No. 443.
Mr. Morgan
to Mr. Evarts.
Legation of
the United States,
Mexico, December 6, 1880.
(Received February 2, 1881.)
No. 140.]Sir: I inclose original and translation of a note
received by me from Señor Mariscal, minister for foreign affairs, together
with the document which accompanied it, from which you will observe that the
governor of Chihuahua reports to the Federal authorities here that one
Robert E. Martin, at the head of a band of robbers, is in the habit of
crossing into Mexico from the United States, and robbing and otherwise
disturbing Mexican citizens. When pursued by Mexican troops, he recrosses
the Rio Grande and thus makes his escape.
Señor Mariscal requests that I may communicate to my government the desire of
the Mexican Government to enter into an agreement by which when a pursuit
which may hereafter be made by Mexican troops of Martin and his band is
forced to cease by reason of their passage of the Rio Grande, it may be
taken up by United States troops until they shall have been captured and
punished.
I am, &c.,
[Inclosure 1 in No.
140.—Translation.]
Señor Mariscal to
Mr. Morgan.
Department of Foreign Affairs,
Mexico, December 4,
1880.
Mr. Minister: I have the honor to remit to your
excellency copy of a telegram which has been received from the governor
of Chihuahua, relative to the incursions
[Page 751]
of an American bandit, called Robert E. Martin,
who for a long time has devastated the haciendas
and towns of that State, near the frontier, taking refuge with his booty
in the territory of the United States after each of his raids.
Although the proper channel through which to present these facts to the
knowledge of your excellency’s government is our legation in Washington,
to which the proper instructions have been given, the President has seen
fit, in the interests of both governments, of the establishment of the
so much desired peace on the frontier, and of harmony between the
inhabitants of the two sides, to apply to your excellency to the end
that you may be pleased to impress upon your government the necessity of
suppressing that bandit, for which purpose the Government of Mexico is
desirous that the authorities of the two countries should put themselves
in accord, so that when Martin passes the frontier line pursued by
Mexican forces, those of the United States will continue the pursuit
until they secure his arrest and punishment.
Not doubting that your excellency will co-operate in obtaining this
result, I have the honor to again reiterate the assurances of my most
distinguished consideration.
[Inclosure 2 in No 140.]
Telegram. Deposited in Chihuahua, November 24, 1880. Received in the
palace the 29th of the same month and the same year at 8.38 a.m.
To the Secretary of Foreign
Affairs:
The band of marauders, headed by the American bandit Robert E. Martin
continues to commit robberies on the inhabitants of Janos and Ascencion,
who solicit relief, and as they are exasperated at seeing their property
disappear, it is to be feared that upon making the pursuit, as they say
they will, they may pass the dividing line, and if they engage the
robbers in a fight, it may cause a conflict.
