The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-21
THEY COULD NOT ARREST HIM.
uNRRANT ISSUED FOR CAPT.
MRIGLEY OF THE ROUMANIAN.

Court-Intimatcd That Cross war
rants May he sworn out Before the
United states Commissioner.
81 refuse TO permit Capt. Wrisley to
submit to arrest on a warrant issued by
YOU. This court has no jurisdiction over
him ard your constable has no right 10 lay
hands on him for an offense alleged TO
have been committed on a government
transport"
This was what Col W. 5. Bellinger,
United States depot quartermaster, told
Justice Of the Peace Isaac Nathans yes
terday afternoon in the Justices office,
when his constable. acting on the sug-
gestion of ex-Judge A. II. MacDoneH, de-
sired to make technical arrest of Capt.
Wriglev. ouartermaster of the transport
Roumanan.
The constable put his hand on the cap
tain's shoulder. do you consider your
self under arrest?' said he.
Not a Bit" was the captains reply.
'You have no right to arrest me on this
warrant.
at merely want YOU TO make some show
of resistance" said Attorney MacDonell'
'meIeiy in Or0er tndl NhS lat N"A' ~ -
tered on the warrant
Come, captain, they will have to take
YOU by force on such warrant was Col
Bellingers reply, and he and Capt Wrlg-
lev left the office of the justice
This Is one Of the most peculiar cases
that has vet come up from the presence
Of the army here. The warrant the de-
Feuinser and Capt Wrgley was sworn
out Yesterday afternoon before justice
Nathans by Hugh St Clair former sue
ward of the Roumanian. 1t charged capt
Wriglev. The quartermaster Of the trans
port, with pointing a pistol at nm uiIu
threatening to shoot him. The warrant
was served on Capt. Wrigley as ne was
at work In his cabin on the kouIlahiai',
Dreparjng for the departure of the Nessel
to-day for Cuba.
a hit Of spite work" said the captain
ae he handed the warrant back to the con
stable. TELL the judge l Will can at MS
office in a few minutes.
Cant Wrigley hunted up Col. BellinGer'
his superior officer, and with MN went
to Justice Nathan's office. There Col. BE-
finger proceeded to lay down the law as
he understood 1t.
.sYou have no right to issue warrant
against Capt. Wrigley" said he, for an
act alleged 90 have been committed by
him on the transport. The United states
commissioner is the proper official TO issue
such warrant We deny that your court
has any Jurisdiction over the transport
We have come as a matter OF courtesy,
and out of respect for the law to explain
the situation 10 you so that you can with
draw the warrant"
Justice N9thans was surprised. Elk
Judge MacDonell, who is attorney for St
Clair" said he, prepared the warrant, and
] issued it for him. If haven't got au-
thority of course that settles it,
Attorney MacDonell was sent for Col.
Belhnger argued the question with him
The transport he held, was like mili-
tary reserve. An officer on it was amen
able to the military authorities and the
United States courts for any acts commit
ted by him in his official capacity aboard
the vessel and the local courts had no
right to make a case against him.
Attorney MacDonen was just as decid-
edly of the contrary opinion. ION board
transport on shore" he declared, Capt
Wrgley is amenable to the local courts
In whose jurisdiction he may be-
well" said Col. Bellinger in conclusion,
1--WE viii stand on the law as l view It..
I refuse, as Capt Wrigley's superior Off
GER, to allow him 10 recognize this war
rant as valid. Mr.. Constable If you at
tempt TO arrest Capt. Wrigley on that
warrant you must do 50 at your own
risk"
The constable looked as though he did
not appreciate the situation. This is sort
of a funny predicament," said Justice Ma
thans (Which of you two gentlemen is
right anyway?"
Il am" said Col Belnger
$50 am l." remarked the jormer judge
of the City Court
As one way out of the unpleasantness
of the situation Attorney MacDonen sug-
gested technical attempt at arrest with
show Of resistance on Capt. Wrigley 5
part. Justice Nathans agreed to this
Then It was that Col. Bellinger refused
TO allow Capt. Wrgley to become a party
TO show Of being arrested and with him
left the Office, MIR MacDonel accompany
ing them.
Where will we find this man St Clair?'
asked Col. Bellinger of Mr.. MacDone
before they separated. Il want TO Issue a
warrant for him on a charge of appro-
priating government property"
HE is at my office, or at the port SO.
ciety," replied Mr.. MacDonell. And after
you are through with the United States
commissioner, / would like to have him is.
sue a warrant for me-"
The implied threat was not lost on Col
Beilinger and Capt Wrlgley. The former
steward of the Roumanian. they boil
knew, had. since his discharge, been say
ing ugly things about the quartermaster
who had dismissed him from the vessel
The presumption was that St Clair in
tended charging Capt. Wrisley viii
some offense. No warrants were issue,
on either side last night, but it would no
be surprising if to-day produced al leas
one.
Capt. Wrigley holds that The issuing o
warrant against him on the eve of III
departure of the Roumanian. and just a
he was preparing to load troops on her
was intended to annoy him and interior
with his performing his duties. Il dis
charged Steward St. Clair four days ago
said he. and he waited until my busies
time had come before taking this ster
AS a matter of fact, l never drew a pistc
on him, but il was solely because l db
not have pistol TO draw. After dis
charging him went to his room and toll
him that he must account for the silver