Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-11-27
Any Further MolestatiOn of Him
Will Seriously Affect Rela-
tions Between American Govt.
and Mexico, Says Note
NEAREST UNWARRANTED
Jenkins In Letter Says Hts kidnapping
Was riot TO Demonstrate That Pres-
ent Mexican Govt. Could Not Guar
aztec Safety 10 Foreigners

ment that any further molestation of
william o Jenkins, the American con-
suiar agent at Puebla, who recently was
kidnapped by bandits would seriously
affect the rela tons between the United
States ard Mexico for which the govern
ment of Mexico must assume sole re-
sponsibility."
Coupled with the warning was demand
for the immediate release of the consular
agent. who was re-arrested Tuesday on
charges IN connection with his abduction
and ransom in the sum of s150,oOo gold.
Official reports that Jenkins had again
been imprisoned a. puebla reached the
SITS tie department to-day from the Amer
lean embassy Mt Mexico City which was
instructed to transmit Il note demanding
his release The departments action
was made known in tho following an
nouncement:
STATE DEPARTMENTS NOTE.
1.-THE Department of State to-day sent
q note to the Mexican foreign office
through the American embassy at Mex
leo City calling for the immediate re-
lease of William .. Jenkins, the Ameri-
can consular agent NJ Puebla.
"rhe note which is based on the re-
arrest of Consular Agent Jenkins at
Puebld, points out that the United States
government is surprised and incensad
to learn of the Imprisonment of Mr.
Jenkins, particularly in view of the suf
ferng and losses already sustained by
him in connection with his kidnapping
through lack of protection by the Mexican
authorities and IN connection with his
first arrest by Mexican officials.
1.-THE nO.e expresses the view, based
on the information in he possession OF the
department of state, hat his re-arrest
is absolutely arbitrary ard unwarrapted
and warns the Me%icln government that
further mo estut.on Of The consular agent
will seriously feet tho relations between
the United States and Mexico. FOR which
the government of Mexico must assume
sole responsibility"
jenkins WAS first arrested early this
month on the charge of collision with
the bandits who took Inn FROM his home
at Puebla ON October 19, but he was re-
leased after remain in the penitentary
two hours. He was restricted to his home
however, ana tuesday was re-arrosted on
complaint that he had threatened poems
who had given evidence on which the
state authorities acted in first taking him
into custody.
Is STILL IN CUSTODY.
So far as the department has been ad-
vised he Still! is he'd in custody and be-
cause Of his weakened physical condi-
ton resulting from the hardships endur-
ed during the week the bandits held him
in the mountains Of Puebla State Off
Gals feared long Imprisonment might
permanently affect his health.
Before mis- arrest Jenkins, who oper.
stes a large cotton mill at Puebla had
planned to return to his old home in Ten
nessee and if necessary come to Wash
fngton to present his claim to officials
for assistance in paying off the oblga-
tions contracted in raising the fund paid
the bandits for his release.
JENKINS PLANS.
These plans of the consular agent were
outlined in a letter received from him
to-day by Rer resentative Davis of Ten
nessee. Writing under date of Novem-
Der Jenkins gave graphic description
OF his capture by and experience with
the bandits. who, he said, told him that
the principal object in kidnapping was
ito demonstrate that the present govern
ment OF Mexico was not able TO give guar
antees Ito foreigners) not even in the
second city of the country
Mr.. jenkins wrote Representative
Davis that he planned to return to his
former homo in Tennessee. soon and
that ii necessary he would come to
Washington to push his claim for as
assistance in the payment of the ran
som"
II feel" he wrote. that as my kid
mapping was due directly to my Off
DIAL connection with the government.
that as l was at the place of duty as
signed to me by the United States gov
eminent, that | was at the time of be-
ing carried off. complying with the in
structions of the government and was
not in any place outside, l repeat, that
feel it is only fair that 1 be assisted
in this great below, and l want to get
this matter present fairly to the au-
thorities in Washington"
The consular agent said the State
authorities were seeking to fix a GER
tain responsibility in this matter on
me-" adding that he expected to be ar
rested at any time.
OVERPOWERED IN HIS OWN YARD
Jenkins said he was overpowered in
his own yard by five armed rebels and
told he would be killed if he resisted.
II was searched for any weapons
he said land had my hands tied to-
Gether and then was forced to go to the
office whore the two safes were COM
pletely emptied of all money, amount
ing to a few hundred pesos more than
10000
when the safes had been rihed, two
of the men were sent forward with the
money and the other three advised me
that would have to accompany them.
! made every possible plea to dissuade
them from their purpose, but l was in
formed that it was their principal object
TO demonstrate that the present govern
Jment of Mexico was not able to give guar
antees. rot even in the second city Of
the country"
jenkins said he was given permission
TO see his wife, who added her pleas to
his own. in vain.
Il was carried off to the mountains that
night" he continued. travelling all night
on horseback and was kept in the noun
tains for one week. moving from one place
to another and sleeping in the open hills
In the brush.
BIG RANSOM DEMANDED
"My friends were very active during
get in contact with the rebels. who abso-
lutely refused to give me up except
through the payment OF the entire sum
of 100000 pesos, but 1t was pointed out
to them that my physical condition was
such that | would only live few days
and once dead, 1 would not be ransomed
at all on Sunday the sum of $4,000
pesos was paid In cash and Ave OF my
intimate friends responded with their
lives for the payment of the balance, and
j myself promised to complete the pay