No. 499.
Señor Navarro to Mr. Evarts.
New York, August 28, 1880.
Mr. Secretary: The governor of the State of Chihuahua has written, under date of the 9th of June last, to the office of the secretary of foreign affairs in Mexico, giving information that a certain Robert Martin, a bandit by profession, who for some time past has been marauding on both frontiers, has succeeded in forming a gang of Texans and Mexicans, who at present have taken refuge in the Sierra del Hacha, in American territory, from whence they separate to commit their depredations, stealing large numbers of cattle which pass on that side of the frontier. This legation had some suspicions, since the month of May, 1879, from a report received from the administrator of the frontier custom-house at Janos, of the existence of the bandit to whom I at present refer, well enough known in this section as a fugitive from the Franklin jail, where he was registered under the name of “Bob. Robert Martin.”
The municipal president of Ascension for the guidance of the political chief of the district of Galiana addressed himself finally to the governor of the State of Chihuahua, giving him an account of the theft of cattle committed by the above-mentioned gang, and expressing fear of [Page 787] the repetition of these acts of outlawry. It happened in a few days that they committed another theft of cattle, belonging to the same municipal president and Mr. Cura Baca. The fact was attested by a person who had set out from San Simon, and who knows the brands, and saw the animals in the possession of the American, Robert Martin. The residents of Ascension remember, upon that occasion, that in that place a so-called outlaw was arrested and conveyed to the capital of the State, from whence he fled shortly afterwards.
I do not think it essential to include in this letter further information concerning the existence of the gang of thieves under Robert Martin, since they have public notoriety on both frontiers, and this information will suffice, according to my judgment, to make the Department see the necessity of bringing before the authorities of that part of the frontier the persecutions of a gang of outlaws who have caused so much trouble, succeeding up to this time in eluding the vigilance of the authorities of both republics.
In fulfilling the instructions which I have received from my government, to bring these things fully before the Department of State, I take pleasure in reiterating to you, Mr. Secretary, &c.