The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-11-21

TELLS STORY OF
/ CAPTURE BY BANDITS
Safes In His Office Robbed and He Was
Kept In Mountains for Week -
Thinks This Government Should Pay
His Ransom.

WASHINGTON, Nov 21.-Mexieo
was warned yesterday by the American
government that any further molesta-
ton of William o. jenkins, the Ameri-
can consular agent at Puebla, who re
Gently was kidnapped by bandits, would
seriously affect the relations between
the United States and Mexico, for
which the government of Mexico must
assume sole responsibility.
Coupled with the warning was de-
mand for the immediate release of the
consular agent, who was rearrested
| Tuesday on charges in connection with
his abduction and ransom in the sum
of $4,000 gold Official reports that
! Jenkins had again been imprisoned at
i Puebla reached the state department
4 Yesterday from the American embassy
at Mexico City which was instructed &c
X transmit note demanding his release
jenkins was first arrested early this
month on the charge of collision with
the bandits who took him from his
home at Puebla on October 10, but he
was released after remaining in tbs
penitentiary two hours. lie was re-
strieted to his home, however, ano
Tuesday was re-arrested on complaint
that he had threatened poems who hat
given evidence on which the state au
thorities acted in first taking him int
custody.
| SO far as the department has beer
advised he is still in custody and be
cause of his weakened physical condi
I tion resulting from the hardships en-
/ dured during the week the bandits hel,
/ him in the mountains of Puebla, stat
/ officials feared long Imprisonment
i might permanently affect his health.
II Before his arrest jenkins, who opeT
II ates a large cotton min at Puebla, ha
II planned to return to his old home i
II Tennessee and, if necessary, come I
II Washington to present hrs claim to off
II cials for assistance in paving of the oh
II legations contracted in raising the fun
HI paid the bandits for his release.
III These plans of the consular agen
II were outlined IN letter received froi
II him yesterday by Representative Davis
H of Tennessee. Writing under date c
II November 4. Jenkins gave a graphi
II description of his capture by and e,
II perience with the bandits, who, he SAT-
III told him that the principal object
i kidnapping him was 'to demonstrat
|! that the present government of Me,
| leo was not able to give guarantees G
II foreigners) not even in the second eli
II of the country
II Jenkins said he was overpowered
II his own yard by five armed rebels al
II ltcld he would be killed if he resisted.
II ~ was searched for any weapons
he said, ''and had my hands tied t
. gether, and then was forced to go
& the office where the two safes were cor
pletely emptied of all money, amour
B ing to few hundred pesos more ths
$4,000.
''When the safes had been rifed, tv
of the men were sent forward with Il
money and the other three advised Il
that l would have TO accompany thel
| made every possible plea to dissua1
them from their purpose. but | was i
formed that it was their principal o
! iect to demonstrate that the prese
I government of Mexico was not able
j give guarantees, not even in the secol
city of the country.
jenkins said he was given permissi,
to see his wife, who added her pleas
his own, in vain.
81 was carried off to the mountai
that night. he continued, sstraveli
all night ON horseback and was kept
the mountains for one week, movi
\ from one place TO another and sleeps
in the open hills and in the brush.
My friends We're very active dl
ing this week. but it took several da
to get in contact with the rebels. W
absolutely refused to gise me up
cept through the payment of the
/ tire sum of 100000 pesos. but it W
pointed ont to them that my physi
condition was sucli that | would oil
hive few days and once dead, | wol
not be ransomed at ALL
:sOn Sunday the sum of 81 900 PEI
& was paid in cash and FIVE of my in
mate friends responded with their Ii
for the payment of the balance. anf
myself promised to complete the .;
ment as demanded. NV friends "