Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 6, 1886
No. 99.
Mr. Reinberg to Mr. Porter.
Guayaquil, Ecuador , April 16, 1885. (Received May 5.)
Sir: I herewith inclose you copies of Consular Agent Goddard’s dispatches to this office, Nos. 26, 27, and 28, together with four affidavits relative to the case of Julio Romano Santos.
I am, &c.,
United States Vice-Consul-General.
Mr. Goddard to Mr. Reinberg.
Bahia (now at Manta), April 4, 1885.
Dear Sir: In accordance with your instructions contained in your dispatch No. 25, which I received in Bahia on the 30th of March, I have to report the following: I left Bahia on horseback, accompanied by a guide, on the night of the 1st instant, and by traveling all night arrived at Monte-Cristi on the 2d, about 2 p.m. I paid the same day a visit to the military commnder of the forces, Colonel Orejuela, who consented with readiness to my application for an interview with the prisoner Julio Santos. On being admitted to see him, I found him in the common prison, a room about 20 feet by 20, in which fourteen other prisoners were confined, amongst them being one very sick with fever. I asked the prisoner whether he had any complaint to make in regard to the Treatment he received, and he replied that he could only complain of the treatment from the day previous, which had been since then very severe, owing to the escape of his brother A. Santos and two other prisoners. I represented the matter ex officially to the colonel in command, and before I left yesterday had the satisfaction of hearing the order given to change him from the prison to a private room.
Julio Santos has given me a number of names of persons who he says can testify, not only to his intention to return to the United States of America during the last few month, but since he last came from the States.
These depositions I will endeavor to obtain to send forward by the steamer that arrives here to-day and at Bahia to-morrow; if not, I will send them by land post. I have just dispatched a special post to Monte-Cristi, as I hear that Julio Santos was taken suddenly ill and was removed to the hospital after I left there yesterday. I have obtained copies of all the evidence taken against the prisoner Santos, which I hold, if necessary, to forward to Washington, if you so direct. Prisoner complains that much of the evidence brought against him has been taken from the witnesses by torment, and is false, and says that he hopes to, on gaining his liberty, prove such. I have also to advise you that the “Juez de Letras,” at the capital of this province, has lately declared that all evidence taken against the prisoner Santos is null and void, owing to informality, and that in consequence a new trial is to be commenced. I am in hopes that by the steamer that arrives to-day that I may receive fresh advices from you, as so much time is lost by waiting one month for each communication.
I am, &c.,
United States Consular Agent.
Mr. Goddard to Mr. Reinberg.
Bahia , April 6, 1885.
Dear Sir: I have the honor to inform you that I arrived back here yesterday by the steamer. I find that it will be impossible to obtain the proofs required for the Santos case to send forward by this steamer. I will therefore send them forward by the land post.
I am, &c.,
United States Consular Agent.
Mr. Goddard to Mr. Reinberg.
Bahia , April 7, 1885.
Dear Sir: I herewith inclose you four declarations in reference to the Santos case, which are all that I have been able to obtain in so short a time. I am in hopes of sending you others by the next opportunity.
It is difficult for me to obtain many declarations, as many who could no doubt give valuable information are afraid to do so.
I am, &c.,
United States Consular Agent.
At Bahia de Caráquez, on the 7th day of the month of April, 1885, appeared Mr. Benito Soler, a Spaniard, who has been a resident of this place for about eighteen years, before Mr. E. T. Goddard, consular agent of the United States of North America, in this port. The said Benito Soler having made oath before God our Lord, and having made the sign of the cross, declared that he would tell the truth as to all that he knew in respect to the intention which Don Julio R. Santos had to return to North America, in order to establish his final residence there, for which declaration he had been summoned by the aforesaid consular agent.
The undersigned is aware that Mr. Julio R. Santos earnestly desired to return to the United States, and that he was constantly laboring to secure the means of putting this design of his into execution; his mother and sisters also desired that he should do so, as he remarked in his private conversations, showing sympathy for that country where his childhood was spent, where he was educated, and where he had established friendly relations. This desire and intention to return to North America was manifested by him ever since the time when he came from there; he never manifested any contrary desire, because his sympathies were with that country, in which he had honorably established himself as a civil engineer; that the foregoing statement is the truth, and that he ratifies it, signing it in the presence of the consular agent.
I hereby certify that the foregoing was declared under oath in my presence, and that the above signature is the true and genuine signature of Mr. Benito Soler.
United States Consular Agent.
At Bahia de Caráquez, on the 7th day of April, 1885, appeared at this consular office, Mr. E. A. Santos, and declared under the constitutional oath that he knew that Mr. Julio R. Santos, an American citizen by naturalization, left this country at the age of eleven or twelve years for the United States of North America; that he studied there until he obtained a diploma as engineer, remaining in the country for fourteen years and leaving it but twice for a short time for the purpose of visiting his family; he returned here in the year 1879 for the purpose of establishing a mercantile house with his brothers. As I was on terms of intimacy with these gentlemen I can positively assert that the positive desire of Mr. Julio R. Santos was the establishment of a commercial house in New York, so that he might go there to live with all his family. With this view Santos E. Santos made a trip to New York last year, and during my stay in this city I learned that the house had begun operations. Further particulars concerning this can be given by Messrs. Brentich Brothers and Mr. Antonio Martinez, who was retained in this city to act as an employé of the new firm.
I hereby certify that the foregoing deposition was declared under oath by the above-mentioned E. A. Santos, and that the above signature is the true and genuine signature of said E. A. Santos, signed in my presence.
United States Consular Agent.
At Bahia de Caráquez on the 7th day of April, 1885, appeared Mr. Mariano Santos before me, E. T. Goddard, consular agent of the United States of North Ameriea in this port, and making oath before God our Lord, and making the sign of the cross, declared that he would tell the truth as to all that he knew with regard to the intention of Mr. Julio R. Santos to return to North America to live. The undersigned is aware that Mr. Julio R. Santos, in all the conversations he had with him, declared that he did not intend to remain in Ecuador, but that he intended to return to North America as soon as possible, for which purpose they were going to establish a house in New York. It is some time since he told me this, since he returned from the United States. I likewise know that Mr. Julio R. Santos was never willing to accept any office in Ecuador, however much he was urged by his friends to do so; he always [Page 243] said that he could not accept any office because he was a North American citizen. The foregoing is the truth, under the oath taken by him, which he ratifies in the presence of the consular agent.
Certifying that the foregoing was declared under oath in my presence, and that the above signature is the true and genuine signature of said Mariano Santos.
United States Consular Agent.
At Bahia de Caráquez, on the 7th day of April, 1885, appeared at this consular office Mr. Juan B. Santos, and took the constitutional oath, and declared in accordance therewith that he knew that Mr. Julio R. Santos has always intended to return to establish his residence in the United States of North America, he having so declared on many occasions in his private conversations. He is also aware that during the time that the undersigned held the office of the political chief of this district he was unable notwithstanding all his efforts to induce the aforesaid Mr. Santos to accept any office whatever, he always declining on the ground of his being an American citizen. The foregoing is the truth in accordance with the oath taken by him, he being of full age, married, and a Roman Catholic.
Ex-Political Chief of the District of Sucre.
Certifying that the foregoing declaration was given in my presence, under oath, and that the signature of said Mr. J. B. Santos is his true and genuine signature, signed in my presence.
United States Consular Agent.