Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-19
BAHAMA RUM CASE.
FORMALLY CLOSED.
U. S. to Surrender Seized
Craft and Cargoes in Noted
Christensen Capture.

! The closing chapter in one OF the
: most coiorful international episodes III
; recent years rising out of the warfare
{. between the United States Coast Guard
and the Atlantic rum fields has been
: written by United States and British
= diplomats. who by associations between
= Washington and London have settled
: the celebrated and complicated case in
. volving BoatSwain Larry Christensen
4. of the Coast Guard, and Pop Nesle.
s former dry agent.
/. Christensen. then In command Of the
/ Coast Guard patrol boat. seized two
: American registered rum-laden vcanabs
/. off the Bahamas last September, Thc
= the violation of British sovereignty by
: Christensen and has expressed its re-
: grets formally to London.
To Surrender Boats.
: Under the terms of the settlement the
, two vessels are to be surrendered 10
e British authorities, together with their
csrgoes. and proceedings have been
ouaSfle6 in American courts against the
/ crews of the two ships.
The only remaining question is wheth-
er Christensen is liable under Coast
. Guard articles OF war or American
: criminal Law for prosecution on allega-
/. tons Of completely in the theft OF some
Of the seized liquor charge on which
: Nesle was convicted and for which he
. served time in the Bahamas. The Brit
iSh authorities have submitted evidence
, as to the share they charge Christian
sen had In that transaction. and this
information has been handed over by
the State Department both to the De-
partment Of Justice and the Treasury
Department
There is an unsettled dispute as to
whether the actual seizure of the ships
was made within British territorial wa
tiers. Christensen contending he over
hauled and took possession of the two
ships miles of shore in the open sea.
The point proved to be of no impor-
lance, however. as Christensen subse-
quentIv took the captured ships into
British waters. landing his prisoners
an6 the seized cargoes at Gun Cay. Ba-
hamas. where they spent the night. be-
ing transferred 70 another Coast Guard
vessel the following day and sent to the
United States.
Charge Liquor Theft.
It is this entry of British jurisdiction,
admittedly in defiance of all interna-
tional Law and custom. which prompted
the American apology and the offer TO
surrender the seized vessels and their
crews and cargoes to British authority.
The actual date for delivery of vessels |
and cargoes, the prisoners having al |
ready been set at liberty and bail REMIT |
ted. is awaiting only designation OF time |
and place by the British authorities. /
The Coast Guard desires to make the !,
delivery at Gun Cay, but that is unset |
tied.
AS a sequel to Christiansen's action /
the British authorities charged that |
Nesle. who was aboard the Coast Guard /
vessel. despite the fact that he was then
q fugitive from American justice, carried
out theft of part of the seized liquor
when 1t was landed by Christensen at
Gun Cav. They also charged Christian
sen with completely in that theft and
sought his extradition under treaty
which makes no exception as to MEM
bers OF the armed forces OF either
country.
Used as Pilot Il
The washington Government was un- !,
willing to interpret the treaty as includ-
inc members OF the armed forces, and I
undertook TO persuade the British TO
drop the proceedings against Christian
sen. with assurances that he would be
to other work or otherwise
disciplined for violation of Brush SOW
eretguty. ChrfStl1nSen mao expAduteo n
that Eesle was aboard his craft as q
PILOT because he knew the waters where
the seizure was made. II
The British accepted the American
proposal with the stipulation. however,
that II the charges against Christensen 4
before British courts were to be dropped
his status under American Law should
be examined. The washington Govern
ment agreed TO consider any evidence
the British might be able TO submit as
TO Christiansen's completely in any IT. .
while within British terri L
torial waters and 1t is that phase OF the
case which alone remains unsettled.
NegIe. who was released by the British
authorities in June. after having served
a substantial portion Of his sentence
there. was deported and immediately
Irnslgft TO trial under American law in
Georgia.