BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1902-05-15

ulICCLIOl1, LO CCILdlu uOISl, WulCu Was
known to me to be third-c class place.
I took in the situation, and advised the
prisoner to remain quiet till returned.
l hurried to the house of the President G
of Police, whom l awakened He said S
at first that he could do nothing, but
on persuasion and my allusion to some
favors which had been able to do for
him, he finally consented to give an
order for the mans release. provided
would personally vouch for his appea-
rance before the Police Commission the
next morning at ten o'clock. Collateral
was also required About half-past one
the prisoner was released, and restored
to his wife, who had been much dazed
by the stranger occurrences.
The next morning we were all in
court The conductor brought several
witnesses with him. The prisoner had
confessed to me having used the OBJ
noXious expression quoted, and felt |
sure that this would be a case of
Majestats Be1eidigung. He had insulte
and agent of the Government in uni
form, and under the old law this was
an insult to his Majesty the Emperor.
Approaching tge gravity of the situa-
ton, advised a compromise. l asked
the conductor to withdraw the suit,
provided the prisoner would apologize
to him in open court, pay him for lost
time and adjust all other expenses in
CURED in the case But the conductor
was obdurae. He has insulted me,
and through me the King he exclain1-
ed, and purpose to give him the full
extent of the law So we joined issues,
and the testimony was taken.
in summing up the case, appealed
to the Commissioner for mercy on the
ground of the prisoners ignorance Of
!, the laws and customs of the country
and of his open avowal that he did not
} intend to insult or injure any one But
the Commissioner was immovable. The
prisoner was sent enced to pay fine of
} 200 marks or be confined for six weeks
: in Jail. This was subject to the ap-
proval of a higher tribunal and to it
the prisoner, the policeman, and myself
fastened. The Amstrichter went
through the papers describing the
earlier trial, and when he reached the
!, charge that the American had said to
a Government agent in uniform, ALE
, Preussen sind Spitzbuben, he arose
, from his seat, and in burst of indig-
nation shook his fist in the prisoners
face, saying. I'll show you where the
!Spitzbuben are; I'll put you where the
dogs can't get you.
cat this juncture l stepped forward
and said quietly but firmly: Your
Honor, unless you can show me that
you are invested with the power to ad-
minister corporal punishment to a pri-
soner before you on charge of his
kind, | must protest against your treat
ment of the defendant At first he
was inclined to resent my interference,
but when / told him was present in
the capacity of a United States Consul
his deneanor changed somewhat He
affirmed the finding of the Commits
sioner, however and on appeal l carried
the case to thu court of last resort.
The District Attorney allowed the case
to come up at once. The news of it
had spread through the city, and many
American and Anglish tourists came
out to the trial. 1t lasted Que hour.
The defendants fine was cut down to
$50 marks, with costs amounting to 40
marks more. He paid it at once, and
with his wife hurried to the railroad
station. AS he sat in the open window
of his compartment 1 said to him.
Now, Mr. Blank, remember that silence
is golden He replied: 1 purpose to
keep my month closed tight and my
eyes wide open until I get out of this
country; but when am absolutely
certain that l have crossed the border I
shall open my mouth as wide as the
delta Of the Mississippi and tell what I
know about this effecte civilization
but here the noise of the moving train
drowned his further comments.
"On returning to the consulate found
and Irisman waiting to hear the results
of the trial, who asked, How many :
words did he say, that got him into this
l answered, Only four Well
was his response, if he had anything \
like that to say again, it would be
m ghty sight cheaper for him 70 stay in A