The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-03-13
NILES Of RED TAPE
Must be UnWound Before the
Sister Republic
WILL LET WATCHER 60
Man Arrested Plays Insane
Identity Not Doubted.

Guthrie, o. T.. March 12-Deputy
United States Marshal Bill Fossett and
Sheriff Kelly, of Kihghsher county, re-
turned Saturday from Mexico. where
they went last Sunday with the proper
papers to take possession Of James
Watcher, the murderer of Colonel John
F. Stone, but they returned without their
prisoner, simply because the Mexican
laws must be properly observed in turn
ing over prisoner to another country.
In explanation of their failure the Capital
says: 1t is proper, according to the
Mexican statutes, that in cases of the
Watcher brand, each particular part Of
the crime and its history must be sub
mitted to the Mexican department Of
state, where it will be thoroughly con-
sidered and acted upon. The matter will
then be passed down through all the
lower departments each of which will
consider and pass upon it, until it finally
reaches the police department, which
may have the prisoner in charge. Here,
also, it is considered. II at last, all the
officials are firmly convinced that the
prisoner is the man wanted by the apply
ing country, he is turned over to the
tape must be observed as strictly as must
Uncle Sans on any like occasion. All
this considering and passing upon yill
take up about thirty days and at the
expiration of that period Deputy Foster
and Sheriff Kelly will return for their
man.
There is no danger of Watcher escap-
ing. Locked behind the bars of a typi-
cal Mexican Jail at Juarez he is guarded
by a strong force of men, who are in
turn guarded by another stronger force.
He has not one chance in a thousand of
escaping alive. Mexico can hold man
for thirty years if necessary, without
even a preliminary hearing.
The man, arrested and in the Juarez
Jail, is playing the insanity dodge. He
claims he never heard of Oklahoma be-
fore, does not know it is on the map, is
surprised that he should know anything
of Colonel Stone, King7fsher or any other
Oklahoma man, city, time or place. He
did not know Bill Fossett or Sheriff
Kelly, so he claimed, although both Off
GERS are certain that he IS the right man.
The Mexican authorities state that,
acting on Governor Barnes telegram,
Watcher was arrested. He applied for a
job on February s, to a Mr.. Pierce, and
secured a place, working for his board.
He announced himself a native Of Cali
fornia, explaining that he was waiting
for some money from an uncle to take
him back home. He frequently inquired
for mail and was arrested at the post
office while getting mail, the postmaster
designating him to the officer as James
Wilson" under which name Watcher
sailed in that vicinity He gave out
that he is married but separated from
his wife. He answers perfectly to the
description given of Watcher, except he
is smooth shaven- There is no doubt,
however, but that the AIexicans have the
right man Both Fossett and Kelly iden-
titled him. Deputy Fossett says the gold
watch which Wilson carried when
arristed, answers in every particular, the
description of Colonel Stones watch
Both officers are sure of their man.
But what is still more discriminating, is
the fact that wilson had in his pocket
clippings from the Oklahoma State Capt.
tai, giving the details of Colonel Stones
murder and a full history of the crime.
Other news clippings We're also found,
besides several letters from his family,
mailed at different points in Oklahoma.
It is only technical delay in securing
possession of the prisoner. The Mexican
laws must be adhered to. He IS in the
hands of the eAIxican authorities, and