OCR Text |
Show AMERICAN DK OF NEGLECT II PRISOi Cruelties Inflicted Upon J. Byington of Boise, Idaho, at Cumpas Sonora, Mex. NO GALES, Ariz., May 2. On information infor-mation brought here by refugees that James Byington, an American imprisoned impris-oned nine months at Cumpas, Sonora, Mexico, without trial, was slowly dyiug of neglect, another protest was sent today to-day to the constitutionalist, authorities at Cumpas demanding his immediate release. re-lease. According to Americans, who have boon aroused by what they describe as cruelties inflicted on Byington, formor protests against his long imprisonment without trial have been received with iccrs by the constitutionalist chiefs. Byington, who is an old man and a former for-mer resident of Boise. Idaho, is said to be losing his mind. The latest representations repre-sentations to the Mexican authorities state that it apparently is not the iu-tention iu-tention to give him a trial and ask that he bo set at liberty. The charge against Byington on which, it is said, he has been imprisoned im-prisoned without trial since August P, 1913, involved a shipment of ore from a mining claim. Tie is confined in a dark adobe, surrounded by filth, clad in rags and half starved. Losing His Mind. 4 They allege prison officials refuse to permit Byington to receive food sent by sympathetic Americans and that thu prisoner, in consequence of his treatment treat-ment and surroundings, rapidly is losing his mind. It is said he located a mining claim near Cumpas and on the assumption that, papers legalizing the claim wore on the way from Mexico City, prepared pre-pared a car of ore for shipment. lie was arrested on a chargo that lie hud not. established his clatir. The judge at Cumpas, in denying Byington an immediate im-mediate trial, is said to have asserted it was necessary to ascertain the value of the ore. This, it is said, has not yet been done? but the value of the enr, it is claimed, is less than $300. Starving to Death. An American who arrived today said he had found the prisoner half naked, apparently slowly starving to -leath ana a mental wreck." "Byingvon was moving mov-ing about in tho dark coll like a dumb animal," said the refugee. "Thore was a Mexican charged with murder in the cell with him. The smell was awful. aw-ful. Byington could give mo no intelligent intel-ligent information about himself aud looked at me. with glassy eyes. "I attempted to send some wholesome whole-some food to Byington, but the jefe would not permit him to receive it. iTe explained 5 cents a daj- was provided for each prisoner and that this was sufficient.' Previous reports had been made to Consul Simpich at Xogales and it is said that demands have been made by the stat) department that Bviagtou cither be released or given a trial. It is ar..'-ti'il hero that these dein;.rd.i have been shifted from one Mexican authority to another. Governor Mayto-rena Mayto-rena of " Sonora, it is said, passed the responsibility to Geuoral Obregon, constitutionalist con-stitutionalist chief, who in turn is alleged al-leged to have referred tho subject to General Carranza. The latter is said to have replied: "The case is in the hands of the supreme su-preme civil court and justico will be done.'' In the meanwhile there is uo "supremo "su-premo civil court" atnd Byington re mains in prison. |