Particulars of His Arrest.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4900, 15 March 1894, Page 2

Particulars of His Arrest.

Buenos Ayres, Wednesday night.— From the latest particulars received here ib appears that Jabez Balfour had been living quietly at a villa in Salta, in the province of Jujuy, since May last, under the name of Butler. It is now stated that the brewery at Salta was not his property, but; that he had only acquired a share in the business. The decree of the President of the Republic and the order of the Minister o£ tb© Interior iov Mr Baifonr'a seizure and removal to Buenos Ayres was presented to the local authorities last week by Mr Bridgett, the British Consul, who subsequently proceeded with the police to Balfour'e villa, and arrested him there. No compromising papers were found bsyond a draft for i>2oo in favour of a lady here. Balfour should have lefb Salta on Monday last, but he appealed for a habeas corpus and urged that Dr Anchorena, ex-Minister of Foreign Affaire, had refused his extradition, and that the Argentine law protected him. Balfour says that in the event of his extradition he will confound his detractors. The judge at Salta must decide the question of habeas corpus. — Eeuter. BALFOTTB WILL FIGHT HARD. A telegram received from Buenos Ayres yesterday afternoon states that Balfour is still confined in the prison at Salts, whither he was taken immediately after his arrest. He is very closely watched, but he has demanded, and has been accorded, several privileges, including that of consulting with a lawyer. He has had several conferences with a barrister, the result of which was seen yesterday in an application to the Federal Courb for the issue of a writ of habeas corpus, calling upon the governor of Salta gaol to bring the prisoner before the court, and chow cause why he should not be released. The court allowed the writ to issue, and also gave instructions that the Ministry for Foreign Affairs should produce the evidence and correspondence relating thereto in its possession. Balfour is determined, should it be necessary, to carry the case to the Supreme Court. Yesterday the President of the Republic and the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Justice had pro- ' longed conferences at the Federal Palace in regard to Balfour's case. HOW THE EXTRADITION WAS OBTAINED. At the Foreign Office yesterday it was ascertained that all the preliminaries for the extradition of Mr Balfour had been completed between Mr Welby, the British Secretary of Legation at Buenoa Ayreß, and the Foreign Minister of the Argentine Republic; It was stated that from the first day of the landing of Balfour in the Argentine Republic Mr Welby has done his utmost to bring the bankrupt to justice, and pointed out to the Foreign Minister of the Republic that Balfour should not b 8 allowed to remain in the country, because, to uso Mr Welbj's own words, " the fraud with which this indi-

vidual is charged amounts to the nun of a minion pounds, and has caused the ruin of many families is England." The Public f rosecutor has been on the point of applying for wsrranta for the arrest of two directors of the Liberator Building Society and the House and Land Investment .trust, but upon further consideration it was deemed advisable to abandon the idea, and to await the further development of event*. A Btrong point is to be made in the indictment of the valuation of the estates at the sum of £358,000, whereas, in the next balance-sheet, the properties were estimated at .£483,000. ABBANGEMENTS FOB TBANSFEB TO THE BRITISH ATTTHOBITIES. A newa agency states that it has been finally decided at the Home Office that Inspector Tunbridge shall leave to-morrow for South America to bring home Jabez Balfonr. He will convey with him all the necessary documents for Balfour's extradition, Bhould he be surrendered. The British authorities are taking every precaution to ensure his surrender, and every possible charge that can be formulated has been proposed by the Home Office officials and the Treasury lawyers bo as to prevent any breakdown of justice when he arrives in this country. It is understood that the warrants already in force have been considerably augmented by the bankruptcy and other officials, and that an assurance has b96n given to the South American Government that Balfour will take his trial strictly on the charges for which he will be surrendered. It is reported that other officials will be Bent to Buenos Ayreß ia connection with the proceedings, and an active interchange of cablegrams between the British Consul and the Foreiga Office in London is now taking place. FOBHBB COLLEAGUES DEBIBE TO ASSIST THE PBOSECTJTION. Up to the present time no definite Btopa have been taken for the prosecution of Balfour's colleagues. As matters stand, the Public Prosecutor will rely chiefly upon the evidence of these colleagues to secure the conviction of the absconding bankrupt, and to bring home to him the inception and working out of the frauds which will be alleged against him. It is understood that Balfour's co-direotors have shown every willingness to aid the Public Prosecutor, and have communicated to him important statements which will materially strengthen the case' for the prosecution.