El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-11-04
BOUNDARY QUESTION
DECIDED BY VERDICT
Conviction Of Nunez for Kidnapping
Converse and Blatt Considered
Unique by Attorneys.

What was considered one of the most
unique cases in the history OF the legal
( Jurisprudence Of any court terminated
Saturday night at $3.50 o'clock when
iurv in the 34th district court by its
verdict found Ramon Nunez guilty OF
I1idnaping Edward Blatt and Lawrence
Converse, two Americans, on FEBRUARY
20. 1911. and taking them to Mexican
territory. The jury fixed the defend
ants punishment at four years IN the
state penitentiaTy-
The case not only involved the lOca-
ton of the international boundary inc
between the United states and Mexico,
but embraced the feature OF an alien
lzidnaDfne- two American citizens and
taking them to a foreign country ana
there delivering them into the hands
Of federal soldiers, at that time unoef
the DiaZ regime
That Blaft and Converse were ar
rested on soil over Whlch Mexico eA-
ercfsed jurisdiction and not on Texas
soil, as charged IN the lnolctLnehI, Lns
attorneys for the defendant based
their defence. In support Of this, Cruz
Rey. the mayor Of Guadalupe at the
time the Americans were seized ana
taken there, was called as one OF Inelr
witnesses. The eXmayOr testified that
as mayor of that town he exercised
political jurisdiction over the territory
which was then under discussion. Ine'
property in question was owned by
MelQuiado Perea, and was located
about three miles southwest Of Tor
milo, Tex Perea testified that he at
one time signed a petition addressed
10 the international boundary commits
sion in which that commission was
asked to definitely determine the boun-
dairy line.
In proof of the proposition that the
crime was committed on Texas soil,
the prosecution introduced the testi-
mOny of Louis O. Howell, superintend-
ent inspector Of the United States Gus
toms; Capt J. r Hughes, of the Texas
state rangers, and sheriff PeytOn j.
Edwards The officials testified that
in their different capacities they had
always exercised judicial dominion
over that strip 1t was at the home OF
Perea that Blatt and Converse were
taken, and over the objection Of the
attorneys for the defence Perea was
allowed to testify that the men who
came after them, dressed in the uni
form Of federal soldiers, had asked him
where the boundary line was Perea
said that he told them it was the river
in front of his house. As indicated by
the witness, the men were then on
this side Of the boundary line.
The defendant, who was the last wit
ness placed on the stand Saturday az
ternOon. admitted that he helped to
capture Blatt and Converse, but said
that he only did so at the command Of
the federal soldiers. He referred to
the place where the capture was made
as that vicinity you people call the
United States" At the time he went
after the Americans the witness stated
that he was under the belief that they
were on Mexican soil. He had moved
from Guadalupe, he said, TO escape the
revolution, but since the arrest of the
Americans had never crossed the river.
He said he did not know why In
answer to the question Of District at
torney Joseph n NealOn If Il was not
a fact that he was arrested the first
time he crossed over the line, the wit
ness said that II was.
NunOz was arrested in April. There
are three indictments out for the men
who are alleged to have assisted him
in capturing Blatt and Converse. He
was prosecuted by district attorney
Nealon and r E Thomson. and de
Tended by Paul BOykin and VIII Owen.