Frederick Hamilton to Rumsey Wing , United States, August 24, 1873

Mr. Hamilton to Mr. Wing.

Dear Sir: In compliance with the request contained in your note of yesterday, I beg to state that in the interview which took place on the 22d instant between you andf Señor Javier Leon, minister for foreign affairs, his excellency frankly admitted that you had personally brought to his knowledge the outrages perpetrated on the graves of Mr. Minister Coggeshall, and Colonel Staunton.

As I was present at the disinterment of the body of Mr. Coggeshall, I remember perfectly well that on arriving at the site of the grave, the ground had every appearance of having been disturbed, and that upon removing the earth which covered the coffin, I observed that the upper outer lid was broken in several places, and that half of the top of the inner zinc coffin had been completely removed and doubtless stolen, as no traces of it were to be found in any part of the grave.

I have, &c.,