The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-05-02
THE STATUS
ExTRADIT|ON.
Complete SYSTEM Among the
Nations Being Completed.
HAVENS FOR CRIMINALS FEWER
Secrecy Of Work Of Securing Return Of
Criminals and How II Is Done.
NO TREATIES WITH SOME NATIONS
On The Matter Of exlradilIrg Fugitive Criminals.
Grea Britain and the Unisd States Have
The Mos, Just System.
NO TREATIES WITH SOME NATIONS

Foreign havens for fugitive criminals
are becoming scarcer each year, says
| Washington dispatch to the New York
Tribune. 1t is almost impossible now
| for a man TO commit even the smallest
kind of "A crime in the United States
| and find a country OF refuge from
which he can not be extradited. Yet,
Notwithstanding the constantly grow
ing scarcity OF such asylums. with each
succeeding year more and more crimi-
| nails attempt TO escape punishment by
fleeing To distant parts.
Modern rapid transit offers greater
temptations for flight than did the
slow transit of former years. Latter
day fugutives from justice. however,
overlook the fact that extradition laws
and treaties have kept peace with i'm
provements in transportation. This
| may be due to the secrecy with which
extradition work is conducted. In fact.
little or nothing has been published
through which the criminally inclined
could learn of the Increased facilities
and advanced methods OF extradition.
The work is all done'through the So
licitor of the state department. AL
though as distinctly a branch of the
handling OF diplomatic affairs, extradi-
ton has nothing 10 do with the laws OF
nations. In the entire calendar of crime
piracy Is the only International offense
The next nearest approach to such an
onense is the murder of the ruler of a
country. The killing of the ruler OF a
country in open rebellion is not even
an extraditable offense. International
law does not require one nation to
hand criminals over to another: there
fore the" transfer of accused persons
from one country TO another is simply
matter OF reciprocal courtesy. The
United States never surrenders fugi-
tives unless IL has an extradition treaty
with the country from which they have
fled. This treaty must also cover the
crimes with which they are charged.
And there are but few instances re-
corded where the United States has
asked for the surrender of fugitive
criminal from another country as an
act of courtesy without treaty.
Fairly complete treaties exist with
Austria Hungary, Baden, Bavaria. Bel
gium Colombia Ecuador. France,
Great Britain, Hayti Italy. Japan.
Luxembourg Mexico, the Netherlands,
Nicaragua. the North German Confed-
GRAFTON. Norway, Prussia. other states
of the Germanic confederation. Russia,
San Salvador, Sweden and Switzerland.
tina, Brazil and the Orange Free State.
Up to 1890 this country had asked for
the surrender from other countries of
$40 fugitive criminals, and the number
of acquisitions made by others coun-
tries upon the United States up to the
same period was 604. of which number
only 237 were honored. Since 1890 149
criminals have been surrendered to 9TH
er countries
or nI~ II N ~
Usually all the expenses OF extradi-
tions are borne by the countries re-
questing them. The expenses attached
to American acquisitions are borne by
the counties of the state wanting the
fugitives, The United States bears the
expense only in case OF violators of the
United States laws, such as counter
feiting and mail robbing. The average
cost OF bringing a fugitive back TO this
country is s400 and In many cases the
crime does not warrant this outlay. In
the case of Carpenter and other en-
ployes of the Railway OF Northern
France the cost TO the French govern
ment was nearly 100000 francs. The
rule there and in most other countries
is to follow up even trivial cases, IL
they are covered in the treaties, as u
matter OF example.
Fully half the extraditing is done
with as much secrecy as Is the work
OF the secret service. The telegraph
and cable play their part. If a criminel
is known TO have fled from an Amer-
can state to a foreign country. the gov
eminent Of the state wanting him or
her. as the case may be. informs. the
secretary Of state. IL the fugitive Is
expected to land in England, for In
stance, the secretary of state cables the
United States ambassador at London
TO ask for the provisional detention OF
the fugitive pending the arrival of for
NAL papers. The ambassador commu-
ncates with the British foreign office.
and the latter with Scotland Yard. The
fugitive Is arrested, taken before
magistrate and committed 90 await the
arrival OF the papers accusing him OF
a treaty offense The Burden diamond
robbers were apprehended in this way
In London.
After fugitive has been temporar-
fly detained. the governor OF the state
desiring him sends what information
and evidence he has against the ac-
cused 10 the secretary OF state. The
papers are examined by the solicitor OF
the state department. The Information
filed against tie accused must contain
afiidavits OF witnesses showing the
commission OF a crime enumerated in
the treaty with the country 60 which
the accused has taken flight. III the in
and the crime Is extradltable. a 'presi-
dents warrant is prepared by the
state department. This is signed by
the president and authenticated by the
foreign ambassador or minister IN
Washington. II is then delivered ~ the
governor making the request or 20 his
agent, usually some detective OF his
state. The detective proceeds 20 Lon
don or any other given capital and
places himself I'm charge OF the United
states Ambassador. who makes a for
NAL request. by authority of the presi-
dents warrant for the surrender or the
fugitive. The latter may employ coun-
sci and make a fight against "eturning
tn America. or be- may surrender hin
self without counsel or hearing. The
time required 10 secure tho offender de-
pends entirely upon his ability 10 dis
cover iechnicslliies in tho treaty b.
tween the two countries. The case may