In re Urzua

188 F. 540, 1911 U.S. App. LEXIS 4344

• Court: U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Southern New York
• Decided: June 20, 1911
• Status: Published

Opinion

RACOMBE, Circuit Judge.

[ 1 ] The first point raised is that there was not produced before the commissioner a certified copy of the requisition from the republic of Mexico which is on file in the office of the Secretary of State. It is not necessary to discuss the effect of the letter of the Mexican ambassador, which was submitted as proof of the making of the requisition, because a copy of the original document, duly certified by the State Department, has been submitted to this court. The objection is technical merely, and the production here of the proper document sufficiently cures it.

[2] 2. The objection that an earlier proceeding by habeas corpus had not terminated is not well taken. The order dismissing the writ was entitled in the Circuit Court of the Southern District of New York, and is manifestly a court order. It was not necessary to name any particular term in the caption. For the purposes of issuing and disposing of writs of habeas corpus the court is always open.

[3] 3. As to issuing of a warrant of arrest as a perquisite to a requisition, it is not necessary to discuss section 5270 of the Revised Statutes (U. S. Comp. St. 1901, p. 3591), nor Grin v. Shine, 187 U. S. 181, 23 Sup. Ct. 98, 47 L. Ed. 130. The depositions from Mexico, properly authenticated, state that:

“•Sufficient evidence having been forthcoming to proceed against Roberto Urzna as the presumed slayer of Jose Ruesga, in accordance with articles 244, 245, and 246, subsec. 4, of tbe Code of Penal Procedure, let tbe order be issued from headquarters. Tbe judge of tbe Third criminal district so decrees.

“[Signed] Francisco S. Palafox.

“0. Gonzalez Madrid.

“Affirmed by tbe Public Minister.

“[Signed] .Tose A. Aguyo.

“C. Gonzalez Madrid.

“On tbe same day with the above decree tbe order of arrest was issued in accordance with tbe provisions of that decree.

“[Signed] Gonzalez Madrid.”

This was sufficient proof of the issuance of a warrant of arrest. The days when federal courts were astute to defeat requisitions, where the evidence indicated quite clearly that an extraditable offense had been committed, on highly technical grounds, have long since passed, and the earlier authorities on the procedure in'extradition are not as persuasive as they once were.

4. There is no force in the contention that the requisition charges petitioner, not with murder, but with homicide. Reference to the treaty, whose clauses are printed in parallel columns in English and Spanish, shows that the word “homocidio” was considered by the two governments as the equivalent of “murder,” including among other crimes “asesinato,” or “assassination.” The proofs show that it is that variety of “homicidio” which is known as “asesinato” with which petitioner is charged.

[41 5. It is unnecessary to discuss the evidence. Although circumstantial, it is so strong that, were it produced before a committing magistrate in this state as proof of an assassination committed here, it would be his duty to hold the accused by imprisonment or under bail to await subsequent proceedings. Ex parte Glaser, 176 Fed. 702, 100 C. C. A. 254.

The findings of the United States commissioner are affirmed, and the writ of habeas corpus is dismissed.