New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-05-07
KAISER WAVES rliUNITIEs.

BY direction Of the Kaiser. the German govern
rnent has waived the diplomatic inlmunities en-
3Qyed by its representatives, in Chill, in far
Beckett. the head Of the chanceilerIe Of the Ger
man Legation al Santiago, is concerned. As the
case is likely 70 serve a precedent. It is well
that note should be made thereof. Beckett. who
during the absence on leave Of the secretary OF
the legation. Baron Kelczek had complete charge
OF the clerical and financial affairs OF the mis-
sion. had taken advantage thereof 10 eTnbezzle
q very large sum Of money, conceaIing his thefts
By means Of f0rgeries. He squandered the money
on his wife, who WIS a Chifan woman Of the most
extrayagsnt type, and upon other fair friends.
When the hour Of reckoning drew nigh and the
moment arrived when further concealment be-
came impossible. Il is charged that he set fire TO the
legation. after having previously killed one Of the
native retainers Of the mission and arranged that
the corpse should be almost completely consumed
by the flames He had some weeks before taken
the precauton Of insuring his own life for a large
sum, and had also written letters TO the President
Of the Republic Of Chill, with whom he &C
ouainted, and TO the German envoy, Baron Bod
man. giving expression TO fears for his own life
on the ground that il threatened by people
whose vengeance he had incurred in connection
with the prosecution Of German claims in the
Kaleu affair. Il was apparently his aim that the
President and the envoy should attribute the de-
structcn Of the legation TO the authors Of these
alleged anonymous menaces. and should regard
the corpse found among the ruins as his own
the Chilian wife Of Beckett had no difficulty IN
collecting the insurance for her husband alleged
death. But ere long the suspicious Of the lnsur-
Eace company were aroused Il acquired knowl-
edge in some indirect fashion OF the fact that
Beckett was still alive ard that his wife had left
Santiago for the interior 10 join MIN Investiga-
ton proved this 10 be the case. The man and his
wife were captured and brought back 10 Santiago
As the crimes with which Beckett STANDS
charged, namely, embezziement. forgery, arson
and murder, were all committed within the pre-
cincts Of the Kaiser's legation at Sanuago-lhat
70 say, what is technically German territory
and by & German member Of the staff OF the
envoy-the accused man was immune from Chllian
Jurisdiction. In fact the German government
would have had q perfect right, according TO IN
ternationaI law and diplomatic usage, TO claim
Beekert as its own prisoner and to have him con-
veyed in custody TO Germany for punishment there
By the tribunals OF the empire
But the Kaiser. on the matter being suOIIlI'eu
20 him. at once decided that the German govern
,nent should waive all its rights 10 diplomatic
imrnunities in the affair, and that Beckett II
spite OF his being a German a member OF lIl0
legation, and notwithstanding the crimes had peeh
perpetrated within the precincts OF the legatloi'
should be turned over TO the Gillian authorizes
and tribunals for punishment. Il was not only
the most sensible thing 10 do under the circum-
stances. but likewise extremely polite For the
regarded by thu Gillian nation as a compliment
and as a tribute TO the mpartialty and integrity
q its justice