The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-27
Massachusetts Officials Find
Themselves i'm Trouble.
Through Arrest of a Member of
the British Embassy.
HEAR FROM MR.. ADEE.
international Law Has Been
Violated He Says.
Matter Must Be Set Right ms
Far as Possible.

Washington, Sept. 27.-The state de-
partment today called on the depart
ment of justice to take action in the
case of Hugh Quincy. third secretary
or the British embassy, who was fined
yesterday by Justice Phelps, of Lee,
Mass. for contempt of court and for
speeding his automobile. 1t is expect
ed that Attorney General Moody will
send special district attorney to Lee
to Investigate the matter.
Reaches the Governors Office.
Boston, Sept. IA telegram from
Washington bearing on the filming of
Third Secretary Quincy of the British
embassy by Judge Phelps at Lee, Mass
yesterday, was received at the executive
department at the state house today.
| Upon receipt of the dispatch by Lieu
tenant Governor Guild, who is acting
governor in the absence of Governor
Bates, he at once sent dispatches to
Acting Secretary of State Adee who
signed the telegram from the state de-
partment addressed to Judge Phelps at
Lee. The telegram from the state de-
partment follows:
Washington. Sept. 26, 1904.
Hon. John l. Bates, Governor of
Massachusetts, Boston: British embassy
informs me that Mr.. Quincy, third sec
rotary of that embassy, charged with
driving automobile at excessive speed.
was arrested today by deputy sheriff
and taken after entering protest under
threats of force to the court of Lee,
where in spite of his protest he was
sentenced by H. c.. S. Phelps, special
Justice of the Lee police court, to pay
fine of $25 and on his declaring that
he could not admit the right of the
court to sentence him, another fine of
S25 for contempt of court and to go to
prison If he did not pay.
Section 4063, Revised Statutes of the
United States, declares that any writ
or process issued out or prosecuted by
or justice whereby toe person of any
public minister of a foreign state is ar
void.
Section 1864 declares that any per-
son obtaining or prosecuting such writ
or process and every officer concerned
in executing it shall be deemed a vio-
1ator of the law of nations and subject
to imprisonment and fine.
Il have to request that you take
such action as may be pAeper in this
case ALVEY A ADEE,
Acting Secretary of State.''
Lieutenant Governor Guild in reply
to the state department said:
Investigation already started. Inn
mediate action win be taken
The telegram to Judge Phelps said:
state House, Bos9pn, Sept. PHI c. |
S. Phelps, Special Justice. Lee, Mass
The following telegram has been re-
ceived from the state department at
CHere is given the dispatch of Acting |
Secretary Adee).
The assistant attorney general in |
forms me that if the facts are as sta |
ted above you have in your endeavor
to enforce the laws of Massa chusetts |
for the security of life upon our high
ways committed in this particular case |
a grave breach of international law. |
May / ask you to telegraph me at once |
if Mr. Quincy was arrested and fined |
in spite of protest. Other channels CT |
redress are open in case of violation of |
laws by the diplomatic |
representatives of other nations There |
fore, if fine was imnosed and collected
the commonwealth VIII apologize. The !
fine must be RENTED and L need not |
suggest to one so respected as you &he /
personal amend that you will, of
course, desire to make to Mr.. Quincy |
for the error in method adopted by |
your court in this unusual case. Kindly |
forward me affidavit of the evidence of
any breach of Massachusetts laws.
CURTIS GUILD, JR-
Lieutenant Governor, Acting Cover
nor
Lieutenant Guild said that no further
action would be taken until he had |
heard from Judge Phelps.