Mariscal to F. Ramon , Ventura Ramos , Assisting witnesses, March 8, 1875
No. 454. Mr. Mariscal to Mr. Fish.
Mr. Secretary: By the sworn statements, of which I have the honor to transmit copies with the present note, it will be seen that there are strong grounds for believing that Mateo Robles and Gabriel Leyva, citizens of Mexico, were assassinated in the territory of the United States, near the Rio Bravo, (i. e. Rio Grande,) these two murders being among the frightful number of crimes which have been committed with impunity in Texas, against Mexicans, during the year last part and to which referred in my note of January 30 in relation to the murder of seven shepherds.
Five witnesses, residents of the parish of Las Vacas, in the State of Coahuila, among them the associate judge of the parish, declare that it was a matter of public notoriety at San Felipe, Texas, that on the 24th of June, 1874, Mateo Robles was seized by two men, (one witness calls them sheriffs.) and taken on the 25th towards Las Moras, (also in Texas,) which place he never reached, and since that time nothing has been learned as to his whereabouts, although his wife went on the same day to Las Moras and made diligent search for him. It was the general belief at San Felipe, according to the statements of the witnesses, and everybody spoke of it, that Robles had been executed, or rather secretly assassinated on the road.
As to Gabriel Leyva, the same witnesses depose that on the 30th day of the same month (June) an American, as they say, took him to the river, by order of the judge at San Felipe, and with the assistance of another, who joined him for the purpose, killed him in a ravine. The two men together then threw his body into the water, and the current carried it to a place near the right bank, where it was taken out by the witnesses. As to the manner in which Gabriel Leyva met with his death in Texas, the witnesses state that it was a matter of public notoriety at San Felipe.
No investigation was made by the competent magistrate of that place in regard to these outrages, nor was it probable that any would be made, if, as now seems to be the case, he was himself responsible for them. The governor of Coahuila brought the matter to the notice of the general government of Mexico, from which I have received instructions to present it to the consideration of the Department of State. The crimes in question belong, as I have already remarked, to a long series of outrages, the details of which are more or less well proved, bat whose existence in general is not doubtful, and by which systematic hostility seems to me manifested towards the Mexican population by individuals and authorities in Texas.
Inasmuch as no steps have as yet been taken in that State by any Mexican consul, or representative of the injured parties, to secure the punishment of the parties who perpetrated the murders in question, or at least 1 not being aware that any such steps have been taken, my request to you, Mr. Secretary, is only for the present that you will be pleased to urge the government of Texas to cause the facts stated to be investigated and the guilty parties to be punished. I do not doubt that this will be done by the Government of the United States, in view of the spirit of justice which characterizes it, and of its friendly relations with the government of the Mexican Republic.
Be pleased to accept, &c.,