No. 152.
Mr. Pierrepont to Mr. Fish.
Legation of the United States,
London, December 22,
1876. (Received January 8, 1877.)
No. 91.]
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that, in my
dispatch No. 76, dated November 30, 1876, I inclosed a copy of a note
from Lord Derby, stating that the home department had issued orders for
the apprehension of Winslow, Brent, and Gray, whose extradition has been
requested by the United States Government. On the same day (November 30)
I advised you by cable that the home office had ordered the arrests.
On the 4th of December, 1876, by cable, I acquainted you that Brent had
been arrested, heard, and committed to await extradition at the end of
fifteen days. Copies of the depositions taken at this hearing are
herewith inclosed.
In my dispatch No. 80, December 5, 1876, I gave particulars of the case
and of the general course of proceedings here in extradition cases.
In my dispatch No. 81, December 7, 1876, I stated that after the
expiration of “the fifteen days” Brent would be delivered over to an
agent of the United States under a warrant of extradition, and without
any stipulations or conditions whatever.
In my dispatch No. 86, of the 12th instant, I inclosed copies of the
papers received up to that date from Lord Derby in the case of
Brent.
The “fifteen days” did not expire, as the law is construed, until the
19th of December expired.
On the morning of the 20th of December I wrote to Lord Derby a note upon
this subject, and, to facilitate the matter, I also sent a note to Lord
Tenterden. I received, on the same day, an answer to these notes from
Lord Derby, who made an inquiry as to the person to be appointed to take
Brent to America; to which I returned an immediate reply. A copy of this
correspondence is given with this dispatch.
The next day, to wit, the 21stof December instant, Lord Derby sent a
messenger with the extradition warrant; a copy of which I also inclose.
The messenger was accompanied by Mr. John Shore, the inspector of police
mentioned in the correspondence, in order that I might make the proper
appointment and give the necessary directions. I executed the formal
appointment of Mr. Shore, of which I send you a copy, and forthwith
dispatched to you a cipher cable, as follows:
Lord Derby has signed extradition-warrant. John Shore appointed
to take Brent. Sails from Liverpool Saturday, in Parthia. More
after actual sailing.
Lord Derby’s warrant seems to have been dated the 20th of December but I
had no notice of it until the 21st, when I cabled you without delay. If
the newspapers knew it before I did, they must have had ic from some
clerk in the foreign office before I had notice that the warrant was
issued.
I have arranged to receive notice by telegraph when Brent actually sails,
and shall advise you by cable.
You will observe that Lord Derby signs this warrant of extradition. I am
told that the home secretary usually signs them, but the act allows
either of the principal secretaries of state to sign such warrants.
I have, &c.,
[Page 282]
[Inclosure 1 in No. 91.]
Deposition in relation to the arrest of
Brent
Metropolitan Police
District, to wit:
The information of William J. Hoppin, taken on oath this 30fch day of
November, in the year of our Lord 1876, at the Bow-street police
court, in the county of Middlesex, and within the metropolitan
police district, before me, the undersigned chief magistrate of the
police courts of the metropolis, sitting at the police court
aforesaid.
This deponent, William J. Hoppin, on his oath, saith as follows:
I am the first secretary of the legation of the United States. I
produce the copy of a telegram received on the 5th day of March,
1876, from the Hon. Hamilton Fish, Secretary of State, in cipher,
charging Charles I. Brent with forgery and the utrerance of forged
paper; and I am enabled to state that the said telegram is from Mr.
Fish from the fact that it is in the cipher used between the State
Department and the legation.
The American Government are now willing to receive this fugitive
criminal for the purpose of prosecution.
WILLIAM J. HOPPIN,
Secretary of
Legation of the United States of
America.
Sworn before me.
J. T. INGHAM,
Chief
Magistrate.
Metropolitan Police
District, to wit:
The examination of John Shore and another taken on oath this 4th
day of December, in the year of our Lord 1876, at the Bow-street
police court, in the county of Middlesex, and within the
metropolitan police district, before me, the undersigned, chief
magistrate of the police courts of the metropolis, sitting at
the police court aforesaid, in the presence and hearing of
Charles Inuis Brent, who was brought this day before me,
pursuant to the extradition acts 1870 and 1873, accused of the
commission of the crime of forgery and utterance of forged paper
within the jurisdiction of the United States of America.
This deponent, John Shore, on his oath, saith as follows:
I am an inspector at Scotland Yard. I took the prisoner in
custody on the 8th of March at Queenstown. I had then a warrant
signed by Sir Thomas Henry similar to the one I produce. I read
the warrant to him and told him I should have to take him to
London. He was in the custody of the Irish constabulary; they
handed me hit or exchange on Drexel, Harges &, Co., Paris,
for 29,000 francs and upward, and £56 10s. in English gold,
$11.25 American money, and revolver, all of which had been found
on prisoner. Between there and Dublin I noticed prisoner was
wearing a gold watch and chain, which I took from him; also, two
rings and a pin. On the way between Queens-town and London he
told me he was Charles Innis Brent; that he had been a clerk in
the Tobacco Bank, Louisville, Ky.; that he had obtained leave of
absence on the then yesterday fortnight to the following Monday,
and that he proceeded to New York after cashing a draft
belonging to the bank, and that he signed the name of the firm,
bought the draft on Paris before referred to out of the proceeds
of the draft, also the English gold and the gold watch and chain
he was wearing.
I was present when the prisoner was examined before Sir Thomas
Henry, and I remember Mr. Eugene C. Warren being examined by Sir
Thomas in the presence of the prisoner, and in my presence he
identified the prisoner as having been a clerk in the Tobacco
Bank. I remember the whole of the American papers in the case
were produced, and he and another gentleman swore to their
correctness. It was said in prisoner’s presence what the amount
of the check was. I have now apprehended the prisoner under Sir
James Ingham’s warrant on Saturday last at Canterbury Barracks.
I showed him the warrant, and he said he knew there would be a
settlement between the governments about these extradition
matters this last month.
And this deponent, Samuel Mullins, on his oath, saith:
I am a solicitor at 11 Queen Victoria street, E. C. I was present
at the examination of prisoner before Sir Thomas Henry in March
last. A draft was produced for the sum of $15,000; that draft
was annexed to the original documents which came from America;
these documents, with the draft, have been sent back to New
York.
In the presence of prisoner I heard the American depositions read
in which Mr. Warren, who purported to have signed the check or
draft, said his signature was a forgery.
The above depositions of John Shore and Samuel Mullins were
severally taken and sworn before me as aforesaid.
J. T. INGHAM,
Chief
Magistrate.
[Page 283]
The prisoner, having been duly cautioned, saith:
All I have to say is I was three months in the house of
detention, from 10th March to 19th June; that I was released
then because our governments could not come to an agreement
about extradition. On the day of my release I signed a paper
authorizing Detective Shore to return the draft, moneys, the
watch and chain and rings to be restored to the Merchants’
National Bank, New York City. Since then I have learned they
have received this property. I would like to go back as soon as
can be arranged without waiting the fifteen days.
Taken before me.
J. T. INGHAM,
Chief Magistrate.
[Inclosure 2 in No. 91.]
Mr. Pierrepont
to Lord Derby.
Legation of the United States,
London, December 20, 1876.
My Lord: With reference to the case of
Charles Innis Brent, now held for extradition, I would call your
lordship’s attention to the fact that the “fifteen days” have
expired, and I am ready to appoint such person as shall be mutually
agreed upon to receive said Brent under a warrant of extradition and
take him to the United States.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure 3 in No. 91.]
Mr. Pierrepont
to Lord Tenterden.
Legation of the United States,
London, December 20, 1876.
My Dear Lord Tenterden: As it is very
desirable to start Brent on his way at the earliest practicable
moment, I inclose you a note which I have written to Lord Derby, and
hoping that you may facilitate the matter so that there shall be no
delay after Lord Derby arrives at the foreign office, I leave the
note unsealed, thinking that there may be some formal matters
requiring attention with which I am not familiar, but which you
understand.
Very truly, yours,
[Inclosure 4 in No. 91.]
Lord Tenterden
to Mr. Pierrepont. (For the Earl of Derby.)
Foreign Office, December 20, 1876.
Immediate.]
Sir: With reference to your letter of this
day’s date, I have the honor to inform you that I have received a
communication from Her Majesty’s principal secretary of state for
the home department, stating that as fifteen days have now expired
since the committal of Brent to the Middlesex house of detention, a
warrant for his surrender can now be issued, and inquiring whether
you wish that an officer should be sent from the United States to
fetch the prisoner, or whether he is to be sent to the United States
in charge of an English officer.
I understand from your letter that you are ready to appoint a person
to take Brent to the United States, and shall therefore be obliged
by your informing me what answer should be given to the inquiry of
the secretary of state.
I have, &c.,
For the Earl of Derby,
TENTERDEN.
[Inclosure 5 in No. 91.]
Mr. Pierrepont
to Lord Derby.
Legation of the United States,
London, December 20, 1876.
My Lord: I have the honor to state that if
it meets your lordship’s approval, I will appoint John Shore,
inspector in Scotland Yard, to take Brent to America under the
warrant of extradition.
I have, &c.,
[Page 284]
[Inclosure 6 in No. 91.]
Warrant for the extradition of
Brent.
To the Keeper of the Middlesex
House of Detention at Clerkenwell, and to Inspector John
Shore:
Whereas Charles Innis Brent, late of the United States of America,
accused of the commission of the crime of forgery and uttering
forged paper within the jurisdiction of the United States of
America, was delivered into the custody of you, the keeper of the
Middlesex house of detention at Clerkenwell, by warrant dated 4th
December, 1876, pursuant to the extradition act, 1870:
Now, I do hereby, in pursuance of the said act, order you, the said
keeper, to deliver the body of the said Charles Innis Brent into the
custody of the said inspector, John Shore, and I command you the
said inspector, John Shore, to receive the said Charles Innis Brent
into your custody, and to convey him within the jurisdiction of the
said United States of America, and there place him in the custody of
any person or persons appointed by the said jurisdiction to receive
him, for which this shall be your warrant.
Given under the hand and seal of the
undersigned, one of Her Majesty’s principal secretaries of
state, this 20th
day of December, 1876.
[
l. s.]
DERBY.
[Inclosure 7 in No. 91.]
Appointment of Inspector Shore to convey Brent
to the United States.
Legation of the United States,
London, December 21, 1876.
Whereas under a warrant of extradition issued on the twentieth day of
December, anno Domini eighteen hundred and seventy-six, by the right
honorable the Earl of Derby, Her Majesty’s secretary of state for
foreign affairs, Inspector John Shore has been directed to receive
into his custody Charles Innis Brent, accused of the commission of
the crime of forgery and uttering forged paper within the
jurisdiction of the United States of America, and to convey him, the
said Charles Innis Brent, within the jurisdiction of the said United
States of America, and there place him in the custody of any person
or persons appointed by the said jurisdiction to receive him:
Now, therefore, I, Edwards Pierrepont, envoy extraordinary and
minister plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Great
Britain, by virtue of the authority in me vested by the Government
of the United States, do hereby authorize and appoint the said
inspector, John Shore, to take the said Charles Innis Brent into his
custody, and conduct him to the United States of America, and there
deliver him to such person or persons as the President of the United
States may authorize to receive him; and if no such person shall
appear duly authorized by the President of the United States to
receive said Brent, then to deliver him, the said Charles Innis
Brent, into the custody of the United States marshal for the
southern district of New York, in the city of New York, to be held
by the said marshal subject to the orders of the President of the
United States.
In witness whereof I have hereto
subscribed my name and affixed the seal of this legation this twenty-first day
of December, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and seventy-six.
[
l. s.]
EDWARDS
PIERREPONT.
WILLIAM J. HOPPIN,
Secretary of Legation.
