The herald., 1895-06-27
THE Staying OF RENION
Honduras Is to Punish the
Murderers
JUSTICE COMES AT LAST
Three Arrests Have Been Made by
the Government
Story of the Killing of an American Citizen
in South American Country-A
Wifes Heroism

Associated Press Special Wire.
WASHINGTON, June 26.-As the re-
suit of much vigorous urging and press
ing by the state departm ent, the govern
ment of Honduras has been brought at
last to take steps to punish the people
who committed the Renton murder, and
today cablegram was received from Mr..
Pringle. United States charge d 'affaires
at Guatemala, stating that he had received
a telegram from the Honduras minister
of foreign affairs announcing that three OF
the persons implicated in Renton's mur-
der had been arrested. This case has
been managed from the beginning by AS
sistant Secretary Uhl, and 1t is expected
that the firm stand of the state depart
ment in tns matter will have good
effect upon the status of American citi-
zens in all the small republics of Central
America.
The treaty between the United States
and Honduras contains provisions
guaranteeing in the strongest terms full
rights to protection for citizens of one
country sojourning in the other but
heretofore in all these Central American
countries the governments have made
few efforts to give effect to such treaty
cerned One peculiar feature of the Rem
ton case is that all of the parties to the
murder were foreigners and not native
Hondurans. Because of their prominent
positions and iniluenace with the lesser
native officials it has been difficult to in
duce the government osmove against
them. Six persons were concerned in
the murder. but it is believed as result
OF vigorous prosecution of the case by our
government three of them have fled the
country and escaped.
Charles Renton. his wife and niece
lived ON fine estate neal Brewers La
goon, Honduras. 1t was valuable prop
erty. largely owing to'Renton's enterprise.
Near his place was large Plantation
held by nun ber of foreigners who COW
eted Renton's land. They sought to drive
him off by systematic persecution for a
long time, but this proving of no avail,
resort was had at last to violence and fire.
March 10th OF last year Renton, who had
valnly sought for the protection of the
local authorities, was murdered in cold
blood. his wife. who tried to assist him
in his defense, was shot through the
wrist, the house and crops destroyed and
her child and hiece were driven into the
jungle. She made her way with difficulty
and after great hardship to the coast and
managed to reach the United States, COM
ing to Washington. She laid her case
personally before the state depart
ment. in the middle of March. Mr.. Uhl
cabled the United States minister on March
18th that the naval investigation had
fully established Renton's m urder and d-
rected him to urge the Honduran govern
ment to prompt action and the minister
responded that he had made the repre-
sentations. On March 23d he cabled that
the Honduran government had ised
to take prompt action in the case, but ap-
parently they were still behind in carry
ing out their promise, for on May oath,
nearly month later. Mr.. Uhl found it
necessary to cable Minister Young again
that the president was disappointed that
Honduras had not acted promptly ana
directing the minister TO again press the
claim and report progress. This seems to
have at last moved the government, for on
May 26th Minister Young cabled that "a
result of his urgency the Honduran gov
ernme mt had assured him it would prose-
cute the case with the utmost vigor and
hoped soon to report satisfactorily upon
the matter.