The New York herald., 1879-11-30
An ECUADOR MYSTERY.
Inquiry Into the Assassination Of (,
Presidential Candidate.
THE PRESIDENT IMPLICATED
AGovemment Confidential Agent Charged
with the Murder

Tho situation in Ecuador is exciting. and an In
tense feeling has grown out OF recent developmenta
in connection with the assassination Of Dr. vicents
Pedrahita. Evidence il sccumuiating that the muir.
der was instigsted from Official sources and the
secret kept by government employees who were sent
to make pretence Of investigating 1t. In Septem-
ber 1878. Dr. Piedrahita. who was the most populas
and wealthiest citizen Of the Ecuadorian Republic
was struck by bullet from an unknown rihe and
fell dead at his own doorway. The crime was com.
mitted in broad daylight, the Doctor had returned
from Guayaquil to his farm. which IL . large
estate ON the Daule River. not far from
tho city. The murdered man had held many high
positions ut home and abroad. and would, In the
event Of the revolution which was then threatened
have probably succeeded to the Presidency although
he had not instieated the uprising. Tho crims
created such universal indignation that the govern
ment took the matter in hand and sont Colonel Man
uel Castro one Of Its trusted mon, to make special
investigation. The affair, however. seemed involved
in inextricable mystery. and although numbers Of
persons were arrested suspicion and subjected 70
tedious and vexatious examinations. not suficient
evidence was found against any OF them. and one
after another they were discharged.
NEW LIGHT CoMxs.
Now evidence has been brought out which putt
the affair In very different light. Tho charge ID
openly made. and substantiated by sworn testimony
that the murder committed by Colonel Castro
who afterward sent investigate It, This charge
has been made and the evidence substantatng ithas
been printed in . Guayaquil paper. It is charged
Also though direct evidence has not yet been pro.
duced. that the murder was instigated by General
vientemille, the President of the Republic. The
motive alleged 10 tho popular prejudice againat
v,eutemille. the growing enthusiasm Piedrs-
hita aud the impression prevailing with the govern
men the 4 pOUular uurfSinO nras
named would be deposed and the latter elevated in
his place. The evidence SO far - 1t now appears
under oath is follows. Other evidence Ia prom
iscd and the developments Of any hour may be all
important to the administration and to the Repub-
nc:-
In La Ndcion Of October Is appears . short %.
tcle addressed to Colonel Castro. which the latter
puts his interrogations to the celebrated and also
notorious Colonel Manuel Castro, to whose low con-
say:-'It is true that Colonel Manuel Castro re-
ceived, as he informed me, from the Treasury De.
partment certain considerable sum of money. 20.
companiUd by orders from the government to perse-
cute and arrest . certain Manuel Cabrera, whom the
notorious Colonel Castro branded the assassin Of
DR.. Vicente Piedrahita. Under the cover OF prose.
cutting criminals he every day denounced to me 20
assassins and their accomplices men who werc, in
accoraanoe with ms demands: inoSrcer.seo ana con-
may possibly have been executed by the celebrated
Colonel with some Of the money furnished him BY
Colonel Manuel Castro, % the only course open
to you is to stir up noise. leave to you the coli
Whatever ;ds ps.sss you but when the tim. or .a:
proof comes we shall see Cslumny and pcrverston
Of facts are to prevail over public opinion and
Colonel Manuel Castro we'll known by tho peo-
pie Of the whole country. Pray tell me. Colonel
Antonio Suarez which took place in the province Of
Manabii And 90 you remember IT that the s.s.:sin s.
there may have originated . profound rancor lead
ing to infamous vengeancef ,
''Tell me also. Colonel Manuel Castro. DO you
remember who was the person who called on
Dr. Castellsnos, lawyer. and threatened his life
% because he nsd defended something, %nIssg Do 70.
fortnight after the murder Of DIR. Piedrahita
you came into my room with strained fes-
afraid these rascals might sccuse you Of COM
plicity the murder ana that you wished to leave
which in due S course We shan % oomss Teii m. .1:o
the lunatics should. you say, 60 to the asylum.
should not the murderers liars and other criminals
60 to the scxod or to the penitentiary to pay the
penalties of theh crimes? BY way Of proof that
the present crime may not go unpuntshed.
shall attempt to show its history. Without descend.
ing to insult cslumny or using Language
unfamiliar to gentlemen. shall attempt. 90 fsa
ss E possible to produce proofs Of the .ctual facss
assassination you were i'll in Pifa tcallng - Wit
nesses Messr:: Arantosl: and now ask tor declare.
of that town. That 10 way to vindicate yourself
Recolect that Colonel Manuel Castro. during the
last OF August. Went ON Doaro tnoBeoemor Mfagro,
on board Of which was tho respected family Of Man
uel Noboa, with Scor Plazas 1glesias, Sehor Ramon
T. Benites, aud. think. Sehor Enrique Amador.
-s"With this, Colonel Castro, allow me personally
take leave OF you for the present The proofs of
your crime will follow. leave you to write whst
you will to the press; my time IL too valuable 10
waste in any attempt to answer foolish misstats-
ments."
The letter /. signed Enrique Avellsn. Gusysqul.
LETTERS PUT IN As PROOF
DAULx, August II, 1879
syas
positively that he desired your and your wsnpos
Tor the purpose Of murdcrng Dr. Vicente PsdrMhitaf
truly make your reply .ssiatE iIs H
To Senior Dox EERreuE AvKLLAx:-
DEAR sR-In reply TO your kind letter Of the 2is viii
invite sceompsny him and to mnrdsr Dr. Pisdrs-
hta refused npon which he asked me to lend him my
my riHo.' with which he took his leave
AUGUST -. 1870. JESUS VERA.
To rmx FIRsr ALcADo Cnr-FRon sEvxRAL
Enrique Avclian, living In the city and citizen In full
standing appears before you and respectfully demands
admits tho truth OF the enclosed letter in ali is detsis
Ie explains that Colonel Manuel Castro proposed
10 go rn n sm him and 70 D & AZ
that he tho signature which appears
the bottom Of the letter and testify 70 ,hc various public
order that the best advantage and In b.
GuArAaurL, Oct. u. 1873. ''
At Guayaqul. on October II. the presiding judge
Castro went to him to arrange matters and to make
The murdcrous offcr--which he did not accept-eafly
In September Of last year.