Señor Pedro Montt to Mr. Blaine.
Washington, January 8, 1892.
Sir: The preliminary examination (sumario) which the criminal judge of Valparaiso began on the 17th of October concerning the deplorable events which took place on the preceding day in that city has terminated after having been actively conducted, and in order to satisfy the desire you were pleased to express to me to be made acquainted with the result, I take pleasure in transmitting to you the information which you requested and which I have received from Santiago by telegraph.
Upon a sumario being concluded, it passes to the prosecuting attorney (promotor fiscal), in order that he may examine it and in view of the antecedents frame an indictment against the persons who may appear responsible for the offenses which are being prosecuted. The prosecuting attorney of Valparaiso, in compliance with the law, has examined in detail all the testimony given by the sailors of the Baltimore and by the numerous persons who were eyewitnesses of the facts, and the conclusion which he has reached is as follows:
- (1)
- The lamentable occurrence of the 16th of October had its origin in a broil between sailors of the two nationalities, Americans and Chileans. The sailors who began the disturbance were drunk, and the affair assumed extensive proportions owing to the character of the quarter of the town in which it took place, which is inhabited by people of disreputable habits and abounds in places for the sale of liquors.
- (2)
- From the first moment the police did everything that the authorities ordered them to do in order to repress the disturbance.
- (3)
- All the witnesses without exception, including the sailors of the Baltimore with the exception of two, have admitted that the conduct of the police was correct, and that they did no other thing than fulfill their duty.
- (4)
- Of firearms there was only one revolver shot, the discharge of which was isolated. This shot can not be attributed to the police, because the police use comblain (carbines), and not revolvers.
The prosecuting attorney has brought accusation against those who, from the sumario, appear to be guilty, and they are: Carlos Gomez, Federico Rodriguez, and Ahumada, Chileans, and Davidson, an American; and has asked that upon them be imposed the penalties assigned by the law, namely, upon Gomez of three to five years penal imprisonment, Rodriguez from two to eighteen months, and Ahumada and Davidson twenty to forty days of imprisonment.
By mail I shall receive the attorney’s report in full, and I shall have pleasure in communicating it to you, should you desire to be acquainted with it.
Upon the conclusion of the sumario the procedure prescribed by the laws is to communicate to the criminals the indictment framed by the prosecuting attorney and to set down the case for trial within a brief period. Thereupon the sentence is pronounced, which must be reviewed by the superior court.
Considering the bulk of the record of proceedings, which exceeds 300 folios, the necessary investigations to discover the culprits, the numerous witnesses whose depositions have been taken, and the delay in the appearance of several of them, of which you have knowledge, the activity shown by the criminal judge of Valparaiso in this matter, [Page 345] to the end that public justice should be speedily done, has been satisfactory to my Government.
I have also received special instructions to state to the Government of the United States that the Government of Chile has felt very sincere regret for the unfortunate events which occurred in Valparaiso on the 16th of October. Although incidents of this nature are not rare in ports frequented by sailors of various nationalities, the fact that deaths and wounds were caused in the disturbance of the 16th of October, the zeal with which the Chilean authorities are accustomed to watch over the personal security of all who tread its territory, the fact that persons employed in the service of a friendly nation were concerned, and the frank desires for American cordiality which my Government entertains have led it to cordially deplore the aforesaid disturbance and to do everything in its power toward the trial and punishment of the guilty parties.
With sentiments of the most distinguished consideration, I subscribe myself,
Your very obedient servant,