File No. 419.11D29/80.
Minister Price to the Secretary of State.
Panama , March 6, 1915 .
Sir: Referring to the Department’s instruction No. 104 of February 18, 1915, regarding the Cocoa Grove riot of July 4, 1912, I have the honor to report that, being still without further response from the Panaman Secretary of Foreign Affairs than that transmitted with my despatch No. 415 of February 19, 1915, I found occasion late yesterday afternoon to elicit from Judge Saturnino L. Perigault, the Judge of the Supreme Court in charge of this matter on appeal, information as to the status of the legal proceedings herein. He stated that his decision had been rendered four or five days ago (declaring that he could not recall the day more definitely) and that it had gone to the Superior (or Criminal) Judge for his action thereon; that he (Perigault) was not permitted to divulge the purport of his decision; that if the Superior (or Criminal) Judge should now decide that a prosecution should begin, same would be instituted and follow the usual course of prosecutions under their criminal procedure; that if he should decide again there was not sufficient ground for a prosecution the case could then again come before the Supreme Court, as outlined in my despatch No. 304 of October 13, 1914; that the decision of this Superior (or Criminal) Judge should be rendered within the, next ten days at the most.
The Superior Judge, to whom the case would naturally return, pursuant to this action of the Supreme Court is J. D. Arosemena, who gave the decision sent May 16, 1914. He has within the last week gone on a vacation and leave of several months. His duties are being fulfilled by Sr. Cervera, a young lawyer, and it is to him these proceedings are now referred. Judge Perigault claims that Judge Arosemena’s absence should not cause a delay in action herein by his temporary successor, Judge Cervera.
I have [etc.]