Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 6, 1904

Mr. Clayton to Mr. Hay.

American Embassy,
Mexico, September 10, 1904.

No. 2435.]

Sir: Referring to previous correspondence relative to the murder of the American citizens J. B. Maxwell, J. C. Maxwell, and Enoch Woodworth. I now have the honor to inclose copy of correspondence between this embassy and the American consulate at Guaymas, Mexico, upon the subject. The especial attention of the Department is invited to the letter of Governor Rafael Izabal to George H. Lesser, consular agent at Guaymas, referring to the finding of the dead bodies of the murdered citizens and the measures which have been taken to discover’ the authors of the crime, four individuals having been arrested as apparently guilty of the same and placed under the control of the proper judicial authorities, who, with all possible diligence, are conducting the investigation, etc.

I have, etc.,

Powell Clayton.

[Inclosure.]

Mr. Crocker to Mr. Clayton.

American Consular Service,
Guaymas, Sonora, August 30, 1904.

Sir: Your letter of the 13th instant was received during my absence. Mr. Lesser, who acted for me during my absence, took the matter up with Governor Izabal, and his letter concerning the case is inclosed for your information.

The crime referred to occurred in the northern part of the State, and I have no knowledge of same further than that gleaned from the newspapers. I have taken the liberty of forwarding your letter to Mr. Morawetz, at Nogales, requesting him to furnish you such infromation as he may have covering the case.

Respectfully,

Frank M. Crocker.

[Subinclosure.—Translation.]

Governor of Sonora to the American consular agent at Guaymas, Sonora.

Hermosillo, August 22, 1904.

Dear Sir: I beg to answer your favor of the 19th instant, and to state that, in fact, on July 17 last, and at a place named “El Arco,” district of Moctezuma, the dead bodies of the Americans J. A. Maxwell, Maxwell, and Enoch Woodward, were found, who appeared to have been murdered.

Energetic measures were at once dictated to discover the authors of the crime, and two days later four individuals were arrested as apparently guilty of the same.

Said men having been placed under the control of the proper judicial authorities, the latter, acting with all possible diligence, are conducting the investigations necessary to disclose the facts, to the end of applying the proper penalty upon those who may be declared guilty.

I am, etc.,

Rafael Izabal.