Arizona citizen. [volume] (Tucson, Pima County, A.T. [i.e. Ariz.]) 1870-1880, 1871-03-04
AMERICANS IN MEXICO.
How they are Treated by the SOnO-
ra Authorities.


Following is condensed history, in
the form of sworn testimony, showing
what befel James Fea, Uria G.. John
ston and Walter Welsh on their way
home through the Republic of Mexico.
The testimony exhibits what penalties
the Sonora authorities infict on Amer
lean citizens for permitting themselves
to be attacked and robbed by gangs
of Mexican highwaymen and assassins,
and how the latter are officially shield
ed from punishment. This case is,
from an official ndpoint, counter
part of the Mission Camp Massacre,
except that III the latter instance the
deed was done on American soil, and
great care taken that the attacked
parties could neither pursue the mur-
derers nor be brought to punishment
for allowing Mexicans to kill and rob
them.
The two deponents in the case be-
fore us, bear good name for industry
and integrity with all who know them
in Arizona. MI. Fea was the engin-
eer at the Santa Rita saw-mill, and
many men about Tucson have long
and favorably known him. Their tes-
timony will be forwarded to Washing
ton, and here it is:
Personally appeared before me
Charles Fl. Meyers, justice Of the
peace in and for Tucson precinct, Pi-
ma county. Arizona Territory, James
Fea and Uria G.. Johnston, the sub
scribing witnesses hereto, and each for
himself testiies under oath as follows,
to-wit: That on or about August 20,
1870, he in company with the other
and Walter Welsh left Arizona Terri
tory for the Port Of Guaymas in the
State of Sonora, in the Republic of
Mexico. bound for mis- home III the
United States Of which country he and
companions are citizens; that when
quietly on their way and about 100
miles on their route from the Arizona
line in the State of Sonora, they were
each and all attacked by men Of Mex
lean birth from an ambush, and Mr.
Walter Welsh mortally wounded by
the attacking party, and that he died
soon thereafter; that acting upon the
advice Of Welsh who felt that he could
not live but an hour or SO at most,
each of Opponents FED to the city of
Magdalena IL Sonora, and related
what occurred and sought aid to cap
ture and bring to punishment the at
tacldng parties; that thereupon the
authorizes Of said Magdalena caused
each Of themselves to be arrested and
imprisoned on charge of murder; that
this arrest was made upon a report of
Mexicans who processes to have exam
ined the scene OF attack and VINO re-
ported 10 trace or tracks except those
made by Opponents that at Opponents
request, they We're permitted to hire
horses and men and repair to the scene
Of the attack, and showed the tracks
and ambush Of the assassins, and that
thereafter those who attempted TO fas-
ten the crime of murder upon depon-
ents admitted that they saw other
tracks but forgot TO report the fact;
that after their return from showing
the evidence Of their innocence and
the guilt OF others, they were tried
md acquitted by court in Magdale-
ma that the verdict was sent TO Ures
for approval Of the Supreme Court,
and was annulled; that deponents
were again arrested, imprisoned and
tried, and acquitted by Jury and
court Of Magdalena, and that said
verdict was finally approved at Ures
that the date of the first imprisonment
about September l, 1870, and
was of but short duration actually III
prison yet constantly under duress
that the second actnal incarceration III
jail was on or about Oct 20, 1870 and
continued up till Dec. 26th, following,
when the second trial occurred that
after the second acquittal, they We're
each restrained from leaving the city
until February 6, 1871 and that III
fact they were deprived of their liberty
from Sept. /, 1910 to Feb. 6, 1871, !
without the least evidence against them
Of guilt or Of violation Of any law Of
said State of Sonora, but on the con-
5rary in the face Of ample proof that .