National Republican., 1877-09-04
POLITICAL NEWS.
AT THE EXECUTIVE MANSION AND
DEPARTMENTS.

"A NOVEL QUESTION OF INTERNATIONAL
LAW BETWEEN FRANCE AND THE UNITED
sTATEs-DtsPUTE As TO WHERE JURIsDIc-
TIoN BEGINS AND ENDS.
The Attorney General Is In receipt Of an
ollicid communication from tho United States At.
torncy al New York. announcing the arrest OF
three persons OF tho American brig c. G. Swecny
upon which the fir>t mate, Henry Harris, was muir
dcrcd By Edward Smith. an English sailor, on
tic 18th OF last May, Just Us the vessel had cleared
tho harbor Of lIavrc. F.ancr. Tho facts involved
In this case are OF most complicated nature, and
suggest quite novel question OF International
law. narpcars that Smith, who had been drink
Ing considerably. upon being ordered TO do certain
duties refused to obey. and whom First Mate Harris
attcnp'ed tn enforce his authority Smith knocked
lin down. Smith was then ipined by two other
sailors, and the three attempted general mutiny,
firing right and left, IN which Harris, the first
mate. was shot through the heart by Smith and
killed The steam Tug which had pilo,ed the YES
sci out of the harbor had jut Let &" the vessel and
the French pilot who hal not yet lcit the vessel,
narrowly escaped in a row boat from being mur.
dercd by Smith.
PA sailor named wcbbcr. al the helm. sent up the
signal OF distress, which was responded 10 by the
| Government authorities. who came on board.
Smith, who had led tho mut!ny, and whose shot
killed Harris. was arrested and taken To IIavre.
inN vessel tlCn nFOcecuei OIL It's way, ana arrived
In New York harbcr last Friday night The dep
| MY United States marshal who discovered the
vessel, arrested the only persVns Oh board who
were witnesses TO the murder. Their names are
Anton IIarllng, second mate; Thomas T.. Williams
steward: Neils Olsen and John Wcbber sailors.
They were taken before United states Commissioner
| Ducll. III New York, who committed them 10 Ind
low street jhIl t. he held q. witnesses until Smith
and his three oompauiOrS are cStradltcd from
France. where they being tried at Roucn for an
attempt to take the life of the French pilot.
| II l. believed, however. that the French Govern
meni II not surrender the prisoners 10 the United
States, hut that thoy will he guilotned for thc.i
nucmptto kill the pilot. II Is also assumed that
they claim that the offenSc was committed within
| the French coast limits The question Of cNtradi
tiOn has been submitted to the authorities here
aud District Attorney woodfcrd isawating instruc
tionS upon the question The witnesses who arc
held think II the duty Of the Secretary Of State tC
ascertain Immediately whether or not the Ffcncl
Government intends to uso them as witnesse
against the prisoners. aud to inform them whethe
the prisoners arc to be extradted II not they con
slider 1t unnecessary for them to be held In jail an,
desire their liberty. The United States authorize
claim that when an ofenso Is committed OH Al
American vessel amer she had left port thcy alon'
can try the case. Meanwhile the prisoners ar
hold by the French Government for trial becaus
of the assault on the pilot, The matter Is now be
Ing Investigated by the Attorney General and Tho
Department Of State. and instructions In the prem
ises will be issued soon.