No. 243.
Señor Romero to Mr. Frelinghuysen.
Washington, June 23, 1882. (Received June 24.)
Mr. Secretary: I have the honor to inform you that I have received information from a reliable person, under date of Tombstone, Arizona Territory, June 17, 1882, to the effect that four cow-boys came to that place on the 10th instant from the Sonora frontier, having with them a hundred head of cattle which they left at a ranch situated in Saint Peter’s Valley, about sixteen miles from Tombstone; that they remained at Tombstone five days, selling the cattle there to butchers who deal in animals clandestinely brought from Sonora; and that they then left the aforesaid ranch, going in the direction of Sonora.
Persons who saw the cattle think that they were from various Mexican ranches situated near the American frontier, in the districts of Magdalena and Arizpe.
The person who furnishes this information is of the opinion that it will be no easy matter to bring these cattle-thieves to justice, or even to secure evidence of the thefts, inasmuch as the authorities of Arizona Territory are intimidated by the thieves, some of them even being in collusion with the latter.
Thinking it proper that you should be informed of these facts, in order that the United States Government may take such measures as it may think proper for their prevention in future, I have decided to communicate them to you as I have received them.
I avail myself, &c.,