EXTRADITION REFUSED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21377, 29 December 1932, Page 7

EXTRADITION REFUSED

AMERICAN IN GREECE SAMUEL INSULL RELEASED ATHENS, Dec. 27 Declaring that Greece should not be a country where hospitality was offered to "criminals," counsel for the prosecution demanded that Samuel Insull, chairman of several electricity 'companies in America, who was recently placed under arrest, should be immediately extradited to meet the American charges. Insult's counsel caused a sensation by emphasising that the depositions accusing Insull of fraud were only taken two months after the warrant for his arrest was issued. Counsel also produced an affidavit from McCormick, one of the witnesses for the prosecution, stating that there had been no fraudulent intention On Insull's part. He read other American documents attesting Insull's innocence.

Instill bowed his head and wept when his counsel paid a tribute to his philanthropy, and contended that he should be treated as a Greek citizen under Greeklaw, adding that an accusation of embezzlement could not be applied to a man of such universal fani», who had been Edison's secretary, then director of his enterprises and had later attained the position of "King of Electricity."

Counsel for the prosecution replied with a ftirther attack on Insull, describing his organisations as "these built-up paper companies." The Court decided against extradition on the grounds that the charges were not offences under the Greek penal code. The Court held that Insull had not personally benefited from his actions, and ordered his release.

The crowded Court received the decision with cheers and shouts of "Long live Greek justice."