Telegram-herald., 1890-09-05

widow That lie Can Not Act tnDt u
ncialIy Notified of the Circumstances
Attending Her Husbands Death.
WAsuNeT0N, Sept 4. 4.-Acting-Secr
tary Wharton's telegram to the widow of
General Barrundia in reply 10 her mes
sage to the President Monday evening
is as follows:
THE President desires me 70 say he has re
ceived your telegram announcing the death of
your husband. General BarrunGia While deep
IL sympathizing with you ia your aniiction he
awaits ofhcial details OF the occurrence Eeces-
sary 70 determine his action in regard thereto.
The matter you may be assured viii receive
most careful atteationN
Advices from Minister Miner are
awaited with interest. The affair ap-
parently was most revolving one and
as our representative took a leading
part in IL if reports are correct, there is
all the more necessity for such an
investigation, that it may be de-
termined whether the National pol
icy OF the right OF asylum
TO political refugees has been vio-
lated. The career of General Barrundia
had been that of a political adventurer
and his intrigues had made him
specially obnoxious TO the Guatemalan
Government He was plotting to make
himself President in tho place Of Bar
rillas and was accused of having MAZE
himself rich in corrupt ways. His prop
erty was confiscated and he was driven
into exile. He attempted TO enter
Guatemala from the Mexican front
ier, but being prevented by the Mexi
can authorities he sought TO get back to
his country as passenger on neutral
ship under the American flag. Aware
OF his intentions, Barillas had ordered
his capture. dead or alive, wherever
found. As soon. therefore. as the Aca-
pulco touched at San Jose, 10 was in
vaded by an armed band of Guatema-
lans, who demanded Of Captain Pitts the
surrender of his passenger. The Cap
tain promptly reused to give him up
and notified them that if they at
tempted to take him by force he would
call upon the Thetis for help, which
was lying near by. After some parley-
ing the Guatemalans retired, but came
back a few hours later. bearing an order
from Minister Miner for Barrundias
surrender. Captain Pitts was obliged
TO Weld. Tie posse went 10 Barrundias
cabin, and when he stepped out to sur
render himself shot him dead. Such
are the facts in the case as unofficially
reported.
From the point OF view of internation-
al law, IL is contended that the Guate-
malan Government had the right TO de-
mand the person OF Barrnndia, its
enemy, and seize him. even on
a neutral vessel while that YES
sci was within its Jurisdiction. It
clearly was within that jurisdis-
tion, the Acapulco being in a Guate-
malan port and within the marine
league. At the same time the seizure
could not have been effected but for the
personal help OF Minister Miner, and
Il was through his intervention that
the tragedy occurred on the deck Of an
American vessel and under the Amer
lean flag II the facts have been
stated correctly the affair does
no. comport with precedent It
is not the way this country
acted when Koszta was demanded by
Austria. and when some yesrs ago Pres
ident Diaz. of Mexico demanded an OBJ
noxious person who was on board Pa
cihc mail steamer in the port Of Aca-
pulco The United States Govern
ment not only has insisted strenuously
upon the right Of refuge 20 political ex-
Ties. but It more than once has strained
a Doirt = urcSerVe this ~i1ht.
EtSH DYING RY THOUSANDS.