BarbarousMexico JOHN KENNETH TURNER

288 BARBAROUS MEXICO
over into Arizona; that all we (meaning by 'we' himself
and the Mexican authorities) want is to get the defendants
down into Arizona, and then we will see that they
get across the line."
Attorney General Bonaparte seems to have had the
same purpose as Furlong and the Mexican authorities,
even at a time when the case in hand did not involve
extradition to Mexico or even to Arizona. During a
hearing before Judge Ross in San Francisco Mr. Bonaparte
had the temerity to wire his district attorney in
that city: "Resist habeas corpus proceedings in case
of Magon et al. on all grounds, as they are wanted in
Mexico!' This telegram was read in court. The mci-
(lent was all the more remarkable in view of the fact
that only a few days previously Bonaparte, in answer to
a query from U. S. Senator Perkins, had replied by
letter assuring the senator that the purpose of the prosecution
of these men was not to send them back to
Mexico.
Five separate and distinct charges were brought
against Magon and his associates, one after another.
First, it was "resisting an officer." Then it was the old
charge of "murder and robbery." Later it was criminal
libel. Still later it was murdering "John Doe" Jn Mexico.
Finally it was conspiracy to violate the neutrality
laws.
Undoubtedly the conspirators would have early succeeded
in their purpose to railroad the men back to
Mexico had not a number of Los Angeles organizations
formed a defense committee, held mass meetings to
arouse public sentiment, collected funds, and hired two
able attorneys, job Harriman and A. R. Holston. These
lawyers after a long fight succeeded in driving the prosecution
into a corner where they were compelled to pro-