Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 116, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 October 1904 — GURNEY MAY BE PUNISHED. [ARTICLE]

GURNEY MAY BE PUNISHED.

British Embassy to Be Supplied with the Facts in the Case. It seems that Hugh Gurney, third secretary of the British embassy at Washington, who was fined $25 for driving his automobile too fast and $25 more for contempt of court by Judge-Phelps of Lee, Mass., and who raised a row with the judge over a question of privilege, came out second best after all. Gurney pleaded official exemption from arrest for the violation of a Massachusetts law, but he is not to escape scot-free if Gov. Bates can prevent it. The State Department, in transmitting Gov. Bates’ apology to the British legation for the arrest of Mr. Gurney, will present a statement of facts and testimony to show that Gurney violated the plain law of Massachusetts.

Judge Phelps exhibited ignorance of international law, but the opinion seems to prevail that Mr. Gurney betrayed a lack of common sense, a lack of good breeding and, worst of all. a lack of diplomacy. A man who does not know when to be complaisant and yielding and when to be tenacious of his dignity and privileges, especially when he has been guilty of disorderly conduct, will hardly shine as a star of the first magnitude in the diplomatic sky. This is the view taken of the case in London, where it was made known at once that the government at Washington would make any reparation that was desired, but where the only feeling was that Mr. Gurney had made himself ridiculous. The Westminster Gazette thinks that as Mr. Gurney had violated the law he should have peaceably waived his privilege and paid his fine. If this is the general feeling it is likely that Mr. Gurney will be conveniently dropped from the diplomatic service of his country.