Los Angeles herald., 1910-12-03
NJ 'ALL|STER, BACK
ON HIS OLD SHIP,
HURR|ES TO WIFE
Mariner Regains Job as Former
immigration Inspector Goes
East to Explain
U. S. OFFICIALS ARE SILENT
RidgeWay's Resignation Causes
Commotion, but Federal Men
Won't Talk Publicly
U. S. OFFICIALS ARE SILENT

John w. McAlllster, whose imprison-
ment and prosecution by A. G. Ridge
way, inspector of immigration, is said
to have caused the latter's resignation
from the government service, will sail
for Honolulu today in command of the
bark Alden Besse. Within several
hours of the mariners release from his
cell in the county Jail yesterday MORN
ing Charles Lehman of the Indepen-
dent Steamship company, owner of
the vessel, Ie-employed the captain as
it's master.
With fair seas McAllister will join
his wife and children on the islands
within fourteen or fifteen days, after
an amazing series of misfortunes.
They have been without funds for sew
eral months, during the imprisonment
of the husband and father and have
been dependent on the charity Of
friends.
McAllister was released on the order
of Assistant United States Attorney
Frank Stewart. He Immediately con-
ferred with his attorney, Frank Do
minguez, who ever since the mans
imprisonment had left no stone un-
turned to procure his freedom. Do
minguez enlisted powerful influences
in the mans behalf, including United
States Senator Frank Flint.
McAllister's release from JAIL fol-
lowing the abrupt resignation of
Rfdgeway, created a sensation in fed
eral circles here. 1T was the topic of
discussion at the federal building yes
terday.
LOCAL OFFICIALS WONT TALK
The officials. however, were not dis
posed to express their opinions on Nc
Allister's release and RidgeWay's res
ignation.
Ridgeway came from st. Louis to
Los Angeles three years ago. He is
now on his way to Washington, where,
it is said, he was summoned to explain
to the federal officials there the conduct
of his Office.
Had Ridgeway, it is said. guarded the
coast as carefully and diligently as he
watched the border line. many aliens,
believed by the immigration authorities
to have entered this country during the
time he held office here, would have
been captured and the operations of a
gigantic smuggling ring, with head
quarters In China and Mexico, blocked.
The immigration service, under its
new regime, has enlisted the aid of a
government revenue cutter, and guards
arc now stationed at various points
along the coast from San Diego to San
ta Barbara. 1t is believed by the fed
eral authorities that Santa Barbara
and Ventura counties have afforded
many landing places for the smugglers
The bark Alden Besse, shortly after
its arrival at San Pedro from Honolulu,
was attached for wharfage fees and
sold by the United States marshal at
public auction. A. w. E. Thompson,
her former owner, had been arrested on
a charge of embezzling the proceeds
from a cargo of beer. He is awaiting
trial on the charges.
STOWAWAYS START TROUBLE
Two Japanese stowaways. discovered
by the ships captain, McAllister, on
the high seas, on the trip from the is
lands to Los Angeles, were turned over
by him to Ridgeway, then inspector Of
immigration, and were ordered deport-
ed. Ridgeway promptly instructed the
captain to deport the men, and despite
his protests, placed them in the hold
of the Alden Besse. McAllister, with
out funds, was going hungry. His
charges escaped, and he was arrested
and placed in jail.
Frank Dominguez gained his release
on 5000 BAIL and Immediately began a
stubborn fight for his release. Meal
lister received a hearing before United
States Commissioner Williams, and de-
spite the fact that United States Attor-
ney Met Cor1nick, his assistants, Frank
Stewart and Ray Horton, together with
United States Marshal Leo Young
worth, were loath to press the charges,
owing to tho peculiar circumstances
surrounding the case. Ridgeway insist
cd on a vigorous prosecution.
McAllister was bound over for trial
in the United States district court and
January Q was fixed as the time for
the hearing to be set. Dominguez by
a ruse and without the knowledge of
his client caused him to he surrendered
10 the federal authorities by his bonds
men, and no sooner had the captain
been placed in his cell than the attor-
ney Immediately set to work to bring
his case to the attention of the author
tiles at washington.