 1t has been re
guently ruled in the United States that the bail
had the right TO come from one state into another
to take his principal. The Jurisdiction OF the
different States are as distinct as those OF New
York and Manitoba and 1t Is rested wholly on the
common law principle, equally in force mere as
there. With this exposition L submit that the
gravity OF the question involved, as we'll as the
interests OF both countries. requires that all
the testimony which the defence is prepared
to show should be admitted, and, as
On act OF international courtesy, that Mr..
Wilson may be heard during the present
examination. think 1t not inappropriate lOr me
to add, that from an examination and knowledge
OF oil the iacts 1t will appear that there In
tentiOn on the part Of any to violate the inter-
national law or to insult this government, but that
every connected with 1t sincerely believed that
they were acting IN accordance with their legal
right. J. w. TAYLOR, United States Consul.