Department of State,
Washington, July 26,
1894.
[Inclosure.]
Mr. Olney to Mr.
Gresham.
Department of Justice,
Washington, D. C., July 24, 1894.
Sir: I have the honor to submit herewith
for your information a copy of a telegram of the 21st instant from
Mr. R. U. Culberson, United States attorney for the western district
of Texas, stating that Ruiz and Guerra have filed applications for
writs of habeas corpus, and asking instructions relative to action
to be taken by him in the premises. This telegram1 followed a letter from Mr.
Culberson of the 19th instant upon the same subject, which did not
arrive here until the 23d instant, a copy of which also I have the
honor to send you herewith,1 as more fully explanatory of the status of the
case. To Mr. Culberson’s dispatch I replied by telegraph, as
follows:
Appear for Government and defend against Ruiz and Guerra
habeas corpus applications. Consult Mexican consul San
Antonio. Get as long postponement of hearing as
possible.
These instructions were designed to obtain opportunity for proper
defense, and time in which the Mexican consul might advise with Mr.
Culberson, and the Mexican minister have opportunity to convey to
his consul, or to Mr. Culberson, any further information or
suggestions that he may desire. As there may remain but little time
in which to act, prior to the hearing upon these applications, I beg
to suggest, in order to expedite preparation by the Government, that
the Mexican minister may be invited to communicate freely by
telegraph directly with Mr. Culberson, whose address is San Antonio,
Tex., anything that he may believe will prove of service.
Information of any steps that the minister may know, or has reason
to believe, have been taken, or contemplated, by Ruiz or Guerra to
make a false showing as to declaration of intention to obtain
citizenship in the United States, and any facts relative to the past
history, character, or mode of life of these men that may have any
weight or bearing at the hearing—in short, anything that the Mexican
minister may see fit to communicate—will be received with pleasure,
and used to such advantage as maybe possible, by Mr. Culberson.
This communication would have been sent to you earlier, had it not
been for the sudden illness of the person in immediate charge of the
correspondence in the case.
Respectfully,
Richard Olney,
Attorney-General.
