Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-07-18
CHIHUAHUA'S PRISONER.
The Circumstances Which Led TO Ex-
Postmaster Congdon's incarceration.

The Circumstances Which Led to FIX.
Postmaster Congdon's incarceration:
San Antonio Texas Dispatch to the New York Herald
L. w. Congdon, ex-postmaster Of Pesrsall,
Texas, who is now in prison at Chihuahua,
Mexico, objects very strongly TO the published
accounts of his case and furnished the follow
ing statement, which was penned in jail. The
fact that it was freely forwarded by the Next
can officials would indicate that he is not very
harshly treated. He says:
1t having come to my knowledge that some
one caused it to be stated in San Antonio and
St. Louis papers that my present trouble orig
mated in gambling affair desire you to in
form my friends and former neighbors that this
statement is utterly false, and that while in
| the performance of my duty was arrested on
account of plot concocted by some young men
one or more connected with the Banco Mex
icano-and thrown in dungeon of this Jail ON a
charge of attempting to steala package OF 900.
The superintendent of the Wells-Fargo ex-
press company and others investigated the
case, and, becoming satisfied Of my innocence,
took steps to secure my release, unknown to me
| at the time. and were successful / was on
temporary duty here, belonging 10 the Office
at the City of Mexico; had hardly any acquaint-
ances, was thrown into q dungeon and per-
| mitted to see no one, when had committed
| no crime.
| PLANNING HIS ESCAPE.
After being released from the dungeon was
! informed that there was no doubt that would
soon be definitely released, but 1 did not know
how long / might be detained, and, as could
| secure permission to go out in the city accom-
| panied by soldier, resolved to get him in
| toxicated and quietly leave him and then. pur-
chasing horse and gun, go to the United States.
had been out in the city previous to this
and could easily have effected my escape, but
had not then decided or thought of doing SO.
On this occasion found the parties absent
| where intended to accomplish my purpose,
SO decided to get the soldier 10 go out in the
! suburbs and then leave him there, as my leave
of absence was SO short knew could not
| safely return to the business portion of the city
to purchase weapon unfortunately sue
ceeded in purchasing pistol at a pawn shop.
THE SOLDIER WAS TOO FLY.
After getting on the outskirts OF the city the
soldier would not drink enough of the liquor.
| q had bottle of tequilla with little lauda-
mum in IT'D So at once abandoned the plan
and was intending to return to the Jail on the
first street car, when the soldier noticed the
point of my pistol projecting from my pocket
| and exclaiming, You carry the pistol to kill
| mel snatched out his bayonet and attempted
| to kill me. jumped backward and drew the
pistol, telling him to stop, that did not wish
| to hurt him. But he paid no attention to what
/ said, SO fired a shot to one side, at the same
tine jumping backward to avoid the bayonet
KILLED.
| Suddenly he grasped the point Of the pistol
and it was almost instantly discharged, and he
fell. I was Mortified and tried to escape, but,
having no provision for such an emergency, /
could not do so. was surrounded on the hill
by some forty policemen and rancheros. /
| surrendered when my ammunition was ex-
hausted. / supposed 100 shots were fired at
me, but 1 received only slight wound in the
hand. 1 was also fired at at short range after
surrendered and gave up my pistol. There is
no doubt but that the soldier would have killed
me had not the accident occurred. l received
| two slight wounds from the bayonet either of
which would have probably been fatal had
| been near enough to him. But was still doing
! all in my power to prevent serious results,
| hoping that he would see that / did not wish
| to hurt him and stop trying to kill me.
DOES NOT BLAME HIMSELF.
/ do not hold myself in the least responsible
for the death of the soldier, for I had not the
slightest wish or intention to kill him, and do
think that any one thoroughly conversaut with
| the circumstances will believe otherwise. Had
| / been provided with means il might seem diff
| ferent, but with no such means there was no
cause to justify my taking life in the middle
of the day with at least twenty persons within
| fifty yards. Is il probable that any one would
wish to kill man by firing pistol shots that
| could only result in attracting attention and
instant pufsult, WIN NOT the least chalce OF es-
cape?
HIS ORDER OF RELEASE WAS THEN READY
| You can imagine my feelings when Mr.. Vim.
| Heimke, the American consul at chihuahua,
told me that Gov. Garlic informed him per-
sonally that I was to have been released the
same evening the fatality occurred. In fact,
the order was signed and only waiting to be
| sent to the Jail ] don't suppose that similar
case ever occurred, and Il ia hard for me to
know that could Just as well have been in
formed OF the fact as not, for there we're sew
eral persons who knew I was to be released;
but no one sent me word. That morning while
I was with the soldiers called 70 see parties
who would have told me, but found them away.
GLOOMY OUTLOOK.
II IL were IN the United States would ex-
perience no trouble, but here the case lies in
the hands Of q judge only, and am informed
the one before whom win be tried IL very
much prejudiced against Americans. So there
any action ON the part Of the authorities that
would justify Intervention Of tbs United States
government. Mr.. Heimke informs nae that
there we're no witnesses that tessihed In the
case. Ny own statement 10 ell they are gov
erned by. am very grateful to my friends for
doing all In their power TO aid ne, and Is may
be that their a6idavits win bensft me. The
trouble is there Is no telling when . trial esn
be had II might be years.
The afndsvin 10 which Congdop refers are
thoss Of his former friends IA Texas setting
forth his good ehsrastsr vhils citissn Of this
| state.
Ths matss ssea:sie A. wtish be- lain