No. 302.
Mr. Phelps
to Mr. Frelinghuysen.
Legation of
the United States,
Lima,
Peru
,
October 6, 1884. (Received
November 4.)
No. 148.]
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith copies
of a report by the consular agent at Pacasmayo of the murder, by a soldier
of the Iglesias Government, of Owen Young, an American citizen, at the
hacienda of “Tecapa,” and of my letter to the minister of foreign affairs
regarding the same. * * *
Very respectfully, &c.,
[Inclosure 1 in No. 148.]
Mr. Kauffman to Mr.
Phelps.
United
States Consular Agency,
Pacasmayo
,
September 30,
1884.
Sir: The object of the present letter is to
inform you of a circumstance that occurred in this vicinity, and of the
death of Mr. Owen Young, an American citizen, a native of the State of
Georgia.
During the late movements of the forces of the Iglesias Government and
the Montoneros, under command, or in the interest, of Puga, the
Montoneros made their rendezvous in the hacienda “Tecapa,” where the
deceased has been living for a number of years past in a little house
belonging to himself, in a field some distance from the buildings of the
plantation and near the railway. The deceased was engaged in planting
rice, corn, and having, also, contracts for supplying wood for the use
of the Pacasmayo Railway.
On September 27 a skirmish took place between the troops of Iglesias and
the Montoneros at a distance of nearly a mile from the house of the
deceased. The Montoneros were forced to retire, and retreated in the
direction of and passing the house of Young. When the troops of Iglesias
came to the house they commenced beating a Chinaman servant of Mr.
Young, who then came out of his house and remonstrated with the
soldiers, saying that the Chinaman was his servant and had nothing to do
with the Montoneros. A soldier on horseback then addressed Young, saying
in effect that he had consented to the Montoneros
being in that vicinity and was as bad as any of them. Without
awaiting any reply and without any act of resistance or hostility on the
part of Young, the soldier shot him through the chest, causing instant
death.
The persons who witnessed the act are the following: Acha (Chinaman),
Santiago Marchiná, Manuel Contreras, José Arroyo, Pedro Ascurra, Paula
Huanila, Angel Pairasaman, Francisco Ascurra, and Miguel Espinoza, and
all of them are ready and willing to testify to the facts as
substantially stated by me.
Mr. Young was an honest, peaceable, industrious man, respected and
esteemed by all who knew him. He has lived in Peru a number of years,
and leaves two children, now grown up; also some property. At the time
he was shot the American flag was hoisted over his little house, to
indicate his neutrality.
I am, &c.,
[Page 433]
[Inclosure 2 in No. 148.]
Mr. Phelps to Mr.
Urrutia.
Legation of the United States,
Lima, Peru
,
October 6,
1884.
Sir: From the inclosed copy of a report
received from the United States consular agent at Pacasmayo, your
excellency will learn of the particulars attending the murder, at the
hacienda of “Tecapa,” of Owen Young, an American citizen, by a soldier
of the Government of Peru.
The circumstances, as detailed, show it to have been a most cruel and
barbarous murder, and aggravated in character by the fact that the
American flag was flying over the house in front of which the crime was
committed, testifying to the nationality and right of protection of the
murdered man.
The witnesses, whose names are given, are ample in number, and are
Peruvians and foreigners.
It becomes my duty respectfully to request that your excellency’s
Government will promptly direct an immediate and fall investigation of
the case to be made, to the end that the soldier guilty of the crime may
meet quick punishment and the family of the murdered man receive justice
at the hands of the Government.
I avail, &c.,