José Angel Maldoñado to F. Ramon , Ventura Ramos , Assisting witnesses, October 5, 1874

F. Ramon,

Ventura Ramos, Assisting witnesses.

I, the aforesaid judge, next summoned the citizen Fernando Sandoval, and he, having appeared, made oath in due form that he would tell the truth so far as he knew and should be questioned, and being questioned he said: “My name is as above; I am fifty-three years of age, married, and a resident of the parish of Las Vacas, and by occupation a farmer.” Being asked to tell what he knew and had seen in connection with the murder of Mateo Robles and Gabriel Leyva, he said: “It is public and notorious that the aforesaid Mateo Robles was taken from San Felipe by several Americans, and led off in the direction of Las Moras, which place they did not reach with him; and it is very probable that they killed him on the way, for he has not been seen since. His wife has sought for him diligently, and has now given up all hope of finding him. This she says to all persons who speak with her. As to Gabriel Leyva, I was informed by a young man, while I was acting for the associate judge, during the temporary absence of that officer, that a dead body was lying on the right bank of the Rio Bravo. I went to the spot at once, accompanied by three men, viz, Manuel Garza, Felix Valdez, and Hilario Martinez. We found the body of a man in the water, and on taking it out and examining it we found a wound, caused by a bullet, in the back, on the left side. After finishing our examination we buried the body. The name of the deceased was Gabriel Leyva. He was a resident of San Felipe, Texas, and on St. Peter’s day, i. e., the 29th of June last, an American brought him, by order of the judge of that place, to the bank of the river, in order to cross to this side; and the said American, together with another who had joined him on the way, took him to a ravine, where they killed him and threw his body into the water. The body was carried by the current to the island where we found it. This is a matter of public notoriety, and is known to all the inhabitants of San Felipe. They talk of it there, and many of them speak of it when they come over to this side. This is all I have to say on the subject, and it is the truth according to the oath taken by me.” His statement was then read to him, and he ratified it and signed it with me, the judge aforesaid, and the assisting witnesses. We certify.

The citizen Manuel Garza, having appeared in obedience to the summons of the court, declared, under oath, that he would tell the truth so far as he knew and should be questioned. He said: “My name is as above; I am fifty-six years of age; married; a resident of the parish of Las Vacas, and a farmer by occupation. With regard to Mateo Robles, it is a matter of public notoriety that several Americans seized him at San Felipe, Texas, from which place they started with him in the direction of Las Moras, which place is likewise in Texas, but which they did not reach with him, and it is very probable that they killed him, for he has not been seen since. As to Gabriel Leyva, it is likewise a matter of public notoriety in the town of San Felipe that an American, acting under orders of the judge, seized him for the purpose of crossing the river with him. On the way they were joined by another American, and the two killed Leyva and threw his body into the river, out of which it was taken by four men, of whom I was one. On examining him, we found that he had been shot in the back with a bullet. This is all I have to say on the subject, and it is the truth according to the oath taken by me.” The foregoing statement was read to him, and he ratified it, but did not sign it on account of his inability to write. I, the judge, signed with the assisting witnesses. We certify.

The citizen Felix Valdez, having appeared in obedience to the summons of the court, declared, under oath, that he would tell the truth, so far as he knew and should be questioned, and, being questioned, he said: “My name is Felix Valclez; I am 23 years of age, unmarried, a resident of the parish of Las Vacas, and by occupation a tiller of the soil.” Being requested to tell all he knew in relation to the murder of Mateo Robles and Gabriel Leyva, by inhabitants of Texas, he said: “As the inhabitants of San Filipe, Texas, are in constant communication with those of the parish of Las Vacas, all that happens in one place is soon known in the other. In regard to the murders in question, it is very well known that Mateo Robles was taken from San Felipe by several Americans in the direction of Las Moras, both places being in Texas, and that he was undoubtedly killed by them on the way, because the Americans arrived at Las Moras without their prisoner, and the wife of the latter has made every possible effort to learn his whereabouts, but without success. As to Gabriel Leyva, three other men and I myself took his body out of the Rio Bravo, in which it was lying; it had a hole, made by a bullet, in the back. Said Leyva was seized by an American in pursuance of an order of the judge at San Felipe to be taken across the river to Mexico. On the way they were joined by another American, and the two took Leyva to a ravine near the river and killed him, after which they threw his body into the water; the body floated over to an island on this side; a young man saw it, and reported the fact to the acting associate judge, who, accompanied by three men, myself among the number, repaired to the spot where the body lay; on examination it was found that it had a wound, caused by a bullet, in the back. I repeat that the facts stated by me are matters of public notoriety, and I can vouch for their truth.’”He ratified the foregoing statement, but did not sign it on account of his inability to write. I, the judge, did so, with the assisting witnesses. We certify.

The citizen Hilario Martinez having appeared in obedience to the summons of the court, and having declared under oath that he would tell the truth, as far as he knew and should be questioned, and being questioned said: “My name is Hilario Martinez; I am twenty-six years of age, unmarried, a resident of the parish of Las Vacas, and by occupation a tiller of the soil.” Being requested to tell all he knew in regard to the murder of Mateo Robles and Gabriel Leyva, he said: “Several Americans seized Robles in San Felipe, Texas, for the purpose of taking him to Las Moras, at which they arrived without their prisoner. The wife of the latter, when he was taken from the town, started after them, and as soon as she saw that the Americans who had seized her husband entered Las Moras without him, she made inquiry for him, but without success; nothing has ever been heard of him since, and it is very probable that he was killed. Gabriel Leyva was taken from San Felipe by an American, by order of the judge, that he might be taken across to Mexico; on the road another American came up, and both together took him to a ravine of the Rio Bravo, and there shot him, and threw him into the water; the body floated over to an island on this side of the river; a young man came and told the acting associate judge of this, and he, together with three other men, of whom I was one, repaired to the spot for the purpose of taking him out of the water. On examination it was found that the body had a wound, caused by a bullet, in the back. All the foregoing is very well known at San Felipe. I have nothing more to say. The foregoing is true, according to my oath.” His statement having been read to him he ratified it, but did not sign it on account of his inability to write. I, the judge, did so, with the assisting witnesses. We certify.

F. Ramon,

Ventura Ramos, Assisting Witnesses.

Testimony sent as ordered. In witness—

[Seal of the court.]

[A flourish.]

Manuel Valdez, Clerk.

Sent as ordered. In witness—

I certify the above to be a true copy of the original.

A copy.