The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-22
GODFREY HUNTER KILLS A MAN
son or OUR MINISTER TO GUATE-
.MALA IN TROUBLE.
After shooting VIM. Fttzgerald Of Michi.
San. He Takes Refuge In the American
Legation in Guatemala City Minister
Hunter Refuses to Surrender Him.

Legation IN Guatemala 0Ny-Mtnlster
Hunter Refuses to surrender Him.
WASHINGTON. Nov. "A telegram re-
ceived at the State Department this after
noon from James c. McNally. the United
States Consul-i General at Guatemala City,
contained the information that W. Cod
frey Hunter. Jr.. a son of the United States
Minister to Guatemala and Honduras.
had taken refuge in the American lega-
ton, after having shot and killed William
Fitzgerald Of Grand Rapids Mich. The
telegram indicated that the secretary of
the United States legation at Guatemala
City, whose name was not given. was i'm
plcated in the affair and had also placed
himself under Minister Hunters protec-
ton. James G. Bailey Of Kentucky is
the secretary Of the Legation there. and
II is not doubted that he is the man
referred to.
Consul-General McNally said in his mes
sage that young Hunter shot his victim
four times. Minister Hunter, he said,
claimed for his son diplomatic immunity
from arrest and would not surrender him
TO the Guatemalan authorities When the
Consul-General's despatch was sent. great
excitement prevailed around the legation
State Department officials were very reti-
cent In regard TO the contents of the tele-
gram. but from what could be learned il
is believed that the situation is very serious
The great fear OF the Department il that
III
hot-blooded Gua,enalans, which may caus,
trouble between that country and the United
States. w. Godfrey Hunter. Jr., was en-
ployed rs copyist in the legation and
this adds TO the complication Of the
matter, as in addition to being member
of the Minister'S family. he Is virtually ia
the diplomatic service of the United State,
- As soon as Consul-General McNallv's
message was received DR.. David j. Hill
the Assistant Secretary of State, called
Second Assistant Secretary Alvey A, Adce
into conference and later William L. PEN
field, the solicitor of the Department
Secretary Hay was not at the Department
when the message came. hut he was notified
Of its contents A statement of the ca -
was also laid before President Roosevelt.
After considering the matter Messrs
Hill. Adee and Penfield decided not to send
the United States at Guatemala CITY or
to take any action whatever until formal
demand for young Hunters surrender
had been received from the Guatemalan
Government, II is believed by the officials
here that in the meantime Minister Hunter
will be able to Illustrate any attempt to
take away his son and Secretary Bailey
by force.
As a matter of fact the Administ ration
is IN qumuary as 20 what to do under
the circumstances not only because the
immunity from arrest for criminal offence
OF American citizens who are members
OF the family Of an Amer ican Minister or
employed in an American legation has
never been absolutely defined, but because
great danger lies in establishing precedent
which may prove embarrassing in future
cases OF this character concerning either a
foreign diplomatic establishment in WASH
ington or an American embassy or legation
abroad
The shooting Of Fitzgerald by Young
Hunter was the elimination Of a series
OF troubles that have marked the career
OF the Hunters In Central America. The
resignation of Minister Hunter was re-
Gently accepted. his successor has been
appointed and he was preparing to come
home. Charges galore have been made
agains the Minister by Americans residing
" ruatefmala, In some OF which one or
the other OF his two sons was involved
II u not known here whether W Godi rev
Hunter, DR.. or his brother. is the son OF the
Minister against whom Americans in Qua
iemaa have made statements seriously re-
h'ctng IN hi' character. One of the
hunter NJys went into business In Qua
temala, and IT was charged by American
merchants in that country that he was
importing salable goods free of duty
under his fathers immunity from customs
inspection a. a member of the diplomatic
corps II was charged also that ore Of
the M ster 4 sons became involved in q
scandal with the wife of an American rail-
road man. and that an American woman
had committed suicide on account of n
story told her by one of tie Hunters about
the unfaithfulness Of her husband.
Godfrey Hunter. Jr,. lived here six years
ago when his father represented the Third
Kentucky district in Congress. He was
regartet as very agreeable boy and is
said to nave been extremely good looking
He is now about rs wears old He went
TO central America with his father, who
was appointed Minister To Guatemala
and Honduras in November, 1897, by Presi-
dent ckiney, after his defeat for the
United States Senate by William j Deboe'
Secretary Of Legation Bailey is young
Kentucky Republican who, in 1897, was a
candidate for Clerk Of the Court Of An
peals Of his State and was defeated In
700 he was appointed a section chief in
the Census ONCE in Washington, hut re-
signed the following year To accept the
appointment of Secretary Of Legation at
Guatemala City.
One case found in the State Department
records which in some degree fits that Of
Minister Hunters refusal to surrender
his son is that OF the arrest in 1927 of the
coachman Of Mr.. Gallatin, the United
States Minister In LONDON, The coachman
w a n rrn fad in h.. hi. l.