Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 1, 1890
Mr. Ryan to Mr. Blaine.
Mexico, January 21, 1890. (Received January 30.)
Sir: For the information and files of the Department, I beg to transmit herewith copies of the latest correspondence of this legation bearing on the case of R. C. Work, imprisoned at Victoria, Tamaulipas, for the murder of Francisco Cruz.
I am, etc.,
Mr. Ryan to Mr. King.
Mexico, August 13, 1889.
Sir: I am in receipt of a letter from Mr. R. C. Work, stating that he can get no lawyer to defend him in the pending trial before the second sala of the State supreme court. I understand in such cases the court assigns counsel to the prisoner. Please give the matter your attention.
I inclose Mr. Work’s letter, also a communication from one Juan Cortina, Victoria, June 22 last, touching the proceedings in Work’s case.
I am, etc.,
Mr. Work to Mr. Ryan.
Dear Sir: Permit me to submit to you the inclosed letter of Don Juan Cortina.
I further state that I can get no one to defend me in the pending trial before the second sala. My witnesses volunteer to come forward to testify. Hope you will press this to a close. My family and self are suffering for the actual want of provisions to live on.
Hope you will excuse one in suffering. I am not an assassin, much less a murderer. What I had to do, could I have saved my own life by not doing so, I would have never taken the life of anyone.
Yours, etc.,
Mr. Cortina to Mr. King.
Dear Sir: I have the honor to call your attention to the signature attached to page 15 of the documents in the case against R. C. Work, as it is not the same that he employs in all his business transactions; for, in place of being written as I have it above, with all the requisite letters, it is written Wok; the same occurring in the marginal signature. This can be proven by Antonio Doral and Severa Parkhini, who saw it with me. And also it is not signed by his lawyer as are all the other papers.
I am, etc.,
Mr. Ryan to Mr. King.
Mexico, August 15, 1889.
Sir: It has come to my notice that in the trial of Mr. R. C. Work it is alleged that two Vega boys will each swear that just preceding the killing of Francisco Cruz they heard him state that he intended to kill Work that day, and was waiting for him to come up the arroyo, and that the court refused to receive their evidence. Be kind enough to ascertain positively what truth there is in this statement.
Please return the inclosures I sent you in my letter of the 13th when you finish with them.
I am, etc.,
Mr. King to Mr. Ryan.
Victoria, August 23, 1889.
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that Mr. R. C. Work has secured the services of a Mexican to defend him. This man is not a regularly qualified lawyer, but Work is satisfied with him and thinks him capable of conducting the defense. The trial will probably take place in the course of 1 or 2 weeks.
With regard to the Vegas, I beg to report that Sisto Vega, in the presence of witnesses, stated that he, Sisto Vega, could testify that Francisco Cruz, 1 or 2 weeks before the shooting, used threatening language against Work, declaring that he was Work’s enemy.
[Page 625]Patricio Vega, Sisto Vega’s brother, met Work coming from Linares just before the shooting and said to Work: “Pascho Cruz is drunk and with two others is ready to kill you. I am going to accompany you that nothing may happen.”
When the case was tried at San Carlos, in some way these men were prevented giving their evidence. The Vegas are middle-aged men. Patricio Vega made the above statement voluntarily before Don Juan Cortina and Antonio Maydon. Work is still permitted to remain with his family in his quarters, on medical certificate.
I understand that a certified copy of the proceedings in this case has been sent to Mexico, which you may be able to see.
I have, etc.,
Mr. Ryan to Mr. King.
Mexico, December 18, 1889.
Sir: Kindly advise me by earliest mail of the present status of the case of R. C. Work, and what action, if any, is desired to secure a final trial, so as to promote justice.
I wrote on August 15 last asking for information regarding the alleged suppression by the court of the testimony of the two Vega boys, but have no reply from you. Be kind enough to inform me thereon; also what each will swear to.
I am, etc.,
Mr. Sutton to Mr. Ryan.
Nuevo Laredo, December 26, 1889.
Sir: I inclose herewith copy of a letter from our agent at Victoria in regard to the Work case.
Mrs. Work has lately had a letter published in the Texas papers, complaining very bitterly as to the alleged wrongs to which her husband and his family have been subjected. For my part, I have watched the case from the very first, and so far I have seen no violation of Mexican law or uncommon delays in the course of the trial. I think you will find by reading the records of your office that General Bragg, when he presented Work’s complaint (made under oath to Agent King) to Mr. Mariscal, was shown another statement also made by Work and in court, which was so at variance with the other as to the throw the case out of court.
I am, etc.,
Mr. King to Mr. Sutton.
Victoria, December 20, 1890.
Sir: In reply to yours of the 12th instant, I have the honor to inform you that Mr. R. C. Work was born in 1835 at Kingston, Roane County, East Tennessee. He states that he never has taken any steps to become a Mexican citizen and claims to be an American citizen, i. e., United States citizen, at this time. Mr. Work has not been in jail since May last; he is out on medical certificate, living with his family. Sentence has been twice pronounced upon him; first, in February last, at San Carlos, by the judge there, passing sentence of 3 years and 4 months. Then the case was laid before the supreme court of this State, and the magistrate sentenced Work to 4 years and some days imprisonment. From this Work appealed, and his case is now before the second sala of the supreme court; it is probable the final decision will very soon be given.
I have done everything that possibly could be done in this matter, and at present we can only await the final decision.
[Page 626]Mrs. Work has done harm to herself and husband by writing letters and caused a bad feeling, which, I believe, did not previously exist. She is very well aware that I am always prepared to forward any letters she desires through the proper official channels. The letter I gave Mr. Work, and which I am annoyed to see quoted in the Associated Press dispatches, was given for a different purpose.
I have, etc.,
Mr. King to Mr. Ryan.
Victoria, December 27, 1889.
Sir: In reply to your communication of the 18th instant, I have the honor to inform you that the final decision in the case of R. C. Work has not yet been given. This last delay has been caused by the absence of the magistrate before whom the case is being tried. I believe the magistrate is daily expected, and I do not think Work will have long to wait for the sentence. In the meantime R. C. Work is permitted to live with his family in a private house.
Regarding the testimony of the Vegas, I venture to refer you to my letter No. 12, dated August 23, 1889, in which I state:
“I beg to report that Sisto Vega, in the presence of witnesses, stated that he, S. Vega, could testify that Fransisco Cruz (i. e., the man who was killed), 1 or 2 weeks before the shooting, used threatening language against Work, declaring that he was Work’s enemy.
“Patricio Vega, S. Vega’s brother, met Work coming from Linares, just before the shooting, and makes the following statement: ‘I said to Work, Pascho Cruz is drunk and with two others is ready to kill you. I am going to accompany you, that nothing may happen. Work, however, did not believe there was any danger and declined my assistance. A short distance off three men came out and I heard two shots.’
“The Vegas are middle-aged men. Patricio Vega made the above statement voluntarily before Don Juan Cortina and Antonio May don.”
Don Juan Cortina is my authority for all the above information.
I have, etc.,
Mr. Ryan to Mr. King.
Mexico, January 4, 1890.
Sir: I am just in receipt of yours No. 18 of 27th ultimo, reporting that the magistrate may soon be expected to sentence R. C. Work.
Please aid Work in securing the testimony of Sisto and Patricio Vega, if not already given in the trial proceedings.
Yours, etc.,