Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1907-09-09
MOVING TO HELP
ItLEVIER AND SON
The Accused Man Speaks Freely Of
His. Embarrassing Situation and
Denies Revolutionary Purposes.

On Saturday G. G. Lelevier, who witt
| his son, is confined in the Maricop;
county jail pending a hearing befor,
Court Commissioner c. w. Johnston,
| for eXtradition TO Mexico, received the
following telegram from Franklin b
Dorr, editor of the Douglas Dispatch
Wire me what you want done anC
| will see that funds are raised here 4
carry your defense TO the last ditch"
The accused man wired a reply yes
terday as follows:
Job is to keep me in Jail as long as
possible. Would like to be tried In
Cochise county where / have witness
es. God bless you"
In the Jail yesterday Mr.. LelevieI
exhibited this correspondence and
talked with entire freedom about his
case. feeling deeply grateful to Mr.
Dorr and other Douglas friends. He
says he has nothing to conceal and is
willing to talk about any phase of the
case for he believes it is one of perse-
cution on the part of Mexican officials
and others who are offended at publi-
cations he has made in his paper al
Douglas. AS has been explained in
these columns before, the technical
charge on which he is held is abstract
ing a registered parcel from the Mex
lean mails, containing two checks
which were sent to Montgomery Ward
& Co. in Chicago. one by him and one
by his boy, who is in Jail with him. He
says the boy bought the two checks,
in the regular course Of the brokerage
business he was then conducting and
which was n common practice. He
says he has bought them in great
quantities, on one occasion handling
ninety checks in Il single consignment.
At the time he knew nothing of the
check sent 10 Chicago BY the boy but
learned of il later. He does not feel
that he is guilty just because check
that some one else might have stolen.
passed through his office. Such things
as that frequently occur. even in the
banks but It throws no blame on the
banker. Moreover. the Mexican gov
eminent or its representatives knew
in February. 1906. that the checks
passed through his office but no move
was made to arrest him until July % of
this year. subsequent to the kidnapping
OF Serabia-
He says the fact is the Mexican gov
eminent is only making n pretext of
the check transaction to hold him and
get him into Mexico where he can be
dealt with for what the Mexican Off
Gals are pleased to term political Of
lenses. So far as the check business
is concerned he has no fear II is what
may come after it and that Of which
he declares he IS not guilty.
While conducting little job print
ing plant in Douglas he SAYS he is
also publishing a paper in the Mex
lean language. on the occasion of
the kidnapping of Serabia he denounced
the Mexican officials concerned. and
particularly the consul as did also the
American papers along the line, just
as vigorously. He has also published
correspondence from 9TH
ers over their own signature that did
not reflect credit on Mexican officials
and he has perhaps too freely CRITICS.
ed them himself. for his own peace OF
mind. That fact seems to be obvious
just now. However. he saws he has
only done what he believed he had a
right to do as an American citizen.
which he claims to be. What he OBJ
JNNt7 ~ " az NhN VI A4tf
Serabia proceedings but he says he is
not revolutionist, never has been and
don't intend to be- and If indeed there
be such an organization he knows
nothing about IL.
He said that for the sole purpose of
selling papers, printing a good live
news item. he wrote rather startling
headlines and in other ways presented
his matter after the manner of enter
prising American editors. but in a way
that papers published below the line,
in the Mexican language dare not do.
For that reason he has incurred the
enmity of the officials. who he says
are now prosecuting him.
He says that on the very day Sera-
bia was kidnapped he was privately told
that he would soon be similarly treat
cd and he at once wired to Governor
Kjbbey requesting protection as an
American and the father OF nine chill
dren, among them five sons born in
this country. He has lived in Arizona
the greater part of his life and though
not born here he has been raised here
from childhood. claims citizensip and
admits allegiance to no other country.
Asked concerning Serabia and his gen.
eral reputation he said there is no