Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-11-22
Interesting Question as to sluyer,s
Exemption from Arrest.
RECENTLY RELIEVED.

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The State Department has been Informed
that Godfrey Hunter, Jr., son of the
United States Minister at Guatemala City,
to-day shot and killed William Fitzgerald,
of Grand Rapids, Mich. Hunter has talk
en- refuge in the legation, and an interest
ing question has arisen as to his exemp-
ton from arrest.
Important details are lacking in the re-
port Of the affair, which has come to the
State Department, and the officials are in
doubt as to what should be done. They
have no notion of surrendering without
protest an American citizen to the local
courts Of Guatemala unless sa tisfied that
the man is a proper subject for punish
ment. Fitzgerald was shot four times.
Another fact developed was that young
Hunter was accompanied at the time OF
the shooting by the secretary of the lega-
ton. This official is set down in the reg
lister as being James G. Bailey of Ken
lucky. who went to his post in June, 1901
The cablegram. also, rather by sugges-
ton than by direct statement, gave
ground for an inference that the killing
was provoked.
Not Much Known of Slayer.
Not much is known here Of the person.
ality Of Godfrey Hunter. Jr., and it is i'm
possible to learn definitely whether or
not he was actually connected officially
with the United States legation at Qua
temala City. at the time of the killing.
That he had been q clerk or typewriter
in the legation Is established, but in some
nj, fara : aid ho hacJ
been termina ted for some time. This may
be a very important point in settling the
question Of the exemption OF young Hun
ter from arrest, for a legation attache, or
emp!oye, enjoys large part of the ex-
emption conferred by international law
on an ambassador or minister. Another
point that may operate in Hunters favor
is his kinship to the minister.
The excitement in the neighborhood of
the legation in Guatemala City has made
it difficult for the State Department to
obtain any information from any un-
biased person connected with the Legal
ton and not involved in the afrray. There
fore it is probable that it will await some
application from the Guatemalan authori-
ties for the surrender of young Hunter,
and decide Hunters claim to exemption
from arrest on the basis of all the facts
presented.
Relief of DR.. Hunter.
1t is suggested here that the shooting
affray may have been the result of the
recent relief of DR.. Hunter from his post
as minister The Doctor has been steadily
embroiled with members Of the American
colony, almost since he assumed office,
in 1898, and lately, owing to his connec-
tion with a government railroad and 9TH
matters not supposed to be proper for
minister to NEEDLE with, the pressure
became so acute that the department was
obliged to relieve him from office. 1t may
be that Fitzgerald was connected in some
way with the charges made against the
minister.
FitzEcrn1d5s Antecedents.
GRAND RAPIDS, MICH, November e.
William Fitzgerald was born here, and
was about q years of age. Seven or eight
years ago he drifted to Guatemala, where
he held several different government po-
stions. He is said by his relatives here
tc have been private secretary OF the
president of Guatemala for some time
past The last time he was in Grand
Fitzgerald was parlor-car conductor on
the Grand Rapids and Indiana railroad.
YOUNG HUNTERS CAREER.
LOUISVILLE, KY, November IL
Godfrey Hunter, Jr., is we'll known in
Louisville. He is about Is years of age,
and has acted as his fathers private
secretary at the legation in Guatemala
for some time. Young Hunter figured in
a social affair in Louisville. which was
extensively aired about year ago.
James G. Bailey. the secretary of le-
CATION. Is about IS years 6f age, and his
home is thought to be at Middlesboro
He was a candidate. six years ago, or
the Republican ticket, for clerk of the
Court of Appeals. but was defeated.
Fitzgerald. whom young Hunter shot
to-day. made charges about year ago
against DR.. Hunter. He criticised sharp.
~ the way in which DR.. Hunter conduct
ed his office, and made some serious re-
fections on the minister. Fitzgerald,
while on trip to this country. gave
out an interview in New Orleans In
which he scored DR.. Hunter and youn.,
Godfrey severely.
1