New-York tribune., 1919-12-06
y. S. Consular Agent Is
Awakened at Night by
Police Chief and Taken
From Prison to Home
Prisoner Surprised
By Sudden Release
State Department Accepts
Action as an American
Diplomatic Victory

MEXICO CITY, Dec. 5.-William O..
jenkins, the American Consular Agent
at Puebla, was released at 10 o'clock
Thursda night by order of the Judge
at Puebla, according to a dispatch
from that city filed there at 2:30 o'clock
this morning. Consul Jenkins retired
Immediately to his home, the message
stated
The freeing of Mr. Jenkins came as
a surprise to him. the dispatch adds.
He was awakened from his nights
sleep by Chief of Police Zavaleta, and
at once dressed himself, gathered to-
gether his few belongings and was con-
veyed to his home. His release, it was
said, was not unexpected in Puebla.
Advices to GEL Democratic" state that
Consular Agent jenkins was set free
after the authorities had been handed
check for $500 (American) signed by
j. Salter Hansen, drawn on the Guar
anty Trust Company of New York.
1t is declared that Mr. Hansen con-
Quoted all the negotiations for the re-
lease,
WASHINGTON. Dec. 5-The Ameri-
can Embassy in Mexico City reported
the release of Consular Agent Jenkins
in an official dispatch received by the
State Department this afternoon and
almost at the same time news dis
patches were received from Mexico
City which said check for $500 had
been deposited with the civil authori-
ties at Puebla.
This difference in the two reports
seemed to raise some doubt as to
whether Jenkins was released uncondi-
tionally on the diplomatic representa-
tlons of the United States government
or whether he had been released on
bail, as the Mexican authorities have
contended he could
The State Department, however, took
the view that Jenkins had been re-
leased on it's diplomatic representa-
tlons and issued this statement:
"The release of William o. jenkins,
the American Consular Agent at
Puebla, Mexico, was reported late
this afternoon from the American
LmDaSSy at Mexico City.
"The release of Consular Agent
Jenkins was brought about by urgent
diplomatic representations made by
this government and the resulting
investigation made by General Pablo
Gonzalez, who was sent to Puebla by
the Mexican government to investi-
gate the facts in the case The in
vestigations by General Gonzalez,
who was at Puebla on December 3,
had then practically substantatcd
the position taken by this govern
ment on behalf of Jenkins.
1.-TWO poems from Santa Lucia ad-
mitted to General Gonzalez that they
had made declarations against Jen-
witnesses testified they had been
compelled to make false statements
against jenkins under duress. One
witness was threatened with pistol,
another suspended by a rope, and still
another beaten until he made his
declaration against Jenkins.
"These facts are shown in the
court record Of the case"
Salter Hansen Unknown
Every effort was made here to-day
to check up on the cabled report from
Mexico City saying that according to
a Puebla dispatch to a Mexico City
newspaper jenkins was released after
J. Salter Hansen had deposited $500
check for bail. Officials of the State
Department said they had no informa-
tion whatever concerning Hansen or
the question of bail, and that they
did not know Hansen. They stood on
the statement that the consular agent
had been released on demand of this
government.
In some quarters, however, there
was a suggestion that there may have
been a confusion of names, as Secre-
tary Lansing announced that Third
Assistant Secretary Matthew E. Hanna
had been sent to Puebla in connec-
tion with representations for the re-
lease of jenkins.
Officials declared, however, that even
if the names had been confused there
was no information here to indicate
that Hanna had put up bond, and, in
fact, they expressed utmost assurance
that he had not done so.
Reports from Jenkins since his ar
relatives in this country have all
quoted him as being most determined
not to put up cent of bail to obtain
his release. This fact was cited by
officials to support their contention
that the release of the Consular Agent
was brought about "by urgent diplo-
matte representations made by this
government and the resulting investi
cation made by General Gonzales. who
was sent to investigate the facts in
the case"
News Given to President
The embassy's dispatch reached the
lState Department coincdent with the
arrival at the White House of Senators
Continual nm merit Dnne