The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1910-11-02
A LEGAL DILEMMA
Tanyle of Red Tape In an Eng
IiSh Extradition Case.
GETTING AROUND THE LAW.
Only the Quick Wit of the Canadian
Police Inspector Kept a Notorious
Criminal In Custody When In Realty
He Was as Free as the Air.

Criminal In Custody When In Realty
He Was as Free as the Air.
The manner in which a prisoner en-
tradlted to England from foreign
country is treated while on the voyage
home depends very much on the de-
tective who has him in charge and
also on whether or no there is any
suspicion that he may be contemplate
ing violence either to himself or to
others
| For instance, in the case of Jabez
Balfour, who was taken to England all
the way from Buenos Aires, there
was strong suspicion-probably iii
founded-that he contemplated com
mitting suicide. Consequently Inspec-
tor Froest. who had him in charge, de-
cided to take no risks that he could
possibly avoid
The regulations do not permit Of an
ynconvicted 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. if indulgenccs 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 to him by Mr.. Froest himself
after the rest of the passengers had
fed. He was, besides, constantly
watched and was subjected to a most
rigorous search Immediately on com
ing aboard.
His only relaxation. was an occa-
sional game of chess with some of the
| passengers who kindly came TO his
cabin to play with him by permission
and In the presence of his keeper
This sea Imprisonment lasted exactly
one month and day, and Balfour
/ aftcrward declared that 1t was the
most trying experience of captivity
that was destined to continue fer
nearly twelve years.
One of the longest and in its later
stages one of the plcasantcst voyages
ever undertaken by an unconvictcd
! criminal was that which Charles IIyl-
7 ton Davidson. the notorious forgcr
( made some years back i'm the custody
of Chief Inspector Murray of the Ca
madam department of justice.
Murray tracked the wanted man to
Mexico and secured his cXtradtion to
Canada. But then his difficulties be
gan. He could not bring his prisoner
! TO Canada by the direct route through
f! the United States. for Immediately
Davidson set foot in that country he
could have demanded to be released.
There was therefore nothing for it 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 FrocSt allowed Balfour.
! When. however, he had got safely as
far rs London he was both mortified
and astoniShcd at the likelihood Of his
having had all his trouble for nothing.
The law was. he was told that q
prisoner cNtraditcd from Il foreign
country TO Il British colony could not
be kept In custody in England for
longer than twcnty-fOur hours. nor
could he he taken rs prisoner on
board Il British ship sailing from II
A., British port
Here was Il dilemma Davidson was
free as mir had he only known it.
But Murray WAS equal to the occasion.
Look here, Davidson he said. i've
got YOU safe. There is only the last
stage of the journey to complete. If
! allow YOU To travel saloon with me
as an ordinary first class passenger
will YOU give me your word TO play
me no trckS:"
To this proposition Davidson. know,
Ing nothing of the real state of affairs
was naturally quite ready TO agree,
Ana so it came TO pass that one of the
most notorious criminals Canada has
ever known came home i'm state free,
vet not free. Il voluntary prisoner. and
yet an involuntary onc.-Pearson's
Weekly.