The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1911-11-08
ARE In BAD FIX
Three Americans May Be Freed From a
Mexican Torture Prison
UNDER WATERS OF GULF

President Madero Was Shocked By
the Plight of the Three Prisoners,
Whose Death Sentence for a MUIR
der Had Been Committed Four
Years Ago by the Governor.
A letter from Vera Cruz, Mexico,
says that three Americans-Leslie E.
Hurlbert, alias Richardson; William
Mitchell alias Mason, and Dr..
Charles S. Harle- who for four
years have been confined to the sub
terranean prison Of San Juan de
Ulua, have prospect of release. For
six years prior to their removal to
this prison they were under sentence
Of death for murder.
Horrible! Horrible! l could not
believe that such a terrible condi-
ton existed in Mexico or any other
civilized country exclaimed Fran
cisco I. Madero recently as he emerg-
ed from the gloomy chambers under
the waters of the Gulf in the Harbor
of Vera Cruz, where hundreds are
confined in a living tomb.
He said that one of the first acts
Of his administration will be to prac-
tically obliterate this prison. On
this visit to the prison Madero paid
special attention 10 the cases of Hur-
ibert, Mitchell and Harle, and it is
considered probable that one of his
early acts when he becomes Presi-
dent will be to pardon these men.
The crimes with which they are
charged were committed ten years
ago. They were found guilty of mur-
dering Harry Mitchell, half-brother
of William Mitchell and brother-in-
law Of Hurlbert, and William De-
vars, drunken outcast whom they
ran across in Ell paso. The two men
we're murdered in Chihuahua for
$4,000 life insurance taken out BY
The men who killed them.
All three of these Americans had
previously occupied good positions in
society. DR.. Harle is a native of Abb
lene, Tex, and MS mother still re-
sides there. He was one of the lead
ing physicians Of Dallas before he
moved to El Paso and became asso.
cisted with Hurlbert and Mitchell
who were prominent in life insur-
ance circles.
The three were prosecuted by the
American insurance company which
they sought to defraud, and the com
| paly was aided by the Mexican a.u-
thoritics. The men spent two years in
prison in chihuahua before they were
tried, and upon conviction of mur.
der they were sentenced to be shot
The death watch had been sci
when the Governor of Chihuahua
Enrique Creel, commuted the sen
tences to twenty years Imprisonment
Under Mexican law the first six years
of this imprisonment must be in sol
itary confinement and soon after the
Communication of their sentences they
were taken to San Juan de UIua.
Little is known, even to the peo
lple of Vera Cruz, Of what transpire!
within the silent walls of the isola
ted prison. The only evidence of life
to be seen from the city is one lone
palm tree that rises out Of the little
court yard. The waters around the
prison TEEN with sharks, which serve
as guards against escape, if escape
were otherwise possible. Instance!
are known OF fugitives falling vic
tins to these sharks.
Hurlbert, Mitchell and Harle have
been granted more liberties than the
average prisoner. Through the in
fluence Of Consul Canada in thi:
city they have been permitted tc
write and receive letters at stated in
tervals, and many influential friends
in Texas have been making strenuous
efforts to secure Dr.. Hale's pardon
President Diaz was persistently deal
to all appeals for the release of the
three Americans.
It is said that there is still in use
in this prison some Of the imple'
nents of torture that We're features
Of the Spanish InQuistion. In the ROOT
of one of the chambers is a small
hole that connects with the waters
Of the gulf, and through this there
drips constantly, drop by drop, wat.
er that has worn away the surface OF
the floor