MARCUS OTTERBOURG, United States Consul to Thomas O’Horan, Political Prefect, June 15, 1867

Mr. Otterbourg to General O’Horan

The undersigned, consul of the United States, has to communicate to his excellency General Thomas O’Horan, political prefect, to whose attributes it unfortunately belongs to apprehend the persons marked by the military power for the purpose of extorting money, that D. José Anto. Mendizabal, D. Miguel Lizardi, and D. Carlos Widmann have been imprisoned since yesterday in the presidio of Santiago.

As these gentlemen are under the protection of the flag of the United States, the undersigned, after having exhausted every resource and conciliation in the lengthy period of arbitrary acts aimed at the persons and interests of American citizens resident in this capital, believes that the moment has arrived to declare to his excellency the political prefect, that if Messrs. Lizardi, Mendizabal, and Widmann do not find themselves uninjured in their houses before three o’clock this afternoon, all the serious consequences which must ensue will rest upon the individuals who have participated in their arrest and imprisonment.

The undersigned has the honor to renew to his excellency the assurance of his esteem and consideration.