Señor Matta to Mr. Egan.
Santiago, November 9, 1891.
K.
Sir: The judge who is conducting the examination which has been begun with a view to discovering the parties responsible for the disorderly acts which occurred on the 16th ultimo has found, in prosecuting his investigations, that it is necessary, in order to secure all possible data conducive to the elicitation of the truth, to ask for such information as it was said could be furnished by the commander of the Baltimore and the consul of the United States of America at Valparaiso.
According to a communication from the judge to the secretary of state in the department of justice, the aforesaid commander and consul were requested by the intendente of Valparaiso to furnish such information; but they excused themselves [Page 339] from making any statement whatever on the ground that the information in their possession had, “by order of their Government, been brought to the knowledge of the Hon. Patrick Egan, minister plenipotentiary of the United States at Santiago.”
The commander added that Mr. Egan could, if requested, furnish a list of names of persons who, in their turn, could give the names of others who had witnessed the death of the seaman Riggin and the wounding of various other men belonging to the crew of the Baltimore.
Such is, with proper reservations touching all that might be understood as having been done in disregard of Chilean jurisdiction, owing to certain ways of acting, and the words whereby they are explained, the point on which this department of foreign relations desires that, giving the testimony which is necessary and conducive to the elucidation of the facts and the discovery of the guilty parties, the envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States will be pleased to furnish such information as may be in his possession, thereby contributing to the discovery of the truth in regard to the disturbance which took place on the 16th ultimo.
The progress of the examination has now been delayed for several days, owing to the unwillingness of the officers of the Baltimore to appear before the court, and it will be delayed until the testimony is given which has been asked for by the judge, and which, it appears, he requires in order to continue and complete his investigation.
Without lengthening these notes by indulging in reflections and considerations concerning the rules and the obligations that must govern a judge who is engaged in the investigation of occurrences like that which took place on the 16th of October, the undersigned calls the minister plenipotentiary’s attention to the necessity not only for expediting, but also for completing, the examination of the communication to this department of his important testimony, to the end that it be transmitted without delay to the competent court.
Awaiting your reply and reiterating to you the assurance of his consideration, the undersigned remains,
Your obedient servant,
M. A. Matta.
A correct copy.
A. Bascuñan M.
The foregoing agrees with the document on file at this legation.