411.12 Gomez and Rubio/45: Telegram
The Ambassador in Mexico (Clark) to the Secretary of State
[Received 9:11 p.m.]
213. Saturday Salvador Cortés Rubio and his son Salvador, who is the survivor of the Ardmore tragedy, came to see me about son’s returning to Oklahoma to testify at the trial of the deputy sheriffs. Apparently the prosecution made no effort to secure the return of the boy though the Mexican Consul urged it. The father stated he felt he should not bear the financial burden of the trip and I understand him to feel unable to do so. I explained that usually the state paid the cost of transporting witnesses, living outside the jurisdiction, to and from the place of trial and also gave them a small per diem for expenses, but added that I did not know whether Oklahoma would do so. I said I would bring the matter to the attention of the Department and would express the hope that the Department would call it to the attention of the Governor of Oklahoma. The boy told me he was within 5 feet of the place where the boys were shot at the time of the shooting, so he apparently was the only eye witness of the tragedy except the accused. The boy left Mexico City Sunday morning for Ardmore.