Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-08-25
THE CASE OF ARREIsUREs.

So much of public attention has been
absorbed by the case of Cutting at Paso del
Norte, that the case of Areisures has been
lost sight of by the mass of the people. 1t
is one altogether strange, and as IN the
Cutting case, it involves the border rela-
lions of the United States and Mexico.
The statement of facts we select from the
conflicting recitals is that of the Mexican
press, for we assume it would give the story
most favorably to Mexico. Captain Mon
dragon is Captain of the Coahuila State
Guards, a sort of police force. As such he
possesses no judicial authority. He had
personal enemy, due to love af-
fair, one Arreisures, native Hexi-
can, but who claimed to be natural
lied citizen of the United States. Arreis-
ures was charged in Mexico with horse
stealing He was found at Eagle Pass, in
Texas, and placed under arrest by request
of Mondragon. 1t must be borne in mind
that the horse-thief in Texas is even more
despised than in Mexico. His life is very
frequently the forfeit Of his crime. Mon
dragon went over the border and made
demand for the extradition of the prisoner,
and Texan County Judge ordered him
to be delivered up. Mondragon, on his
part had no authority TO make the de-
mand; the Judge had no authority to or
der the extradition. Mondragon took his
prisoner, who at once claimed the protec-
ton of American citizenship, into Mexico,
and jailed him at Piedras Negras. He
was not brought before any magistrate.
The L. S. Consul interviewed, but was put
off by Mondragon, who told him the case
would be tried before the Criminal Court
at Saltillo This was on the day of the
delivery of the man. At midnight the
Captain took the prisoner from Jail, tied
his hands behind his back, marched him
between military files to the outskirts of
the town and there he was shot 10 death.
The Trio Republics, published by Ameri-
cans at the City Of Mexico, charges
that the allegation Of horse-steal-
ing was false and maliciously made,
and, moreover that Arreisures was
man who had always borne good
character. Two things are clear, whatever
the citizenship or character of the man;
that the Texan Judge acted wrong
fully, hastily and cruelty; that Mondragon
had no authority to do as he did, and is a
cold-blooded murderer who ought TO be
choked to death on the gallows for his
crime The question arises, did the
illegal surrender bar the way to action by
the United States in this matter? The
Mexican authorities have promised to try
and punish Mondragon-but he is only
under military arrest now-and intimate
that it will be an evidence of amity and
good faith if the United States Govern
ment will put the Texan Judge on trial
also. But it is said by the friends of the
latter that he had no reason whatever to
doubt the right of Mondragon to demand
the surrender, as he was the proper officer
TO be sent for the prisoner, being Captain
of Police. Also, that Mexico cannot
shield herself behind the usurpation of
authority by Mondragon, as he was a Gov
ernmcnt commissioned officer at the head
of recognized police infantry. Both Gov
ernments should speedily investigate the
case and go to the bottom of It, Should
it turn out that the unhappy victim was
in reality an american citizen, it will be
very awkward FOR the Mexican Government
and will make the Texan Judge wish he
had never been born. The suggestion is
afloat that the Judge and the Captain
were in collision, but of this there is no
evidence as yet; if true, it makes them
both guilty of MURDER and they should
both be hanged after trial, which right was
denied the murdered man. 1t is absurd
to suppose that an official of any rank in
Texas can lawfully extradite prisoner to
a foreign country with any less formality,
or Observance of essentials, than is re-
quired to remove him from the jurisdic-
ton of one State to another. The Texan
Judge who does not know that he cannot
put man over the border by simple order
of Court and without the exercise of
Executive authority, does not know
enough to breathe. But assuming that
he knew better, then his act became not
negligence or haste, but corrupt, and open
/ to all manner of susnicion.