No. 84.
Mr. Guzman
to Mr. Gresham.
[Translation.]
Legation of
the Republic of Nicaragua,
Washington, July 27,
1894.
Sir: As I had the honor yesterday verbally to
inform your excellency that I would do, I now send you two documents which
go to show that my Government has acted with the utmost rectitude and good
faith in the case of the murder of the American citizen, Wilson, which
[Page 150]
is so much to be deplored. All
possible efforts have been and will continue to be made in order to capture
the offender, for, as I have repeatedly assured your excellency, my
Government earnestly desires to prevent so heinous a crime from going
unpunished.
I reiterate, etc.,
[Inclosure in No.
84—Translation.]
Mr. Madriz to the
American Consul.
Bluefields, April 2,
1894.
Honorable Sir: I have the honor to transcribe
to you a communication which I have this day addressed to the
inspector-general of the Atlantic Coast:
While you are at Rama, engaged in the performance of the duty
which I this morning had the honor to assign to you, I wish you
to devote special attention to securing the arrest and
imprisonment of the criminal Norberto Argüello, who murdered the
American, Mr. Wilson. This is urgently required by justice and
by the necessity of giving a warning to others who may be
criminally disposed. I trust that you will spare no pains to
attain this end.
In bringing the foregoing to your notice, I take pleasure in further
stating that I have sent a telegram, via San Juan del Norte, to the
minister of justice, requesting him to communicate with the judicial
authorities of all places in the interior where the aforesaid criminal
may be arrested, and that I have sent a circular note to the governors
of San Juan del Norte, Rio Grande, Prinzapolka, and the district of Cape
Gracias a Dios.
With all consideration, etc.,
[Inclosure 2 in No. 84.]
Mr. Madriz to the
Governor and Intendent of San Juan del
Norte.
Bluefields, April 2,
1894.
To the Governor and Intendent of San
Juan del Norte.
Sir: Norberto Argüello, who killed an American
citizen, has escaped from the jail at Rama. If he comes to San Juan del
Norte arrest him and send him under a strong guard to the governor (of
Pol.) of the district of Siquia, who is the proper magistrate to take
cognizance of his case.
Your obedient servant,
[Inclosure 3 in No.
84—Translation.]
Mr. Cabezas to the
Governor of Bocas del Toro.
Bluefields, June 20,
1894.
Sir: I have learned that Norberto Argüello, who
has committed the crime of murder, is at Bocas del Toro. This criminal
made his escape from the jail here on the 9th ultimo, and the
aggravating circumstance in the case is that this is his second offence,
he having previously escaped from the jail at Rama. Argüello killed an
American citizen named William Wilson, and, owing to the fact that the
murdered man
[Page 151]
was a foreigner,
the act has given rise to a difficulty with the American Republic. In
view of the cordial relations existing between the Government of
Columbia and that of Nicaragua, and of the fraternal bonds which have
united the two nations, I have thought that a request from me would be
favorably received by you, especially since public justice has been
doubly outraged by the criminal, and since the credit of the Nicaraguan
authorities may be said to be at stake, inasmuch as they are charged,
although unjustly, with partiality in this matter.
I beg you, in virtue of the foregoing, to be pleased to issue orders for
the arrest of the aforesaid Argüello, and to place him in secure custody
until the minister of foreign affairs can present a formal demand for
his extradition.
Offering you reciprocity in similar cases, I have the pleasure, etc.,
R. Cabezas, Commissioner.
