Mr. Hoyt to Mr. Sherman.

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of January 26, in which you inform me that, at your request, the Attorney-General has detailed me as representative of the Department of Justice to attend the trial of Sheriff Martin and his deputies for the unlawful killing of certain Austro-Hungarian subjects at Lattimer, Pa., on the 10th of September last, which trial is to take place at Wilkesbarre during the first week of February.

You inform me that my duty in the premises will be confined to watching the proceedings for the purpose of fully informing myself of the merits of the case, so as to enable me to make a full report of the facts to the Department of State, and you inclose a letter addressed to the governor of Pennsylvania, to whom 1 am to report in connection with this service, and direct me, upon the receipt of a letter from the governor to the court officials, to proceed from Harrisburg to Wilkesbarre.

I have the honor to say that I shall proceed upon this service as directed, and shall be prepared, after the trial in question, to report to the Department of State.

Very respectfully,

Henry M. Hoyt,
Assistant Attorney-General.