Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-08
FEAR TRICKERY IN
EXTRADI7ION CASES
REvoLUTIoNIsTs' COUNCIL TO
APPEAL TO GOVERNOR
Will Consent to Removal Of Mason and
vIllareaI to St. Louis, but
Not to Mexico-Want
Safeguards

Attorneys for the Mexican revolution
lists who are held in jail in Los Angeles
awaiting extradition to st. Louis and
possibly to Mexico will leave Sunday
night for Sacramento to lay all the facts
before the governor of California.
Their hope is to prevent the issuance
of extradition papers on the ground that
no extraditable offense has been COM
mitted toward Mexico, while the Mis-
souri, offense Is criminal libel charged
on improved allegations.
The attorneys have no special objec-
tions to the prisoners being taken to
| st. Louis for trial. provided they are
convinced they will reach that metrop-
oils Counsel have been engaged there.
Fear Trickery
The fear is that by some means the
| prisoners may be taken over the south
ern route which will bring them dam
| gerously near the Mexico line and abb
duction or other plans may be incubat-
| ing to deliver these men to President
Diaz' party, which the revolutionists are
| fighting.
The recent arrest of men concerned
| in the revolutionary movement-which
Los Angeles friends of those interested
declare is merely a political party for
peaceful overthrow of the adininistra-
tion-have savored of persecution.
Stories of torture have frequently come
over the wires, indicating that the sus-
pected trouble makers have had harsh
fate meted out to them
Perhaps the most notable caes is that
of millionaire who espoused the cause
of the new party. His punishment Is
best told in the words of one of his
associates:
Released Wreck
stripped of all his wealth as pun
ishment for his participation in the
recent revolution in Mexico, Patricie-
Guerra was released from jail. where
he was held on complaint of the Mex
can government. He was released on
the order of Mexico. which had confiscat-
ed all his vast property and was there
fore satisfied tot let him have his liberty
Guerra is the only participant in the
revolution apprehended In Texas that
the government has had the satisfac-
ton of being able to punish.
"All the others, more than a dozen,
were poor, and had nothing to give but
their liberty, and Uncle Sam decided
that should not be taken from them.
'The case of Guerra was different.
'He was wealthy.
Once Millionaire
HE owned large, well stocked ranch
in Coahuila, Mexico.
HE was worth probably a million
dollars.
ut is said that Guerra furnished most
of the funds with which the revolution
was financed.
1.-The Mexican government knew that
If it's extradition case ever came to trial
he would be discharged like the others,
so it was decided to punish him in the
only way possible. which was to con-
fiscate his property.
Guerra knew nothing of the penalty
he had paid for his devotion to the
cause of liberty until he was released
from the Bexar county Jail.
"He entered the Jail a splendid ply
sical specimen, tall and we'll proportioned, |
the picture of health and manly vigor.
He left it a weak, emaeiated, STOPPING
shadow of his former self.
while he received good treatment In
the Jail the confinement was too much
for him.
Shadowed for Weeks
Guerra was arrested December 20 in
Atascosa county, Texas. by the United
States marshal on an extradition war
rant He had been in San Antonio prior
to that and had been shadowed for |
weeks by the detectives in the employ of
the Mexican government.
HE was Immediately put into jail, but
was not tried with the rest of the revo- |
lutionists arrested at Eagle Pass and
Del Rio earlier His case was reserved
for special trial.
''The Mexican government especially |
desired to punish Guerra because he was
the only member of the revolutionary |
party who belonged to the wealthy ruling |
class of Mexico. He had long been under |
suspicion, but no overt act could be found
that would form the basis of proceed
ing against him until the records of
the Jiminez uprising fell into the hands
of the Mexican government. These rec
ords also showed, 1t is said. that Guerra |
and associates had assumed most of the
burden of financing the revolution.
Guerra was in Mexico at the time
of the uprising, but Immediately fed to
Texas, and sought refuge with friends
In Atascosa county, where he was ap-
pretended
HE left San Antonio Immediately after
he was released and did not make known
his plans for the future"