Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-03-04
STRUGGLED AWAY
TO THEIR TRIAL
MEXICAN LIBERALS WHlRLED
OFF TO TUCSON
PRISONERS GUARDED AS IF AN
ATTACK WAS FEARED
Attorney Declares He Was Given NO
Notice, as Promised-Friends
Fear Accused May Be
Kidnapped

With expressions of appreciation Ior
even the temporary enjoyment Oh ~
sunlight, three patriots, Rlcaruo rloIeS
Magon, Antonio Villareal and blprauo
Rivera, yesterday left the IRON col-
fines of the county janl, when mas
heen their home for eighteen months.
rhe three men were charged Win
breaches of the neutrality laws OF 1he
Tinted States, and, strongly guarueu
and shackled like the most dangerous
of criminals, apparently 10 glNe
color of desperation to their lnonen
sive characters, they were starred oii
the Journey to Arizona to stand trial.
Friends Of the men declare it was an
insult to their lawabiding spirit to erect
the removal with such secrecy ana Gu
culate the report that an atteIhpI
would be made to rescue them from
the hands of their guards. None was
made, and the only impression created
by the strong protection against "'
tack" was one of amusement:
Loaded into an automobile at b
o'clock the men were whirled quickly
to the Arcade depot and boarded the
train leaving for the east at sos. They
arrived in Tucson early this morning
and were Immediately turned over 10
the United States marshal for Arizona.
The trial probably will take place IN
Tombstone at the next term OF the
United States court.
The three men. with Manuel Sarabia,
were arrested in September, l9Ot. III
forts to extradite them failed. Saraola
finally agreed to return to Arizona 10
stand trial. He is now at liberty on
bond. Magon, Villareal and Rivera be-
pan habeas corpus proceedings for
their release. These were carried 10
the supreme court of the United States.
Placed Incommunicado
The peculiar and uncivilized method
of treating prisoners in vogue III Mex
leo was put into effect in Los Angeles
when it was ordered that the men be
held incommunicado. Unable to com
municate with their friends or rela-
tives and to appeal for assistance
funds so badly needed to carry on the
proceedings in Washington were not
Forthcoming, and the appeal was us
missed January 4.
since then the men have been anx-
ious to leave their miserable quarters
In Los Angeles and risk the danger
which they believe is ever present IN
Arizona of being rushed across the
line into Mexico and executed without
legal formality.
No Notice Given Him
lob Hartman, attorney for the pris-
oners. expresses himself as much as
tonished at the course pursued by the
authorities, as he claims to nave hau
positive assurance from United states
District Attorney Lawler that ne
should be given six days clear notlce
of any such move, whereas he was left
in complete ignorance that the step
taken was even contemplated.
Friends of the accused men voice the
greatest anxiety as to their fate, mold
ing that there is danger of their being
kidnaped, taken across the border and
70 he l.
ties which, it is maintained, would De
equivalent to a death sentence.
The prosecution of the men has been
regarded in many parts of the country,
and also in Europe, as more persecu-
ton than an effort to effect the ends
of Justice. Societies are interesting
themselves in behalf of the liberators
and a defense fund to be used in their
behalf is now being raised. The Ma
tional Political Defense league of Chi
cago, having for its purpose the pro-
lection from persecution of pol1tlcal
refugees in the United States, is work
ing earnestly for their liberation and
has sent copies of a petition IN thelI
behalf to Los Angeles and other cities
This petition reads:
Diaz Bitterly Denounced
'In Los Angeles three Mexican pa
triots are held incommunicado in the
county jail. Inese imprisoned MSAl-
cans fled to this country from the per-
secutions and tyrannies practiced by
the dictator of Mexico, President Por-
firio DiaZ.
"Diaz has destroyed all constitutions
liberty in Mexico. He has filled the
jails with a multitude of his country.
men who dared oppose his politica
will and shot to death hundreds of theil
leaders without trial. Not satisfied
with pursuing these patriots through
Mexico, the dictator has his hlrec
agents traversng the United States
and. with the assistance of American
officials, is placing his enemies il
American jails. Against this we mos
earnestly protest, demanding that the
American constitutional right of asy
lum be maintained and that all pc
litical refugees in this country bt
given their freedom"