File No. 812.0144/130
The Mexican Ambassador (Bonillas) to the Secretary of State
Excellency: I have the honor to inform your excellency that the lower court of Ojinaga, State of Chihuahua, Mexican Republic, has conducted proceedings from which it appears that a group of American soldiers killed one Guadalupe Machuca on Mexican territory.
Witnesses thereto were Messrs. Manuel Prieto and Salomé Machuca, who say that they were in the house of José Machuca, about 100 meters distant from the boundary line, and there saw the body of Guadalupe Machuca lying face up and showing two gunshot wounds, one in the thigh and another over the lungs, the bullet coming out over the left teat.
That four Americans fired on the said house, causing the death of Guadalupe Machuca.
The incident took place at the point called Barrancos Guadaloupe on the 21st of October 1918.
I shall be very thankful to your excellency if you would kindly direct an investigation of the matter with a view to the due punishment of the guilty, of both the violation of Mexican territory and the death of Machuca.
I avail [etc.]