Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1912-04-26
Thirty-Eight Days in Penlten-
tiary Without Any Charges
Against Them, is Allegation
of Americans,
CONSUL LETCHER HAS
THEM RELEASED
Revolving Story is Told of Vile
Sanitation and Starvation
Diet; Held lncommunlcado
Much of Time,


| rBy Morulnw Journal Special Leased WIrs.1
/ III paso, Texas, April 2..--Aitef
| thirty-eight days in the unspeakable
| fifth Of the penitentiary AT chihuahua
abused insuted and starved, although
! there was no charge against them,
| X. Barton, of Marlin. Texas. and John
| Anderson, of Boston, Mass, arrived
| here tonight, having been liberated al
Chihuahua last night through the ef-
forts of United states Consul Marion
Letcher.
| Although Barton, like Anderson
| had but "A bite of bread in twenty-four
hours, starvation. bad food, and con-
| finement had reduced him to such
condition that he was unable to touch
| food when the most tempting viands
that FL Paso affords were offered him
| by sympathetic fellow countrymen
| Anderson, who is but % years of age,
and ten years younger tnnn mis- iei-
! low sufferer, however, demolished
steak and bread and eggs with the
greatest vigor.
! They bore fun evidence of the or
deal through which they had passed.
| Barton lost twenty-five pounds and
Anderson about twenty m coniine-
ment They had sold their clothes to
get little food and arrived here. In
Understandable tatters Barton wore "A
| handmade cap fashioned and sewed
NY himself that was a caricature of
masculine headgear and their hair
hung over their eyes.
| Both spent five days IN solitary con-
finemen Barton was the first on
lwhonr this sentence was passed. Dur
| ing this time he was given neither
food nor water. Anderson soon after
suffered the same fate. In their cells
there was little window but sharp
lened spikes projected inward to keep
them from approaching close enough
| to the bars To look ou.
! phases of the torture they suffered
while thus isolated cannot be repeated
IN print
/ The two men were employed on the
| Mathcrson ranch near Phoenix when
they heard that better pay was 10 be
had in the lumber camps at san Pedro
MADEIRA. Both were well clothed and
| had money They had reached Chi
huahua en- route when they were ar
rested.
No charge was ever placed against
them but they were Informed that
Yankees we're usually given thirty
days.
Just for being Americans, ] sup
pose" remarked Barton who was al
ways the spokesman.
He was silently left to infer that
this was the case. Time after time he
demanded n trial but was given no sat
faction. Barton wrote five letters to
Consul Letcher, not "A one of which
ever reached him. once he was able
10 call through window to a man
passing whom he took for an Ameri-
can, to take a note to Mr.. Letcher. !
The mnn paid no attention to the re-
quest
The Americans occupied various /
quarters in the pcnitontiary ard AZ
one time shared a cell with a half |
breed with an American name. They I
had given up hope of liberation and |
secured pointed piece of iron about |
ten inches in length. With this they I
went to work under the window and |
dug out the adobe until the stone
facing on the outside was reached.
This work required only one night.
The next night they Planned to re-
move a few stones and escape. The
breed however. carried the new To
the commandant of the prison and
the two Americans. BARON first and
Anderson the next day, we're placed
in solitary confinement.
A man whom Barton knew as
smith. and who said he was held on
authority Of the United States be- l
cause he answered the description of
some real culprit. was the means of
getting the news Of their plight To
Consul Lctchcr. smith was liberated
when he announced that he would not
resist extradiiion. and promptly car
ried a note from Barton ~ the United
States consulate.
Let me tell YOU that those Mexicansl
stepped around when Mr.. Letchcr
came in said Barton. Every time
he winked some OFFICIAL took of his
hat II was after the note from our
state department and when the con-
sui took snuff YOU bet that. gold laced
outfit sneezed.
Il am up 10 the ear In work" the
consul said. but you boys Will be out
q here as soon a. can arrange a."
He gave as seven pesos and sent
Us some msEazines. which made the
last five days Of our imprisonment
sasicr. II took him that long TO get :
US released. Bui this was not anf- n
hing 10 something eise he gave us. "a
" a. n loaf 81 genuine home made {
american bread. After Beans once .
. aay or q hunk of Mexican harley
tread. you may imagine how that l.
looked 20 as n vas whiie and firm h