No. 832.
Mr. Romero to Mr. Bayard.
Washington, October 29, 1887. (Received October 30.)
Mr. Secretary: I have the honor to inform you that on the 21st of September last, on which day this legation learned from the newspapers published in this country that Leon Baldwin, a citizen of the [Page 1249] United States, had been murdered in the State of Durango, Mexico, it communicated this intelligence to the Mexican Government, as it usually does in such cases, to the end that suitable inquiries might be made for the purpose of ascertaining the correctness of the report, and in case a crime had really been committed against a citizen of this country or an inhabitant of Mexico, that steps might be taken with all diligence for the detection and punishment of the guilty parties, and that, if the rumor should prove to be unfounded, as has frequently happened in similar cases, its falsity might be shown.
In reply to the communication of this legation, I have received a note from Mr. Mariscal, secretary of foreign relations of the United States of Mexico, dated City of Mexico, October 17, in which is inserted a communication from the governor of the State of Durango, bearing date of the 3d instant, wherein he states that as soon as the news was received that Mr. Baldwin had been murdered, the Government of the State ordered the judge of Ventanas, who was competent to act in the case, to make the most careful investigation relative to the crime in question, with a view to detecting the criminals and to inflicting severe and exemplary punishment. The governor adds that scarcely had the investigation been commenced when Baldwin’s murderers attacked the Durazno ranch, in the aforesaid State of Durango, and during that attack five of the six men who composed the attacking party, who were the very ones who had murdered Mr. Baldwin, were killed by the inhabitants, who were defending their homes; the sixth bandit made his escape, but, according to reliable information received by the authorities of that locality, he died soon afterwards in consequence of his wounds, so that the six outlaws who attacked Mr. Baldwin met their death soon after the commission of that crime. This put an end to the investigation which was about to be held by the judge of Ventanas.
These facts are stated in the report of the municipal judge of Ventanas and in that of the political chief of the district of San Dimas, in the State of Durango a copy of which documents I will send you, if you desire it.
Be pleased to accept, etc.,