Mr. Secretary: Referring to the communication
which I addressed to you on the 29th ultimo in relation to the murder of
Leon Baldwin, a citizen of the United States, in the district of San
Dimas, in the State of Durango, in the Mexican Republic, I have the
honor herewith to transmit to you a copy of a report sent by the
governor of that State to the department of foreign relations of the
Government of Mexico. This document contains telegrams and official
dispatches which show that, as soon as the authorities of the aforesaid
State received information of the murder in question, they took suitable
measures for the apprehension and punishment of the murderers, and that
the latter were speedily killed, as I informed you in my above-mentioned
note.
[Inclosure.—Translation.]
Report of the Governor of Durango.
A seal containing the words: Mexican Republic. Office of the
secretary of the government of the State of Durango. Sent from
Chavarria August 20, 1887. Received at Durango at thirty-five
minutes past 12 o’clock m. Sent from Ventanas on the 19th.—Mr.
Governor: At 3 o’clock in the afternoon I received information that
[Page 1251] Superintendent Leon
Baldwin had been murdered at the Valenciana mine at about 1 o’clock.
The captain in command of the detachment sent a party in pursuit of
the outlaws.—G. Almonte.
August 20, 1887.—Citizen Municipal Chief Ventanas: Message of to-day
received. Do you start at once in pursuit of Mr. Baldwin’s
murderers, and place the matter in charge of the conciliating judge
of your locality, to the end that he may hold a strict
investigation, and issue positive orders for the apprehension of the
parties who committed this atrocious murder. Report result of
investigation.—Flourish of the Secretary.
From Chavarria, August 29, 1887. Received at Durango at thirty
minutes past 8 a.m. Sent from Ventanas on the 27th.—Mr Governor: I
have just received a verbal message from the judge of Durazno to the
effect that robbers attacked that place this morning. Particulars
unknown. Officer commanding detachment dividing his forces and
summoning that which goes by way of San Manuel.—G. Almonte.
From Chavarria, August 30, 1887. Received at Durango at twelve
minutes past 8 o’clock in the evening. Sent from Ventanas on the
29th.—Mr. Governor: The second concilating judge of Durazno writes
this day that yesterday, at a dance given by the bandits under the
leadership of Carlos Martinez, he, together with some of the
residents of that locality, attacked the outlaws, four of them they
killed, and seriously wounded one, while one succeeded in making his
escape. One of the residents, named Guiliermo Hernandez, was killed
in the mêlée.—G. Almonte.
State of Durango. Office of the political chief of San Dimas County.
Section of war. No. 69.—The muncipal chief of Ventanas, in a
communication dated the 29th of August, writes to me as follows:
“I have this day received a message from the citizen second
conciliating judge, which is as follows:
“‘Second conciliating court of Durazno.—To the municipal chief: I
hereby inform you that yesterday, at 8 o’clock a.m., this place was
attacked by the robber chieftain Cárlos Martinez and his band; in
view of the threats made by them, I thought best to attack them
while they were dancing, and thus I succeeded in stabbing four of
them to death, and seriously wounding one, while one who had been
wounded made his escape. I inform you of the foregoing; and of the
inhabitants of this locality, but one was killed, namely, Guiliermo
Hernandez. Liberty and constitution. Durazno, August 28,
1887.—Plácido Amezcua. Flourish.’
“This I have the honor to bring to your knowledge, for your
information. Liberty and constitution. Ventanas, August 29, 1887.—G.
Almonte.”
This I have the honor to transcribe to you, to the end that you may
be pleased to take into consideration the meritorious action taken
by the judge of Durazno and the residents of that locality who
assisted him in giving this severe lesson, which was given to the
robbers by a community that was supposed to be defenseless. I beg
you to accept the assurance of my respectful consideration. Liberty
and constitution. San Dimas, September 2, 1887.—Ramon Castro.
Flourish.
Citizen Secretary of the State Government, Durango. Office of the
political chief of Ventanas.—I have the honor to transcribe the
message which has been sent by the citizen judge of Durazno to this
office. It is as follows:
“Second conciliating court of Durazno.—To the citizen municipal
chief: I hereby inform you that yesterday, at 8 o’clock a.m., this
place was attacked by the robber chieftain Cárlos Martinez and his
band. In view of the threats made by them I thought best to attack
them while they were dancing, and thus I succeeded in stabbing four
of them to death, and seriously wounding one, while another, who had
been wounded, made his escape. I inform you of the foregoing; and of
the inhabitants of this locality but one was killed, namely,
Guiliermo Hernandez. Liberty and Constitution. Duranzo, August 28,
1887.—Plácido Amezcua. Flourish.”
I beg to call your attention to the fact that although the citizen
judge does not mention the names of the bandits, I inclose an
original list that was found in the pocket of Cárlos Martinez.
According to a report received from Joaquin Vazquez, ensign of the
Thirteenth Regiment, who went to that point to render assistance,
the names of the persons who aided Judge Plácido Amezcua in
overcoming the outlaws were as follows: Matio Rios, Julian Rios,
Romualdo Medina, Felipe Hernandez, Natividad M. Bernardino
Hernandez, Victor Amaya, Sixto Amaya, Luis Amaya, Pedro Amaya,
Cipriano Amaya, Felix Hernandez, Blas Baeza, Manuel Martinez, Juan
Francisco Martinez, Pantaleon Reta, and Guiliermo Hernandez, who
perished in the affray. The brave conduct of two ladies also
deserves mention. Their names are Cruz Ruiz and Antonia Dominguez,
who, unaided, disarmed one of the robbers, in doing which Mrs. Ruiz
received a bite in the arm. To-day at half past 4 o’clock a.m.,
Espiridion Morales, one of the robbers, died. He was about to be
taken to Cosalá by order of the citizen governor, there to be turned
over to General Salmon. I have the honor to bring the foregoing to
your knowledge, to the end that you may be pleased to bring it to
that of the citizen governor. Liberty in the constitution. Ventanas,
September 5, 1887.—G. Almonte. Flourish.
[Page 1252]
To the citizen secretary of the supreme government of the State,
Durango: The foregoing documents are copies of their originals, to
which I certify. Durango, October 11, 1887.—Salvador Fernandez,
acting secretary.
A copy. Mexico, October 24, 1887.—José T. de Cuellar, chief
clerk.
Compared.—Pedro A. Magaña, first attaché.
A copy.
C. Romero,
Secretary.
Washington, November 4,
1887.
