Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-01-12
GARRULOUs FRANKS.
The California U. S. Marshal Thaws Out
Quite Too Readily.

The California u. S. Marshal Thaws Out
Quite Too Readily.
fCopyrigd 1888, by tie California associated Press.l
WASHINGTON, January 11th.-Marshal
Franks has not yet received he says, his
warrant for the arrest of Benson, who has
been in prison in Copenhagen over a month.
At the State Department, Third Assistant
Secretary Moore told your correspondent
to- day that the warrant for the surrender
of Benson to Franks had been made out
and sent to the Department of Justice.
The Marshal says he was instructed to
keep the object of his mission here a pro-
found secret. He registered under an as
sumed name at Wizards, and then fell
into the hands OF California acquaintance,
to whom he confdentially confided the
purpose of his visit. His confidence was
betrayed, and tonight he is bitterly Ia
menting his indiscretion.
The only reason Franks assigned for de-
string to keep his mission secret is that he
was instructed by the Department of JUS
tice TO say nothing of his movements. He
has therefore disobeyed the orders of his
superior, and his garrulity may lead to Sc
rlous consequences.
HOW BENSON WAS CAUGHT.
Several weeks ago, in the dispatches
from Washington, was published a report
of the arrest of an American named Ben
son in Copenhagen, by English detectives
who were on the trail of an English fugi-
tive from justice. The man was travelling
under an assumed name, as was learned by
the officers who took him into custody, and
he was held by the Danish authorities as a
suspicious character who might be wanted
in the United States. His real name was
ascertained to be Benson, and then, the
story is, the officers of the Nevada Bank
who suffered to the tune of over $500, 900
by Benson's surveying operations, and who
afterwards lost the $4,000 bail that Benson
forfeited when he ran away, instructed
their London agents to keep watch on
his movements, and through their vigil
lance he was captured.
The State Department officials say that
all the information in their possession is
that the United States Minister at Copen-
hagen cabled to Washington after Benson's
arrest to know il he was wanted upon any
charge. This cablegram was referred 10
the Department of Justice, together with
the information that no eXtradition treaty
existed between Denmark and the United
States upon which he could be compelled
to return to America Attorney-G eneral
Garland replied that Benson was wanted
badly in San Francisco, and the State De-
partment, through our Minister at Copen-
hagen, was requested to ask the Danish
Government if-as a matter of courtesy
Benson would be detained and surrendered
to duly accredited officer of the United
States. The Danish Government decided
to comply with this request. The Depart
n ent of Justice notified the United States
Court officials in San Francisco. Marshal
Franks secured the necessary papers, and
under the Endorsement of the Department
came to Washington. He called upon
Senator Hearst last evening and told the
object of his mission.
TOO MUCH CHIN MUSIC.
Serious trouble may yet be caused by his
premature revelations, and to-day Franks
realizes that as there is no extradition be-
tween Denmark and the United States, and
as Benson's surrender by the Danish
authorities is purely an act of courtesy,
when the Marshal reaches New York with
his prisoner some of Benson's friends may
think it worth while to sue out a writ of
habeas corpus in New York, or the Eastern
port at which the culprit may arrive, and
II Benson is not set free he may secure
long delay before being taken to San Fran
cisco for trial.
1t is possible he may decide not to take
advantage of any legal technicalities and
go home directly and stand a trial. To
most Californians, term in San Quentin
would be preferable to exile in Denmark,
bat Marshal Franks loquacity has given
Benson's friends a chance to make a fight
for him that could have been avoided had
the Marshal held his tongue. Franks ex-
poets to sail for Liverpool next Saturday.