The next morning we went into court on the writ. The court gave the police twenty-four hours to get something more substantial than telegrams, threatening to liberate us if they failed. When we appeared the next day they had nothing except more telegrams, and we were discharged from custody.
I grabbed the attorney’s hand. “Don’t get excited,” he said, “they’re not done with you yet.”
Although the judge released us we were promptly rearrested at the courtroom door and put in our cell. The attorney applied for another writ. This was granted and we went to court again the next day, but were put over twenty-four hours on the plea of the police that witnesses were on their way from Canada. No witnesses appeared, and we were discharged only to be arrested again. The court warned the police that they would be in contempt if we were held longer without evidence.
On our next day in court we were confronted by the chief of provincial detectives from Victoria with a warrant of extradition and a day was set for him to make his showing. One night a strange attorney came to me in the prison, told me he had had a talk with the judge, and that for a sum of money he would point out a flaw in the case that would upset the extradition plea. I sent for my attorney and asked his advice. He investigated, and told me to put up the money.
When we went into court the Canadian officer produced his warrant. It was the biggest document I ever saw—a piece of parchment about three feet long, embossed, engraved, and signed and sealed with the seal of Queen Victoria—a formal demand from the British Government on the Secretary of State to deliver us over to the Canadian authorities. He had it in a bag carefully rolled and wrapped in paper. Taking it out carefully, reverently, he placed it in the judge’s hands.
“Where did you get this document?” the court asked.
“From Ottawa, the capital of Canada,” the officer answered.
“Did you go to Ottawa yourself for it?”
“No, it came to Victoria by mail.”
Looking at it closely the judge pointed to a name signed at the bottom. “What’s this?” he asked.