Mr. Guzmán to Mr.
Gresham.
[Translation.]
Legation of the Republic of Nicaragua,
Washington, July
27, 1894.
Sir: As I had the honor yesterday verbally to
inform your excellency that I would do, I now send you two documents
which go to show that my Government has acted with the utmost rectitude
and good faith in the case of the murder of the American citizen,
Wilson, which is so much to be deplored. All possible efforts have been
and will continue to be made in order to capture the offender, for, as I
have repeatedly assured your excellency, my Government earnestly desires
to prevent so heinous a crime from going unpunished.
I reiterate, etc.,
[Inclosure
1.—Translation.]
Mr. Madriz to
the American Consul.
Bluefields, April 2,
1894.
Honorable Sir: I have the honor to
transcribe to you a communication which I have this day addressed to
the inspector-general of the Atlantic coast:
While you are at Rama, engaged in the performance of the duty
which I this morning had the honor to assign to you, I wish
you to devote special attention to securing the arrest and
imprisonment of the criminal Norberto Argüello, who murdered
the American, Mr. Wilson. This is urgently required by
justice and by the necessity of giving a warning to others
who may be criminally disposed. I trust that you will spare
no pains to attain this end.
[Page 477]
In bringing the foregoing to your notice, I take pleasure in further
stating that I have sent a telegram, via San Juan del Norte, to the
minister of justice, requesting him to communicate with the judicial
authorities of all places in the interior where the aforesaid
criminal may be arrested, and that I have sent a circular note to
the governors of San Juan del Norte, Rio Grande, Prinzapolka, and
the district of Cape Gracias à Dios.
With all consideration, etc.,
[Inclosure 2.]
Mr. Madriz to
the Governor and Intendent of San Juan del
Norte.
Bluefields, April 2,
1894.
Sir: Norberto Argüello, who killed an
American citizen, has escaped from the jail at Rama. If he comes to
San Juan del Norte arrest him and send him under a strong guard to
the governor (of Pol.) of the district of Siquia, who is the proper
magistrate to take cognizance of his case.
Your obedient servant,
[Inclosure
3.—Translation.]
Mr. Cabezas to
the Governor of Bocas del
Toro.
Bluefields, June 20,
1894.
Sir: I have learned that Norberto Argüello,
who has committed the crime of murder, is at Bocas del Toro. This
criminal made his escape from the jail here on the 9th ultimo, and
the aggravating circumstance in the case is that this is his second
offense, he having previously escaped from the jail at Rama.
Argüello killed an American citizen named William Wilson, and, owing
to the fact that the murdered man was a foreigner, the act has given
rise to a difficulty with the American Republic. In view of the
cordial relations existing between the Government of Columbia and
that of Nicaragua, and of the fraternal bonds which have united the
two nations, I have thought that a request from me would be
favorably received by you, especially since public justice has been
doubly outraged by the criminal, and since the credit of the
Nicaraguan authorities may be said to be at stake, inasmuch as they
are charged, although unjustly, with partiality in this matter.
I beg you, in virtue of the foregoing, to be pleased to issue orders
for the arrest of the aforesaid Argüello, and to place him in secure
custody until the minister of foreign affairs can present a formal
demand for his extradition.
Offering you reciprocity in similar cases, I have the pleasure,
etc.,
R. Cabezas, Commissioner.
