The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-06-30
RENroN,s MURDERERs ARRESTED.
Urged by the state Department, HON
duras at Last Takes Action.


washington City. June Gas the re-
suit Of much vigorous urging and press
ing bv the state department. the govern
r,ers Of Honduras has been brought at
last 10 take steps to punish the peopas
who committed the Renton nlGuNeF' saaa1
today a cablegram was received rom H4.
Pringle. United States charge q an aires q.
Guatemala stating that he had receiNeo
a telegram from the Honduras minister
~ foreign affairs announcing that three
OF the persons implicated in Relftons
murder had been arrested. This case has
been managed from the beginning by AS
sistant Secretary Uhl. and II IS expecteu
that the firm stand OF the state depart
ment in this matter VIII have gooo
effect upon the status OF American Gu,
zens In all the small republic or Cenara4
aynar;ca The treaty between the United
States and Honduras contains provision
guaranteeing in the strongest terms tuii
rights to protection for citizens or one
county sojourniNg In the other. put heiC
tofore in all these Central American
countries the governments have mace Iew
efforts to give effect to such treaty SUP
ulations where our citizens were concern
ed one peculiar feature OF the Renton
case Is that all OF the. parties TO the
murder were foreigners and not native
Honiurarls Because of their prominent
positions and influence with the lesser
native officials It has been difficult 10 IN
duce the government to move against
them. Six persons were concerned IN the
murder. but 1t Is believed that as re-
suit OF the vigorous prosecution OF tho
case by our government, three or them
have fed the country and escaped
Charles Renton. his wife and niece lived
on fine estate near Brewers lagoon
Honduras. 1t was valuable property,
largely owing to Rentons enterprise
10 rl1nfQtiOn
held by a number of foreigners who COW
eted Renton's land. They sought TO drive
him off by systematic persecution for a
long time. and this being of no avail. re-
sort was had at last to violence and force-
March 1s. last year. Renton, who nad
vainly sought for the protection or the
local authorities, was murdered In cold
blood. his wife, who tried 10 assist in the
defense, was shot through the wrist, the
husbands crop destroyed, and her child
and niece were driven into the jungle
She made her way with difficulty and af-
ter great hardship to the coast and man
aged to reach the United States, coming
to Washington City. She laid her case
personally before the state department
In the middle Of March Mr.. Uhl cabled
the United States minister that the naval
investigation had fully established Rem
toms murder and directed him TO urge
the Honduras government to prompt ac-
ton. and the minister responder that ne
had made the representations. On March
% he cablel that the Honduran govern
ment had promised to take prompt action
in the case, but apparently they were
still behind in carrying out their prom
Use. for on May "A, nearly month later,
Mr. IJhl found Ii necessary to cable Min
lister Young again that the president was
disappointed that Honduras had not act
ed promptly. and directing the minister
to again press them and report the pro-
gress. This seems to have at last moved
the gov ernment, for on May 26 Minister
Young cabled that as a result of his urg-
ency the Honduras government had as
sured him II would prosecute the case
with the utmost vigor and hoped soon TO
report satisfactorily upon the matter.
BALLOON ascension Madison mark toSav