Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-09-27
A Britisher Claims e.
emption from Our Laws
After Violating Lee, Mass,
Automobile Speed Rules.
u Injured by Yankee Auto Would n.
Shoe Fir

fittsheld. Miss. Sept. 2s.-Huch
,'urney' third secretary to Sir Morton
Dufand. ne British ambassador has
been spe ing the summer in T.ennox
was. this morning, fined in the no,ica
court. at Lee on two charges Eor
contempt of court, he was fined s25 A
similar fine was imposed in case
charging him with speeding lii auto.
mobile in Stockbridge. Sunday.
Mr.. Quincy. when arraigned in court.
positively refused to plead, c!aiminz
that as he was the third secretary ia
his Rritannic Majesty. he could not IN
DER international law be arrested or
held for any crime"
Special Justice Phelps said he did
not recognize International law In his
court and informed the defendant hat
ne must enter a plea. Despite this
statement Mr.. Gurny continued in his
refusal. Then a fine was imposed for
contempt Of court
Washington, Sept. 26-Notice Of the
action OF special justice at Lee,
Mass. in filming Hugh Quincy, third
secretary Of the British embassy. was
received at the state department in a
telegram from Mr.. Raikes, first sec
retarN II the embassy, who is at Len
OK. ne department Immediately
tran 'u Ted this telegram in substance
to Il. overnor of Massachusetts, with
the suggestion that he do whatever
might be necessary to secure the dip
lonatic immunity Of Mr.. Quincy. It
is believed at the department that the
matter may be far more serious than
the local officials at Lee seem to re-
gard it.
In the first place by constitutional
and statutory law, the persons at
tached to an embassy are expressly re-
lie'ed from any legal responsibility II
the exemption even tends to domestic
servants. Section 4063 Of the Revised
Statutes declares that any writ prose-
cuted in any court of the United States
or of state or by any judge or justice
intended to cause the arrest and i'm
prisonment of any public minister or
his servant shall be void. Succeeding
Section 4O64 the Revised Statutes pro
Vides that every person by whom any
such protest is obtained or prosecut-
ed, whether as party or attorney and
every officer concerned in its execution
as, shall be deemed a violator Of tn,
law of the nations and a disturb NJ
the public repose and shall b.. inrllS-
oned for not more than three years ami
fined at the discretion of the court"
1t will remain for the governor Of
Massachusetts to take initial action in
this case, which will require prompt
redress.
The last important precedent oc-
CURED in 1892 at the picnic resort OF
Bay Ridge, near Baltimore, when Dr.
George, an attache of the Swiss lega-
ton in Washington, was arrested BY
deputy sheriff on the charge OF being
a pickpocket and was searched and
treated in humiliating
by the local authorities The
state department secured his release at
an early moment, through the COVER
nor of Maryland, who also caused the
dismissal of the offending deputy and
extending an apology for the incident
Though the Swiss minister might
nave presseo further punishment. he
accepted VIII had been done as 1uffi-
lent, but tn matter was deemei Of
such Importance that he could not give
his notice 10 other governments until
he Swiss federal council had formally
considered the case and expressed it.
elf satisfied.
Sir Henry NJ ,rtimer Durand the Brit
Sh ambassador. this afternoon received
telegram from Lenox telling of the ar
est of m Quincy and stating that the
natter h ! been referred to the state de-
artmcnt The amba Ssador took no ac-
ion in the matter. nor does he expect
hat i will be necessary for him to do
o. He expressed confidence tonight
hat the state department will take what
ction is proper He expects 70 leave
Washington. tomorrow morning to re
urn to LenoX he had originally
tanned.
GATEWAY IS q OSEn