Mr. Baker to Mr.
Gresham.
Legation of the United States,
Managua, April 10, 1894.
(Received May 15.)
No. 248.]Sir: I cabled you the news of the shooting of a
Mr. Wilson, an American, by the Nicaraguan military governor at
Bluefields. I had received no particulars. I called upon the authorities
here for an explanation, and I inclose the response of the
Government.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure
I.—Translation.]
Mr. Rivas to
Mr. Baker.
National
Palace,
Managua, April 3, 1894.
Mr. Minister: The minister of the interior
has addressed himself to this secretaryship informing it that the
commissioner of the Mosquito Reservation has given him notice that
on the 20th of last March, about 10 o’clock in the evening, Mr.
Norberto Arguello, police inspector, temporarily in charge of the
Government, seriously wounded the American citizen William
Wilson.
In bringing to the knowledge of your excellency this deplorable
incident, of which my Government has not, as yet, any details, it is
my duty to manifest to your excellency that Mr. Arguello was
immediately deposed, and that the commissioner appointed Col. Luis
Cartin in his place, who will carry on the legal prosecution so that
the culprit may be punished.
The Government on its part, desirous that full justice be
administered in the affair, has sent, through the honorable minister
of the inferior, telegrams to San Juan del Norte and Bluefields, of
which I inclose to your excellency an authorized copy.
I will not close this communication without deploring what has come
to pass, and without manifesting that, as soon as the Government
receives information which it has called for, I will again address
myself to your excellency.
I am, etc.,
[Page 466]
[Inclosure
2.—Translation.]
Mr. Commissioner of the
Reserve,
San Juan del Norte:
Recommended to the governor and comptroller.
With much regret the executive has been informed of your telegram,
dated the 31st of last month, in which you give an account of the
wound inflicted on the American citizen, Wilson, by the temporary
governor, Argüello.
The Government trusts that the courts of justice of San Juan del
Norte will know how to fulfill their duty by investigating the
aforesaid act and punishing the offender.
The Government does not approve of the practice which has been
observed on the coast of withdrawing the high functionaries to send
them on commissions; much less if these are substituted by employés
of inferior category, who may not possess all the qualities which
those dignitaries require.
The President trusts that, owing to the lamentable accident to
Wilson, the cordial relations which Nicaragua happily cultivates
with the United States of America may not be impaired. He hopes that
the superior authorities of the littoral will see that complete
justice be done in the trial of the deed against Wilson, and that in
the future they may know how to avoid, with prudence and caution,
occurrences of this nature.
The minister of the interior by the law,
This is a true copy. Managua, April 3, 1894.
[Inclosure
3.—Translation.]
Governor and
Comptroller,
San Juan del
Norte:
With grief the executive power has been informed of the dangerous
wound inflicted on Mr. Wilson by an officer of that port, and,
through me, commands that you make the courts proceed with all
possible energy and activity in the repression of that crime.
The minister of the interior by the law,
This is a true copy. Managua, April 2, 1894.
