No. 54.
Mr. Baker
to Mr. Gresham.
Legation of
the United States,
Managua, May 24, 1894.
(Received June 12, 1894.)
Sir: Your dispatch dated April 26, in regard to the
insecure manner in which Norberto Argüello was imprisoned, was awaiting my
return from Bluefields. I at once addressed to the Government of Nicaragua
the inclosed note, to which a verbal statement was made, that a complete
answer would be furnished me in writing within a short time. I have
patiently waited until this moment for that promised explanation, now nearly
four days, without realizing the fruits of that promise. Not having received
the answer, I dispatched to the palace another communication, numbered
inclosure 2 of this date.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1 in No. 54.]
Mr. Baker to the
Minister of Foreign
Affairs.
Legation of the United States,
Managua, May 21,
1894.
Mr. Minister: On my return from the Mosquito
Reservation I find instructions from the United States Government
awaiting me in regard to the treatment which has been accorded by the
Nicaraguan officials to Don Norberto Argüello, the murderer of William
Wilson, at Rama, at a time when said Argüello was acting as an official
of your Government. These instructions contain a review of the case, and
close with the following paragraph:
This incident, which has naturally produced a most painful
impression, calls for prompt and energetic action on the part of
the authorities to secure the apprehension and trial of
Argüello. You will express the President’s earnest hope that
full justice shall he done.
It is my duty to ask from your Government an early official state-merit
as to what steps have been taken for the apprehension and bringing to
trial of the man who, at latest accounts received by me, was still at
large, having walked out of the prison, whose doors were open and
unguarded, on the evening of May 10.
Embracing this opportunity to renew to you, Mr. Minister, my high
consideration and regard,
I am, etc.,
[Page 94]
[Inclosure 2 in No. 54.]
Mr. Baker to the
Minister of Foreign
Affairs.
Legation of the United States,
Managua, May 24,
1894.
Mr. Minister: In a personal interview on the
21st instant with His Excellency the President, I was assured of his
purpose to do what laid in his power and in the power of his Government
to recapture and properly punish the escaped prisoner Argüello, who,
while a public officer of Nicaragua, shot down and murdered an American
citizen, William Wilson by name. In the same conversation, in order to
show the friendship of this Government for its good friend, the United
States, he announced his purpose of punishing the culpable officer
through whose lax administration, if not actual connivance, the prisoner
was allowed to walk out of an unguarded jail.
I have waited with much patience until this time for an announcement of
the fulfillment of this purpose. Having heard nothing further from his
excellency on the subject, I now must carry out my imperative cable
instructions from the President of the United States, in “asking instant
and effective redressand “to demand the immediate removal of Governor
Torres,” whose failure to obey the instructions of his superior officers
in regard to the confinement of the prisoner was a scandal to your own
Government and an insult to mine, and “the removal from the office of
commissioner to the Mosquito Reservation of Carlos A. Lacayo,” who is
held by the President “to be even more culpable than Torres.”
I have, etc.,