The Sentinel=record., 1910-02-08
MUST SERVE TWO YEARS AND TEN MONTHS IN A MEXICAN
 PENiTENTiARY.
Brakemen Who We're Also Indicted Will Probably Be Sentenced to
 Ten Years and Ten Months
 With Heavy Fine.

Palafox said tonight that he would carry out the recommendations of the prosecuting attorney and sentence J. A. Cook, the American conductor, to two years and ten months.
 The prosecuting attorney c'aims~hs is guilty of criminal negligence.
 The prisoner will be given the right of proprietary liberty, which means that after half of the sentence had been served his release on parole will be possible.
 Judge Palafox has signined his will ingness to allow Cook bail in sum from 5000 to 5000 pesos ($l,5O0 to 1 s2.5OO).
 The prosecuting attorney asks that sentences of ten years and ten months anu fines of 1000 pesos be imposed upon each of the three native brake men implicated, and the liberation of one. The case against Cook will now be open for the reception of evidence in defense as well as prosecution. Members of the Order of Railroad Conductors who have been active in Cooks behalf, will continue their work for his ultimate aoquittal, meanwhile providing the required bond Judge Palafox will probably impose the sentences requested at an early date.
 An appeal to higher court authori- ties Is possible.
 The history of the Cook case ex- tends back many months and has to do with the extensive robbery of the freight trains on the Guadalaiara di- vision of the National Railways. As result of these robberies the railroad company was compelled to pay heavy claims made by local mer- chants. Arrests were made, but few convictions resulted and the division of this road finally laid the wnoIe matter before the general officials in the City of Mexico, with the result that federal officers asked to urge on the Guadalajara authorities the neces- siy of putting an end to the railroad robberies. The desired federal assist ance was secured, and shortly there after the local authorities launched an | energetic campaign against the car thieves.
 This campaign resulted in showing tha- Mexican brakemen, composing Cooks train crew, were systematical- ly robbing freight cars, throwing eff merchandise while the trains were pulling into Guadalsjara at night, anu that the merchandise was picked up by confederate and later sold to local merchants.
 Fourteen arrests were made. the number including three merchants two Frenchmen and SpanIard-in whose possession goods stolen from Cooks trains were found So far as can be learned the Mexi- can court does not accuse Cook of participating in the robberies. but held him on charge of ''contribEtory negligence" which means that it is assumed that negligence on his part in the care of his trains made t pos sible for the brakemen to rob the cars.
 He was called to the third criminal court on August 30. last. presumably ' as witness. but aitor some Qaestiot ing by Judge palafc1. was connlis 5d to the peniteaIiary where he hax | se remained. The railroad offj4saiS ':lo not connect Cook with the fobbersss and in statement issted bylt Quad. alaiara division of the Order of Rail~ way Conductors 1t is set forth hat the Mexican brakenen who committed the