Minister Gummeré to the Secretary of State.
Tangier, September 6, 1906.
Sir: I have the honor to report as follows: On the evening of August 31, while at Gibraltar securing supplies for my mission, I was called on by Mr. Keeley, of the Chicago Tribune, bearing a letter of introduction from Mr. Vignaud, secretary of embassy at Paris, in which Mr. Keeley was strongly recommended to me and requesting my good offices in a delicate mission in which he was engaged. Mr. Keeley then informed me that, accompanied by a [Page 1162] Mr. Olsen, assistant district attorney of Chicago, he was following on the tracks of one Paul Stensland, an absconding defaulter from Chicago, and that he had reason to believe that he was living at Tangier, where he had been since the latter part of July. I informed him that I was returning to Tangier on the next day and would gladly lend what assistance was possible in detecting the fugitive. On the morning of September 2 Messrs. Keeley and Olsen called on me at an early hour and reported that they had found that Stensland had been living here for some weeks at an obscure hotel, but that nearly two weeks ago had left for a tour in Spain; that he had large sums of money about him, and had made a deposit at the Comptoir d’Escompte, a branch of the great French Bank, and they were anxious to find out the amount of said deposit. This I found means of doing and found that he had deposited 60,000 francs. As Messrs. Keeley and Olsen wished to return to Gibraltar, thinking to find their man there, I secured a passage for them on a private boat, and they returned there.
In the meantime I directed Mr. Gazes, clerk at the legation, to keep a watch out, in case Stensland returned here. About 10 o’clock that night (September 2) Cazes reported to me that Stensland had arrived on board of a German coast boat from Gibraltar and had landed, and that he had so wired to Mr. Keeley. I directed him to watch and report to me in case he attempted to leave Tangier again. The next morning Cazes, at 8 a.m., reported to me that he had mistaken the identity of the man who had landed and that it was not Stensland, who was on the boat still; but very shortly after one of my soldiers reported to me that Stensland had landed and gone to the British post-office, where he was followed by Messrs. Keeley and Olsen, who had returned in the night from Gibraltar, and that they had requested the said soldier to take Stensland to the legation. This he had refused to do without orders from me. I had from the beginning told Messrs. Keeley and Olsen that I would only act in this matter on directions from the department, but, it being represented to me that he was about to board his boat and proceed to Mogador, down the coast, where I knew it would be impossible to find him again, I determined that it was a case for immediate action, so I dispatched Martin, messenger and confidential man, to the scene, with the request that they all proceed to my office and await my coming. This, after some hesitation, Stensland decided to do, influenced somewhat by a large crowd which had gathered and of which he seemed to have some fear. On my arrival at my office I found him there, in the interpreter’s room, and Mr. Keeley told me that he had admitted his crimes, etc., and seemed much broken up. I at once sent the following cablegram to the department, which I beg to confirm:
September 3, 1906.
Stensland, embezzler from Chicago, discovered in Tangier as he was about leaving for coast, where it would be almost impossible to find him again. I have authorized his detention, pending your instructions.
(Signed.) Gummeré.
In the meantime, while awaiting the department’s response, at the request of Mr. Olsen, I decided that Stensland, whom I had detained [Page 1163] all day in the office and who seemed ill, should be taken to a hotel, in the custody of Mr. Gazes and some guards whom Mr. Philip, as consul-general, had requested from the basha to assist in guarding him, and there he still remains closely guarded, awaiting the department’s instructions.
On the night of September 4 the following telegram arrived, which I have the honor to acknowledge:
September 4, 1906.
Sound Moorish Government as to whether are disposed to deliver Stensland to United States authorities as an act of grace on distinct understanding that we are unable to return favor in the absence of treaty.
(Signed) Adee, Acting.
In accordance with the said instructions I had an interview in the morning of the 5th instant with Sid Mohamed Ben Arby Torres, the Sultan’s representative, and informed His Excellency that I was detaining a noted fugitive from justice, whom it was desired to return to America for trial, and that as there was no extradition treaty between our two countries, and we were not able to return the courtesy, I was anxious to know whether there would be any objection raised on the part of his Government against the removal from Morocco of the said fugitive by the United States authorities. His Excellency at once replied that he appreciated the courtesy in making such a request, especially as they regarded my authority over all Americans as supreme and unquestionable, and that not only would no objection be raised on the part of the Moorish Government, but that every assistance would be accorded in carrying out the wishes of my Government to remove the fugitive from Morocco to the United States, even to the extent of the whole of the guards of Tangier.
Therefore I at once dispatched the following telegram to the department, which I beg to confirm:
September 5, 1906.
Moorish Government willing to facilitate in every respect removal from Morocco of Stensland, who remains in custody of legation of the United States, I await instruction.
Gummeré.
As Stensland seems ill and suffers with heart trouble and the common prison is in an awful condition, I have consented to his remaining at the hotel for the present, where he is closely guarded. I have taken every possible precaution against any attempt at self-destruction, but, with the exception of Messrs. Olsen and Keeley, have permitted no one to have access to him, such as reporters, and so forth. The department will pardon so many details, but I have thought best to set forth the whole matter. I have some precedent in the case of one Hunter, a fugitive from justice, who escaped in 1900, and whom I caused to be apprehended and to be sent to the United States, and am following that as closely as possible. The department will, however, understand that as the whole matter is a delicate one, I am anxious to have full instructions for further guidance.
I am, etc.