The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1910-12-21

Only Tho Quick Wit o: tho Canadian
Police Inspector Kept a Notorious
Criminal In Custody Whom In Realty
Ro Was as FREQ as tho Air.
The manner IL which prisoner e1-
tradi,ed TO England from 4 foreign
country IS treated while OF the voyage
home depends very much on the de-
tectire who has him in charge and
also on whether or 40 there * any
suspicion that he may be contemplate
Ing violence either 10 himself or TO
Others.
For instance. IN the case oc Jabez
Balfour, who was taken to England all
the way from Buenos Aires. there
was n strong suspicioa-pvobab!y III
founded-that he contemplated COM
mittlns suicide Consequently lnspec-
70. F-oest. who had him in charge. de-
c!ded to take no risks that he could
possibly avoid
The regulations do not permit OF m
uncoar!cted prisoner being handcufled
on board ship once the vessel has left
port. and he must be allowed one
hours exercise on deck each day.
These int:uisences. II induleences they
may be called. were therefore not
withheld from Balfour.
But be sot few others For twenty
three hours out Of every twenty-four
be was tnmured in locked cabin. He
was not permitted even to enter the
public dining room. his meals being
brought to him by Mr.. Fcoest himself
after the rest OF the passengers had
fed he was. besides. constantly
watched and was subjected to mos;
rigorous search Immediately on COM
Ing aboard
H:a oaly relaxation was an occa-
s!ocal game Of chess with some u The
passengers who kindly came TO his
cabin to play with him b: permission
and II the presence OF his keeper.
This Sea Imprisonment lasted exactly
one month and day. and Raltour
sfterwa-d declared that It WAS the
most trying experience Of captivity
that was destined to continue for
nearly twelve years.
Ooc Of the longest and IN its later
stages one Of the p!casactest voyages
ever undertake. By an unconvicted
criminal was that which CHI. les HyE
ton Davidson. the notorious fovscr.
made some years back IN the custody
Of Chief Inspector Murray Of the Ca
madam department Of justice.
Murray tracked the wanted man to
Mexico and secured his e1tradi;!on TO
Canada But then his difficulties be.
gan He could not bring his prisoner
TO Canada by the direct Toc;c through
the United States. 70. Immediately
Davidson set foot in that country he
could have demanded to be released.
There was therefore nothing for 1t but
20 convey him by way OF Jamaica and
England and thence back across the
Atlantic to Quebec.
On the voyage Murray kept David
son under close observation. although
allowing him considerably more free
dom than Froest allowed Balfour.
When. however. he bad got safely as
far rs London be was both mortified
and as:onished at the likelihood OF bis
having had all his trouble foE nothing
The law was. he was told. that
prisoner e1tradited from = foreign
country TO n British colony could not
be kept in custody IN England for
longer than twenty-fou- hours. Eor
could be be raken IS prisoner OF
board British ship sailing from
British port
Here was dilemma. Davidson was
free as air-had he only known It
But Murray was equal to TIE occasion.
Look here. Davidson" he said. I've
got you safe There IS only the last
stage OF the journey 10 complete. II
allow you to travel saloon with me
as an ordinary arst class passenger
VIII you give me your word to play
me no tc!ckS:
To this proposition Davidson. know
!ng nothing OF the real state OF Affairs.
was naturally quite ready TO agree.
And SO It came to pass that one OF the
most notorious criminals Canada has
ever known came home IN state: free.
yet not free, voluntary prisoner. and
yet an Involuntary onc.-Pearsons
Weekly.