Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-12-02
ANOTHER AMERICAN
KILLED IN MEXICO;
No ACTION So FAR
James Wallace Is the Eighth
American Killed Since
July p Almost Final
Straw" Say Officials

near Tampico last Wednesday.
The state department was advised
Of the killing Friday and immediate.
Nv ordered a thorough investigation
Details of this latest outrage were
lacking, but administration officials
did not hesitate to characterize 1t
as almost the last straw in the
chain of "aggravating' incidents
which have occupied the attention of
the department for several months.
The Wallace referred to is believed
here to be E. T. Wallace, of the Gulf
Refining company, about forty years
old. and one of the company's best
men. He had operated for the com
pany in Colombia as well as Mexico
and went recently to Tampico.
If the identification of Wallace is
correct he is the eighth official of
the Gulf Refining company to be
killed in Mexico and the eighth
American to be killed since July %.
1919, when the state department
warned the Carranza government
that more killings of Americans
would lead to a change in policy of
this government toward Mexico.
The statement issued by the
state department was as follows:
James Wallace, an American en-
ploye of American Oil company near
Tampico, was murdered by a Mexican
federal soldier at Potrero del Llano
on Wednesday, November rs. The
murderer was not taken into custody.
According to the departments ad-
vices the officer in charge of troops
camped in the vicinity claimed that
Wallace had provoked the murder.
The department has been informed
as a result of an investigation, thas
a mule on which Wallace was rid
ing to the place of his employment
SHE'D at a machine gun which it
was passing, overturning the gun.
The soldier Immediately shot Wal
lace, the bullet striking him in the
neck and killing him instantly"
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-Renewing
it's request for the immediate release
of Consular Agent Jenkins, impris-
oned at Puebla, the latest American
note to Mexico made public here to-
day arraigns, .the-Mexican- govern
menPs conduct in severe terms and
chararterizes it as a studied attempt
to ensnare the American consular
agent in the intricacies of legal pro-
ceilings.
No ultimatum was served and no
indication was given of what the
American governments course would
be if jenkins is not Immediately re-
leased.
The United States, the note says,
is constrained to the opinion" that
Carranza arguments that the case is
being investigated and that Jenkins
has not taken opportunity to be re-
leased on bail are mere excuses.
This government does not admit
the note says, that it is necessary to
keep Jenkins in Jail while his case
is being investigated, and this gov
eminent fails to discern" that the
.intricacies of the Mexican penal
law" have been applied with impair.
tial effect to jenkins.
The Mexican government cannot
argue that it cannot Interfere with
the judicial processes of a state I'M
less there has been denial of JUS
tice, the American note argues, be-
cause it contends, there already has
been a denial of justice and the Mex
lean constitution extends the power
of the federal government to all
cases concerning consular officers
and diplomatic agents"
u. S. Not to BE Driven
The United States is not to be
driven by such subtle arguments,
saws the note, Unto a defense of its
ba of Mr. Ter
kins. 1t is for Mexico to show cause
for his detantion; not for the Unit
ed States to how cause for his lib
Grafton"
Then, the note says, stripped OF
extraneous matter with which the
Mexican note of November Is en-
deavors to clothe it, the naked case
Of Jenkins stands forth" The note
then reviews the history of the case
and takes up the argument.
Jenkins was imprisoned for rem
dering false judicial testimony in
connection with the abduction of
which he was the victim, says the
note.
I'm whose interest is the charge
of false swearing brought against
jenkins? ?" asks the note. Ills alb
prosecuting the victim instead of the
perpetrators of the crime"
"WhiIe the outlaws who endanger-
ed his life and took away large
part of his fortune enjoy their free
dom the Mexican authorities now de-
prive Jenkins of his liberty" That
Jenkins is supposed to be guilty of
rendering false judicial testimony,
the note says, is merely an opinion
of the Mexican government entirely
unsupported by evidence"
THE Mexican government" says
the American note, cannot expect
the United States to accept in the
grave circumstances of this case
a bare unsupported statement as
valid excuse" Jenkins, weak and eX-
hausted in a hospital, the note says,
"has been harrassed by the Mexican
authorities while evidence against
him was obtained through intimida-
ton Of witnesses"
Studied Efforts to Ensnare
The note says the only conclusion
this government can draw is that
Mexico has been made a studied
effort" to ensnare jenkins in legal
intricacies, divert the attention of
the American and Mexican people
both from the fact that the second
largest city in Mexico is overrun by
bandits and that the Mexican au-
thorities have been negligent.
"It appears" says the note, "to
have been the purpose of the Mexican
government to assume a wilful in
difference to the feelings of the
American people that have been
aroused to the point of indignation
by the exposure, hardships and phys
zeal suffering by Jenkins during his
abduction and his subsequent treat
ment at the hands of the Mexican
authorities.''
The note was directed to Charge
d'Affaires Summerlin, of the Amer,
lean embassy at Mexico City.