The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-11-22
Shooting In Guatemala Involves
International Law
ISSON OF THE U. S. MINISTER
He Has Taken Refuge In Legation and
May Be Exempt From Arrest-Ths
Dead Man Is William Fitz-
gerald of Michigan.

Washington, November M.-The state
department has been informed that God
frey Hunter, Jr., son Of the United
States minister at Guatemala City, to-
day shot and killed William Fitzgerald
of Grand Rapids, Mich. Hunter has
taken refuge in the legation and an in
ternational question has arisen as to his
exemption 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 satisfied that
the man Is a proper subject for punish
ment. Even then II is not at all certain
that the department itself has the right
to waive any legal exemption that the
man might have. International law lays
down the precept that an ambassador or
minister may not of lis own accord sur
render any such exemption in his own
Gaze. closer inspection of the original
advice reveals the fact that the only
name by which the man was known was
filZB0Edlu. Tie WAS SHOt IOuT Times.
Another important fact developed was
that young Hunter was accompanied at
the time Of the shooting by the secretary
of legation. This official is set down Ill
the register as being James G. Bailey of
Kentucky. who went to his post in June
1901.
Killing Was Provoked.
The cable also-rather by suggestion
than by direct statement-gave ground
for an inference that the killing was pro-
yoked. Not much is known here of the
personality of Godfrey Hunter. JR, and
it is impossible to learn definitely wheth-
er or not he was actually connected Of
ficially with the United States legation
at Guatemala City at the time of the
killing. That he had been a clerk or type
writer in the legation is established. He
was certainly a member of the ministers s
family, and that fact might be regarded
as sufficient to base claim of exemp-
tion.
1t is suggested here that the shooting
affray may have been the result of the
recent relief of DIR. Hunter from his post
as minister. The doctor has been stead
lily embroiled with members of the Amer
lean colony almost since he assumed Of
flee in 1892 and lately, owing to his con-
nection with government railroad and
other matters, not supposed to be proper
for a minister to meddle with, the pres
sure became so acute that the department
was obliged to relieve him from office 1t
rCay be that Fitzgerald was connected in
some way with the charges against the
minister
Fitzgerald From Michigan.
Grand Rapids Mich. November 21-Wil-
liam Fitzgerald was born here and was
about 27 years of age. Seven or eight
years ago he drifted to Guatemala where
he held several different government po-
sitions. He Is said by his relatives here
to have been private secretary of the
President of Guatemala for some time
past. The last time he was in Grand
Rapids was two years ago. At one time
Fitzgerald was parlor car conductor on
the Grand Rapids and Indiana railroad
Godfrey Hunter Well Known.
Louisville, November H.--Godfrey Hun
ter Jr., is well known in Louisville. He
is about % 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 and was extensively aired
about a year ago.
DR.. Hunter and his son came to Louis
VILE last winter Young Hunter was
taken seriously III while here and for
a time his life was dispaired of.
James G. Bailey. secretary of the lega-
tion is about 35 years old, and his home
is thought to be at Middlesboro. He was
a candidate six years ago on the republi-
can ticket for clerk of the court of ap-
peals, but was defeated.
Dr. Hunters Oldest son, William is a
resident of the city. He has no news
except that indicated In the press dis
patches.
Fitzgerald Made Charges.
Fitzgerald. whom young Hunter shot
and killed today. made charges about a
year ago against DR.. Hunter. He criti,
cized sharply the way In which DR.. Hun
ter conducted his office and made some
serious reflections upon the minister.
Fitzgerald, while on a trip to this CITY.
gave an interview at New Orleans In
which he scored DR.. Hunter and young
Godfrey severely
He announced that he would prefer
charges against DR.. Hunter at Washing
ton. but the matter was never taken up
by the state department