In obedience to the instructions contained in said note, I beg leave to call
your attention to the matter in question, and to express the hope that the
Government of the United States will adopt suitable measures for its
repression, (sic,) thus preventing the repetition of
an abuse committed, perhaps, without any intention of outraging the Mexican
nation, but which might at some time give rise to disagreeable consequences
on the frontier, despite of the good understanding which happily exists
between the governments of the two republics.
[Inclosure.—Translation.]
Mr. Lafragua to Mr.
Mariscal.
City of
Mexico, June 29,
1875.
The governor of the State of Sonora writes me under date of the 31st of
May last as follows:
“By the documents, of which I have the honor to inclose copies to you,
you will see that two Americans, named Joseph Phy and Thomas Hayes,
having come from Arizona Territory, United States, entered the district
called Del Altar, where they arrested by violence one Joseph Holmes,
also an American, at a place called Galerita, within the limits of this
State.
“The arrest took place on the 17th ultimo, at about 4 o’clock in the
afternoon, in presence of an American named James Walters and two
Mexicans, with the acquiescence of several other citizens, as appears
from the investigation held, the original report of which is retained by
this government for the purpose of having it completed for the necessary
purposes as regards the guilt attributed to the said Mexicans. And
although it thereby appears that Holmes tied before his captors from the
Territory of Arizona and returned to the house of Walters, with whom he
was serving in that district, the fact is that this arrest is, to all
intents and purposes, an offense against our nationality, committed by
citizens of the United States; and, in view thereof, I have recourse
through you to the citizen President of the Republic for such
determination as may be deemed proper for the prevention of similar
abuses, and the results which might arise from the non-observance of our
treaties.”
Which I transcribe to you, in order that you may be pleased to request
the Government of the United States, to ask, in extradition cases, for
the extradition of the fugitive, in accordance with the treaty, and to
repress those who have violated the national territory.
I renew to you the expression of my sentiments of esteem and
consideration.
The Citizen Minister of Mexico,
In the United States of America, Washington, D.
C.
A copy:
José T. de Cuellar,
Secretary.
