The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-03-25
STILL IN JAIL.
Edward King Working For Lib
GRAFTON of Americans.
They Are Railroad Hen Now in
Mexican Prisons.

Edward King. an American who has
been in railroad service in Mexico was
in Topeka today on his way to Wash
ington where he will try to secure gov
eminent aid in releasing the ffty-two
American railroad men who are in Mex
lean prisons
The Mexicans have a feeling for
Americans said Mr.. King, something
akin to the feeling the people of the
south had for the northerners during the
civil war, only they are more bitter. An
American cannot do anything to a ia
tive Mexican even in self-defense with
out being arrested and cast into prison.
And the horrors of a Mexican prison are
beyond description he continued.
During the time of the Imprisonment
of the railroad men they sent word to
the American consul, Powell Clayton, of
their condition several times, but he
seemed to be unable to do anything for
the sufferers He protested that his
hands were tied; that he had communi-
Gated with Washington in regard to the
NATTER but that he had not received any
advice IN regard to what course to pur-
sue"
King says that the men are unjustly
imprisoned, and that they are kept in
Jail without being given a hearing. King
himself got some outside parties working
for him, and they secured permission
from those in charge of the prison to
allow him to be released if he would go
and work in Chihuahua province on the
railroad and would appear when his trial
came up. King agreed to this, and his
for him.
AS soon as he got out these same
friends told him to leave the country
which he did, and is now here working
to see if he cannot get his companions
out of that place He is particularly in
tereSted in Conductor GillingWater OF
Topeka and Engineer Frank Moore, who
were not SO fortunate as he, but he says
he is going to do all he can for the other
Americans who are held there in that
horrible prison, there being ffty-two of
them. He is very bitter against the
Mexican government and thinks that the
American government should do more
for its citizens.
while the United States offers pro-
lection to its citizens wherever they may
be on the globe,'' said Mr.. King, the
government has apparently not done all
that it could in this case"
When Mr.. King reaches Washington
he will call on Chester /. Long and Chas.
Curtis and enlist their aid in bringing
the matter to the attention of the proper
officials.
At the same time he will endeavor to
interest the national organizations of the
railway employees associations in aiding
the unjustly imprisoned men.
While Mr.. King is a. free man now he
is out on parole and has been informed
that he must be back in the City Of Mex
leo by April Is to stand trial.
Mr.. King is not soliciting financial aid.
His only object he says is to secure the
release of his companions from their I'M
just imprisonment in the vile Mexican
prisons His Investigations and work in
this country have been carried on at his
own expense. He has only been in the
United States about two weeks since his
release.
In telling his story King stated that he
was a brakeman on the Mexican Cen
trail railroad and on the 18th of Novenl-
Der, the trouble started The fireman on
The engine got into some trouble with
Mexican coal-passer and at the next
station a native brakeman was accl-
denrally run over and cut in two
When they arrived at the end of their
run m the City of Mexico. they were ire
mediateIy arrested and thrown into the
federal prison at that place. He spent
two months and one day there, and he
states that it was the most horrible ex-
perience he ever had. They had no beds
to lie down in and il was the most
filthy place he was ever IN. There were,
besides So American prisoners like him
self, a number of natives confined there.
Many of them were almost striped of
clothing, and they necessarily lived in a
very filthy manner. The horrors Of that
place, he said, cannot be described.