No. 115.
Mr. Wing to Mr. Fish.
Quito, Ecuador, January 12, 1872. (Received February 16.)
Sir: Permit me, in answer to dispatch No. 65 from the Department, most respectfully to state, in regard to the case of Dr. L. D. Wilson, that in my dispatch No. 1511 say that:
1st. I am informed that his arrest was a mistake, arising from the fact that he was taken for his servant, &c.
This information came, of course, from the Ecuadorian authorities, and is more particularly set forth in my subsequent dispatch No. 158. This constitutes the Ecuadorian side of the case.
I say, moreover, in my dispatch No. 151, that:
2d. Dr. Wilson’s statement embodies a very flagrant case of outrage upon private rights.
Dr. Wilson’s statement embodies, of course, his version of the affair.
The two conflicting versions make up the case, so far as I know, though both parties assure me of their ability to adduce further evidence in support of their respective statements.
Dr. Wilson, it will be observed, expressly and emphatically swears that he was personally known to the officer making the arrest, and had but a short time previously engaged his services to effect the arrest of his servant. This assertion is negatived by the plea of “Mistaken identity” made by Minister Leon.
Dr. Wilson further states that he was confined during the night and insulted by the language of the officers having him in charge.
Minister Leon, on the other hand, avers that he was released immediately upon the establishment of his identity, and I understand him to say that this release was made within a very short time of the doctor’s arrival at the prison.
Here are two distinct points in issue, and before taking any further steps in the matter I felt it incumbent upon me to await instructions from the Department.
Personally, I make statement of neither of the propositions laid down in dispatch No. 65 of the Department. I set forth those propositions as the results respectively of the adverse versions of Dr. Wilson and of the government of Ecuador.
The affair occurred at Guayaquil, and hence personally I have not been able to institute any direct inquiries of outside parties. Dr. Wilson’s statement was forwarded to me from our consulate in Guayaquil. I have, therefore, perforce, confined myself to the record as made out by the parties in interest.
If I understand it to be the desire of the Department that I shall request further affidavits from Dr. Wilson, and a copy of the official report from the local authorities of Guayaquil, at the hands of this government, I will endeavor to secure such data.
Awaiting instructions from the Department, I have, &c.,