Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1910-11-16
4 LEGAL DILEMMA
Tanule Of Red Tape In an Eng
IiSh Extradition Case.
GETTING AROUND THE LAW.

o,lv the Quick Wit Of the Canadian
Police Inspector Kept . Notorious
Criminal In Custody When In Realty
y. Was as Free as the Air.
The manner in which a prisoner ex-
,radIted 10 England from foreign
country is treated while on the voyage
home depends very much on the de-
,e.,ive who has him In charge and
also on whether or no there is any
suspicion that he may be contemplate
inc violence either to himself or TO
others
For instance, I'm the case OF Jabez
Ralfour. who was taken TO England all
the way from Buenos Aires. there
was n strong suspicion-probabiy III
founded-that he contemplated COM
hitting suicide Consequently Inspec-
Tor Troest. who had him I'm charge. de-
clded 10 take no risks that be could
possibly avoid.
The regulations do not permit OF an
nnconvicted prisoner being handcuffed
on board ship once the vessel has left
Port. and he must be allowed one
hours exercise on deck each day.
These indulgences. II indulgences they
may be called. were therefore not
withheld from Balfour.
But he got few others For twenty
three hours out of every twenty-four
he was immured in locked cabin. He
was not permitted even TO enter the
public dining room. his meals being
brought 20 him 10y Mr.. Froest himself
after the rest OF the passengers had
fed He was. besides. constantly
watched and was subjected 20 n most
rigorous search Immediately on COM
ing aboard.
His only relaxation was an occa-
slonal game OF chess with some OF the
passengers who kindly came 20 his
cabin 10 play with him by permission
and IN the presence OF his keeper.
This sea Imprisonment lasted exactly
one month and day. and Balfour
afterward declared that Il was the
most trying experience OF a captivity
that was destined TO continue FOR
nearly twelve years.
One OF the longest and In !ts later
stages one OF the pleasantest voyages
ever undertaken by an unconvicted
criminal was that which Charles Hyl-
Ton Davidson, the notorious forger,
made some years back I'm the custody
Of Chief Inspector Murray OF tho Ca
madam department OF justice.
Murray tracked the wanted man 20
Mexico and secured his extradition to
Canada. But then his difficulties be-
gan. He could not bring his prisoner
TO Canada by the direct route through
the United States. for Immediately
Davidson set foot IN that country he
could have demanded TO be released.
There was therefore nothing for Il but
TO 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 had got safely as
Tar as London he was both mortified
and astonished at the likelihood OF his
having had all his trouble for nothing.
The law was. he was told. that n
prisoner extradited from foreign
country 10 a British colony could not
be kept In custody In England for
longer than twenty -four hours, nor
could he be taken as a prisoner on
board n British ship sailing from a
British port.
Here was dilemma. Davidson was
Tree as air-had he only known It,.
but Murray was equal TO the occasion.
Look here, Davidson" be said. "rve
got you safe. There Is only the last
stage OF the journey to complete. II
/ allow ~ TO travel saloon with me
as an ordinary first class passenger
VIII you give me your word to play
NE no tricksT"
To this proposition Davidson. know
ing nothing of the real state OF affairs.
was naturally quite ready 10 agree
Ana so 1t 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 one.-Pearson's
Weekly.