The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-01
Resisting of Police by Marine oficers
Due the Crowd and Mfsunder-
standing of Language.
RELEASE MAY BE SECURED
STATE Departments Is ENERCiS-
ING ITS GOOD OFFICES.
Lynching of Italians I'm This Country
Recalled by Newspapers as Rea-
son for Refusing CIemency.

WASHINGTON, April %. - Secretary
Long has received the following cable
gram from Captain Dayton OF the Chicago.
dated Venice. yesterday, in answer to the
departments inquiry: "Doddridge. Wynne.
Ledbetter. Kress and one marine on leave
arrested. Principal charge. resisting police.
Serious under Italian law. Sentences:
Wynee. four months ten days: remainder.
three months each. Have not yet their full
statements or a report from court. but
they have been applied for. Resisting ar
rest was largely due 10 pressing in OF
crowd and TO misunderstanding language.
Appeal made to Rome. Impossible to ex-
plain all circumstances by cable. VIII
mail full report"
The State Department has begun the
exercise of its good offices in the interests
of the officers of the Chicago. Captain
Dayton's explanatory cablegram. showing
that resistance to the police officers was
clearly the result of a misunderstanding
and not deliberate offense. has done
much to strengthen the interest Of the
officials here in their case. Secretary Hay
has communicated by cable with Mr..
Meyer. the United States minister. on this
subject, and good results are hoped for
4
very delicate handling to avoid wounding
Italian pride but the belief prevails that
the Italian government will respond in a
magnanimous spirit TO open appeal for
clemency for the young officers.
ROME, April sc. - The officers of the
United States cruiser Chicago, who were
arrested in Venice, remain in prison there
Some OF the newspapers here and else
where mention the lynchings of the Ital-
ianS in the United States as sufficient rea-
son for a refusal of royal leniency. II is
considered probable, however. that the
prisoners will be released by order OF the
King June l, the date of the fete OF the
Constitution.
A representative of the Associated Press
has been informed at the Foreign Office
that George V. l. Meyer, the United States
ambassador here, has not demanded the
release of the imprisoned officers of the
cruiser Chicago. and that the latter by
their appeal from the sentence Of the court
have submitted themselves TO the Italian
law. 1t Is believed at the Foreign Office
that any diplomatic action in this matter
would be out of place while the question
remains under the consideration of the
Italian court The officers of the Chicago
are confined in the common prison of ST.
Mark at Venice. They are all together in
one room.
LONDON, May Special dispatches
from Rome aver that at conference held
yesterday with Signor Prinetu the minis
ter of foreign affairs. Ambassador Meyer.
while taking no exception TO the action OF
the authorities al Venice asked as a favor
| cago handed over TO the commander OF
that vessel 10 undergo sentence. According
to these dispatches, the Italian newspapers
express the opinion that the Chicago incl
dent will not disturb the good relations
existing between the United States and
| Italy.
Cabling from Milan. the correspondent
/ there of the Daily Telegraph says the i'm
| prisoned officers have asked 10 be liberated
| pending their appeal, but that the court
/ has declined this request.
The Chicago has deferred he- departure
| from Venice. Henry A johnson, United
1 States consul at Venice. continues the cor
/ respondent OF the Telegraph. has gone 10
| Rome to join Ambassador Meyer in beg
| ging the clemency OF King Emmanuel.
NEW YORK, April 30.-The commander
of the cruiser Chicago, at Venice, continues
/ further trouble, says a Rome dispatch 10
4 the Tribune. The officers who are SEN
fenced TO Imprisonment for disorderly con-
duct are being treated with certain re-
gard, but with prison rules. 1t seems that
American officers have never been arrested
abroad, except years ago, in Brazil, when
an officer shot a deserter Through the
good offices of Washington. Dom Pedro
released him. The question now is whether
the officers may be allowed TO ask pardon
| OF the King whether the request must
go through the embassy. The cruiser will
sail on Friday for Trieste.
| capt RODert r. W lllnes OF the lniteO
/ States marine corps. whom the Italian au-
| thorities at Venice have punished more Sc
| verely than the other officers OF the cruiser
Chicago for the fracas of last Friday night.
| is a native of Washington and the son OF
| Robert j. Wynne. the well-known Wash
! ington correspondent The captain Is a
| graduate of the Georgetown College law
| department with the class of 1897. He II
| twenty-six years old. He served with the
| allied forces at Tien-Tsin two years ago
| and assisted in the assault on the walls
| July 13. in which action young Lieutenant
| Butler OF Pennsylvania, was so severely
wounded Wynne began his career In the
/ navy during the with Spain. Pre-
viously to that he had served five years as
/ a member of the National Guard OF the
| District of Columbia. lie served in the
! operations at Guantanamo. Cuba. with dis
tinctiOn, and at the end OF the war passed
a splendid examination for a commission IN
the regular service. He then went TO the
Philippines, fought In the battle or Novel
letta and I'm all the skirmishes around
Manila in which the marines took part
His reputation is that Of brave capable
and courteous officer.