New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-22
REFUGEE IN A LEGATION
MINISTER HUNTERS son KILLS A MAN
IN GUATEMALA CITY.
STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS CONSIDER
ING THE QUESTION OF SURRENDER
ING HIM FOR PUNISHMENT.

Washington, Nov. 21.-The State Department
has been Informed that Godfrey Hunter. jr.. son
of the United States Minister at Guatemala City
shot and killed William Fitzgerald. of Grand
Rapids, Mich. to-day. Hunter has taken refuge
In the legation. and an interesting question has
arisen as 10 his exemption from arrest
Important details are lacking in the report of
the affair which has come to the State Depart
ment, and the officials are in doubt as to what
should be done. They have no notion OF sur
rendering an American citizen without protest
to the local courts of Guatemala unless salts
fed that the man is a proper subject for pun
ishment. Even then 1t is not at all certain that
the department itself has the right to waive any
legal exemption the man might have Inter
national law lays down the precept that am
hsssador minister may not OF his own accord
surrender any such exemption in his own case
Fitzgerald was shot four times, Another i'm
portant fact developed was that young Hunter
was accompanied AT thee4Iirne OF shooting by
the secretary of the legation. This official is set
down in the register as James G. Bailey, of Ken
tucky. who went to his post in June, 1901. The
cable dispatch also, rather by suggestion than
by direct statement. gave ground for an infer
ence that the killing provoked
Not much is known of the personality of God
frey Hunter. jr. and it is impossible to learn
definitely whether or not he actually con-
nccted officially with the United States Legation
at Guatemala City the time of the killing.
That ne had been a clerk typewriter in the
legation is established, but in some quarters 1t
Is said that this connection had been terminated
for some time. This may ne important point
I'm settling the question Of the exemption Of
young Hunter from arrest. for a legation at
tache or employe enjoys large part OF the eX-
emptons conferred by international law on an
ambassador or minister.
Another point which may operate in Hunters
favor is his knship to the minister. He was
certainly a member of the minister's family,
and that fact might be regarded sufficient
to base claim of exemption However. al
ready indicated. the State Department is NOV
ing with caution in the matter preferring To
develop all the facts before esta blishnC i'm
portant precedent. The excitement in the neigh
borhOod of the legation in Guatemala City has
made IL difficult for the State Department to
obtain information from any unbiased person
connected with the legation and not involved
in the afray. Therefore il is probable that ii
will await some application from the Guate
malan authorities for the surrender of young
Hunter and decide his claim to exemption from
arrest on the basis of all facts presented.
II is suggested here that the shooting affray
may have been the result of the recent relief
of DR.. Hunter from his post minister He
has been embroiled with members of the Amer
lean colony most of the time since he assumed
office in 1891 and lately. owing TO his connec-
tion with a government railroad and other mat
terS not supposed TO he proper for a minister
to meddle with, the pressure became acute
that the department obliged TO relieve him
nected in some way with the charges against
minister