San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-08-18
THE REAL FACTS,
And The True Inwardness" of the Muir
der of Arresuris

And The True Inwardness" Of the Muir
der of Arresuris
Having heard that Colonel John A.
Baker, who ranks as one OF the ablest
and most eloquent lawyers In Texas,
had been employed by the heirs OF fran
cisco Arresuris, who was murdered In
cold blood out of personal revenge by
Colonel MondragOn, at Piedras Negras,
and meeting Colonel Baker at the Nav
eriok hotel, reporter for the LIGHT
seized the occasion TO derive all the In
formation possible respecting this now
memorable case Of Mexican vengeance,
cOnsummated under color OF gum elias
tic law.
Colonel Baker was ready to impart all
the information in his power and exhibit
ted to the reporter the documentary evil
dence collected by him, going to show
that Arresuris had been murdered in
cold blood to CRAFTY the personal re-
venge OF MondragOn.
First was a copy from the proceedings
OF the court OF Maverick county, in 1873,
showing that Arresuris had duly made
and filed his declaration OF American
citizenship, and had never thereafter
taken any oath OF allegiance to Mex
leo.
He exhibited to the reporter the af-
fidavit OF Mexican citizens OF social
responsibility and political inference, to
the effect that they had known Ares
urls from bOyhoOd, and that he had al
ways been a man of good repute, and
that he had never since 1873 served in
the regular army, or militia OF Mexico,
or had taken any oath OF allegiance TO
Mexico. He had been enrolled in the
number OF the militia, the duty and the
only duty of which was to resist the in
roads of hostile Indians, and al. foreign
ers sojOurning in Mexico could be en-
rolled in this militia, since the Mexican
government regarded these proving
bands of hostile Indians as the enemies
Of all civilized men. No oath OF ale
glance was eXacted from foreigners
who Joined this particular branch
of the militia, nor was such
militia required to perform any
any other service save that of repelling
the inrOads of hostile Indians.
These affidavits of respectable and in
fluential Mexican citizens, cognizant of
all the facts to which they depose, give
the lie completely to the assertion put
forth by the partiZans of MondragOn,
who are sOlicitOus to whitewash the
cold blooded and vindictive murder COM
mitted under his order, that Arresuris
had served in the Mexican army, and
had never become an American citizen.
The affidavit of respectable citizens Of
Mexico stamp as falsehOods the charges
trumped up by Mondragon and his par
tiZans, to yarnish over the cOld-blooded
murder of Arresuris to crafty the vim
dictive feelings OF his personal enemy,
who happened to be clothed with Slit
tie brief authority" in country where
military rule is the supreme law.
When the body of Arresuris was ex-
humed from the shallow grave into
which his murderers had thrown IL, his
arms we're found securely tied behind
his back-a fact that brands as a men-
dacious falsehood the assertion that
he was shot while attempting to
escape from the guards, and af-
ter he had mounted the horse
of one of his guards. A prisoner with
his hands tied behind bis back, is in no
fix to OverpOwer armed guards and to
mount a horse-a fact too self-evident
to require proof. DR.. Ornelas was shame
fully imposed upon by the version of
the affair put forth by MOndragOn'7 tools
and partiZans in Mexico, and which was
interviewer into his letter to the Ex-
press.
A truthful and respectable citizen of
Texas who was in Piedras Negras, on the
9th of July-the day before Arresuris
was murdered, depOses that he over
heard conversation, in which Mon.
dragon said that there were no charges
against Arresuris-that he himself be-
lieved him to be hOrse-thief, but that
there was no evidence to prove it, and
that he was wanted in Mexico because
of difficulty he bad had formerly with
an officer under whom he served in the
army. He said if Arresuris should be
surrendered to him, he could be shot
before President Diaz could hear
of the arrest, or interpose to
prevent it. The LIGHT refrains from
giving the names of the persons who
made the affidavits alluded TO in this ar
ticle, from a Discrimination to expose
them to persecution from MODdragen
and his tools, but their names are signed
to the affidavits soon to be filed with the
secretary of state at Washington.
The government and people of Mex
leo cannot, in justice to themselves, con-
done or approve the bloody deed of Mon
dragon, and they owe to themselves 10
disavow it and to punish him for his
abuse of authority in numbering an in
nOcent man.