Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1919-12-06

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5-William O.
Jenkins, the American consular agent.
imprisoned at Puebla, Mexico, was re-
leased Thursday night.
The American embassy in Mexico
City reported his release in an official
dispatch received by the state depart
ment this afternoon and almost at the
same time news dispatches were re-
ceived from Mexico City (which said q
check for 5000 had been deposited with
the civil authorities at Puebla.
This difference in the two reports
seemed to raise some doubt as to
whether Jenkins was released uncon-
ditionally on the diplomatic represen-
tation of the United States govern
ment or whether he had been released
on bail, as the Mexican authorities
contended he could.
The state department, however, took
the view that Jenkins had been re-
! leased on its diplomatic representations,
and issued this statement:
U. S. Action Brought Release?
THE release of Consular Agent
Jenkins was brought about by urgent
diplomatic representations made by
this government and the resulting in
vestigation made by General Pablo
Gonzales, who was sent to Puebla by
| the Mexican government to investigate
| the facts in the case. The investiga-
| tions by General Gonzales, who was al
Puebla on December 8, had then prac.
tically substantiated the position taker
| by this government on behalf Of
/ Jenkins
Two poems from Santa Lucia ad.
mitted to General Gonzales that they
had made declarations against Jenkin:
under threat of execution. Other wit
nesses testified they had been com
PEELED to make false statements agains
Jenkins under duress. One witnes.
was threatened with pistol. anothel
suspended by rope, and still anothe
beaten until he made his declaration
against jenkins.
These facts are shown in the cour
record of the case"
Every effort was made here toda,
to check upon a cabled report from
Mexico City saying that according to
Puebla dispatch to Mexico City news
paper, Jenkins was released after J
Salter Hansen had deposited a $50
check for bail. Officials of the stat
department said they had no informa
ton whatever concerning Hansen o
the question of bail, and that they di
not know Hansen. They stood on tn
statement that the consular agent ha'
been released on demand of this gov
ernment.
May Be Confusion In Names
In some quarters, however. there wa
a suggestion there may have been
confusion of names, as Secretary Lans
ing announced that dispatch fror
the American embassy said Third As
sistant Secretary Mathew E. Hanna
had been sent to Puebla in connectio
with representations for release c
. Jenkins. Officials declared, however
that even if the names had been con
fused there was no information her
,, to indicate that Hanna had put u
bond and in fact they expressed ut
most assurance that he had not done 81
; Reports from Jenkins since his ar
rest and personal letters from him
relatives in this country have a
: quoted him as being most determine
not to put up a cent of bail in orde
to obtain his release. This fact wa
cited by officials to support their con
tantion that the release of the con
: sular agent was brought about 'b
t urgent diplomatic representations mad
by this government and the resultin
, investigation made by General Pabl
/ Gonzales, who was sent to investigat
the facts in the case