New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-11-28

william ". jenkins, United States
Consular Agent in Puebla, whom the
Mexican government has categorically
refused to release from prison, was ar
rested November Is for the second time
on a charge of conniving with Federico
Cordova, leader Of bandit gang which
abducted him October 10 and held him
for $4,000 ransom. A further charge
was made by Puebla State government
officials that Mr.. Jekins was not kid
mapped, but hid himself to provoke a
grave internatona misunderstanding.
Other charges have been lodged against
the consular agent, including vague
statements in the press that Mr..
Jenkins had been in arrears nearly
100000 pesos (s1O0,000) in revenues
due the Mexican government, though
the newspapers admitted that they had
no knowledl why this money was
owed.
New Charges Filed
Gradually new counts against the
imprisoned man were added to that on
which he was arrested Chief Of these
was that he had actively assisted per-
sons in rebelling against the Carranza
government, paying a large sum Of
money to the rebels, which was used
by them to purchase munitions. This
was interpreted by Excelsior" a
Mexico City newspaper, as meaning he
had aided Cordova by agreeing in ad-
vance to pay ransom to gain his re-
lease after being kidnapped.
1t was further charged by the Car
rama government that its enemies had
sent agents to various parts of the
country to kidnap prominent foreign
trouble for Mexico. This explanation
was regarded in Washington as an at
tempt to becloud the issue.
1t was suggested unoff1cially in
Washington that the mistreatment of
Jenkins might be form Of reprisal
for the charge of "sovietism" made
here against Mexican Consul General
De Nigri in New York.
Freed by One Court
The charge of connivance with the
outlaws had been circulated unofficial
ly for two weeks prior to Mr.. Jenkins 3
arrest. To thrash out the evidence
when Mr.. Jenkins was arrested the first
time the case was carried into a
Puebla court November 7, where, after
a hearing, the judge cleared the con-
sular agent of all suspicion of COM
plicity in his abduction. Although Car
rama officials had expected that the
evidence would be otherwise and that
the hearing would result in Mr.. Jen-
kins's immediate arrest the court
Mexican people and q respected mem
Der Of the community in which he has
lived for several years.
Eight days later twelve poems sworc
to statements before Puebla judge
that they had seen Mr.. Jenkins prior
to the abduction associating with Cor
dova under no restraint and in appar-
cnt understanding with the men who
subsequently became his captors. Mr..
Jenkins's arrest followed Immediately.
Sharp Note from United States
The Jenkins case, from the date of
his abduction, has been the subject of
sharp notes from the United States
State Department to the Carranza gov
eminent. The most recent communica-
ton, after expressing the view that
his arrest was absolutely arbitrary and
unwarranted, warned Mexico that fur
Their molestation of the consular agent
would seriously affect the relations
between the two countries, for which
the Mexican government would "as-
sumo full responsibility
The question of what measures would
be taken should Mexico refuse to he
lease M. Jenkins-as she has subsc.
Reports received after MI. Jenkins
second arrest contradicting the Mexican
note, said the Puebla court had refused
to allow bail.
Abducted October 10
Mr.. Jenkins was abducted the night
Of October 19. when bandits broke into
his home, rii1ed MS safes, from which
they carried away $4,000 in gold, and
forced Mr.. jenkins to accompany them
He was with the outlaws for week