New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-09-06
U4S EZETA KIDNAPPED!

Tho extradition proceedings begun In san
Francisco in the case Of General Ezeta and other
Solyadorcan refugees have brought TO Hght
remarkable ground Of defence. The counsel Tor
tbc refugees have questioned the jurisdiction OF
,he court and have asked to have the evidence
If the officers Of the Bennington taken In order
that # might be shown that the prisoners hau
hoon kidnappcd and brought into an American
mort against thei- will. Judge Morrow tempo
rorlIy oycrr,iled this plea. and allowed the Sal
v,dorcan Government to Introduce evidence Tor
rho cxtraditoh Of the refugees for murder ana
o,her crimes with which they are charged: but
il is hardly credible that the prisoners Will be
surrendered on these grounds when II Is eh'ires
clear that the prosecution Is inspired by politi-
cal motives 1t is to be regretted that Judge
Morrow did not allow the officers Of the Ben
p,pg,on 70 bc examined II he had done So
some very damaging evidence against inc STATE
Department would have been produced
Tho circumstances may be briefly rcco'Inted
There was civil war in Salvador ana "'h'r'i
rzc,, who had been in command OF the Gov
eminent forces. was defeated by the repeis anu
reduced to great straits He took refuge with
four followers on the United STATES suho'''
bennington. asking for protection until the ar
rival Of the mail steamer at La Libcrtad Inc
rebel general demanded their surrender. ana 'he
captain of the Bennington telcgraphed 10 WISH
lngton for instructions. Secretary ''r'shaih
found Il difficult TO come 10 any decision III 'he
matter. and finally the Bennington was ordereu
10 San Francisco. General Ezeta was not sur
rendered 10 the new Government or Salvador'
nor WIS he allowed TO embark on the mail
steamer smiling for Acapulco and other neutral
norris When the Bennington sighted san Fran
cisco II was met by Government Tug anu OF
dorod IA remain out at sea for several days
FINALLY the tug returned with orders for the snip
to enter the barber and General Ezeta and his
followers were then served with papers In the
cxtradtion proceedings
Tho officers Of the Bennington. II they had
been brought into court. would nave 'eS''"eu
that the refugees appealed To them Tor pro'e'-
ton and temporary rights OF asylum mat 'h'!
asked permission 10 20 on board me man s''ah-
or which would have taken them 10 A'apuico'
and that they were detained on the Bennington
carried TO san Francisco. and landed there at'"r
time had been allowed the Savadorean CONSUL
for receiving the cXrad'tion aiildavltS. 1T WIS
nm extraordinary performance on tho part OF the
State Department. and has justified the all'ga-
ton Of the prisoners counsel that they were
kidnapped and brought into an American port
against their will. Secretary Gresham must
have very strange ideas about the right OF asy-
Inn on n man-ofwar when he authorizes the
detention of refugees who were anxious to leave
the shin ut a neutral port. and facilitates
TRANSPARENT attempt on the part OF the Salva'
dorran authorities 10 procure the surrender or
polltlcal Offenders He evidently desires TO re-
verse all the preccdcnts and traditions Of the
department In his dealings with Spanish
America.