Want Us to Free Mena.

New York Times 100 years ago today, November 3, 1912:
Lawyers Get Writs from Zone Court — Say We Illegally Hold Nicaragua.
Special Cable to The New York Times.
    PANAMA. Nov. 2.— Two American attorneys, Mr. Hinckley and Mr. Ganson, applied this afternoon to the Zone Supreme Court for writs of habeas corpus on behalf of Gen. Mena and his son, Daniel, who, they allege, are unlawfully held by the United States as political prisoners on the order of Mr. Taft.
    Papers were served on the Zone police, returnable on Wednesday.
    Money for the action has been furnished by sympathizers of Gen. Mena in Nicaragua through Panama agents. Gen. Mena claims to have been elected President of Nicaragua, to take effect on Jan. 1, and will contest the election there.
    The American Secretary of War, Mr. Stimson, cabled Mr. Goethals to-day that the United States was only holding Gen. Mena "for observation."
    Gen. Mena and his son are in the Ancon Hospital, and have been shown every courtesy. They will go to court in wheel chairs. No real charge is made against them. They will probably be released unless a charge of murder comes from Washington for killing American marines; but Gen. Mena was out of the country when the killing occurred.
    If Gen. Mena is released and he steps off the Zone into Panama territory he will be arrested by the Panama Government. The doctors say he should remain in the hospital for two months. He would also be arrested immediately on entering Nicaragua, where a price has been set on his head.
    Gen. Mena says he is receiving every attention and three meals a day for the first time in his life, but he is anxious to be free.