Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-10-27
JENKINS, CONSULAR
AGENT IN MEXICO,
FREED BY BANDITS
State Department So Noti-
fled by American Embassy
in Mexico City.

Release of William o. Jenkins.
American consular agent at Puebla.
Mexico. who was kidnapped by ban
dts on October 10. was effected by
payment of the s150,oo0 in gold de-
manded by the captors. the State De-
partment was advised today by the
American embassy at Mexico City.
The dispatch did not make clear
whether the Mexican government or
friends of Jenkins paid the ransom.
An inquiry as to this point has been
sent to Mexico City by the State De-
partment.
of Jenkins was made in the following
statement by the department.:
William o. Jenkins the American
consular agent. who was robbed ana
kidnapped at a factory which he owns
in Puebla, Mexico. on October IL, mas
been released following payment OF
ransom. according to a message from
the American EN- bassy at Mexico City.
The rebels who held him near
Puebla demanded ransom OF $l5O,OOV
in gold. The message says that the
third secretary of the embassy. Mr.
Matthey z. Hanna, who was sent TO
Puebla by the embassy, notified the
embassy yesterday that jenkins hsd
sent him a message from within the
Mexican federal lines that the ran
and that he was on the way to Pueb-
la. The department is awaiting more
details.
''The Mexican government Saturday
advised the American embassy that
lit would omit no efforts to save
Jenkins life"
Action in Senate Delayed
Senator Myers. democrat, Montana,
today had the Senate defer action on
his resolution calling on the Presi-
dent to use the armed forces OF the
United States to rescue Jenkins ana
punish his captors. Mr.. Myers said
he desired to await confirmation of
the release of Jenkins before press
ing for action
Senator Poindexter. republican, sug-
gested that Congress might provioe
an appropriation to be used In ran
soming Americans captured from time
to time by Mexicans-
Father Notified.
IIANFORD, Calf. October 2I.-Word
that William o. jenkins had been res
cued was received late last night by
his father, John w. Jenkins OF this
city, in a brief telegram from Miss
Annie Jenkins, sister of the consular
agent. The message did not indicate
whether any portion of the ransom de-
manded had been paid or whetner the
response to urgent demands OF the
American State Department had ef-
fected the release. 1t reads:
oscar was rescued this afternoon.
Advise relatives" -
Date Of Release Uncertain.
Although jenkins was kidnaped
October 10 news of his detention did
not reach his family here until last
Wednesday. when a telegram was re,
ceived from his sister. Later WORD
came from her that besides kidnap-
ing Mr.. Jenkins the bandits. who
held him for ransom. had also plum
dered his ranch home, securing 500
Whether all or part of this had been
recovered was phase of the case not
closed was the exact time OF Mr.. Jen-
kins' release. His sisters message,
telephoned here from Fresno, said to-
day" but. the date Of the message was
not telephoned, the consular agents
father said, and whether his detention
had ended Saturday or Sunday was
not known
Father Makes Statement.
Mr.. Jenkins father, in q statement
given cut here the day after news
Of the kidnapping was received, said
the ransom demanded by the bandits
would be paid. However. he appealed
to the State Department and to Cali
fornia officials for assistance In Sc
curing his sons release. 1t was the
second time the consular agent had
been held for ransom. his relatives
having been forced to pay $4,000 to
a band of bandits five years ago ur-.
der somewhat similar circumstances.
Mr.. Jenkins. who is forty-one years
old, has been in Mexico for eighteen
years. He conducts a large mercsn-
tile business and is also engaged ex-
tensiyely in manufacturing at Puebls.
With him at the time OF MS an
duction were his wife. two daughters
and a sister.
Some of the measures inaugurated
by the Mexican government for the
American consufs release were SAID
TO have been directed personally by
President Carranza.