Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-25
and | understand they put their damages

and l understand they put their DAMAGES
at $yopa
TwentN-three Americans who ners
wounded or had relatives killed or
wounded ny shots across the Mexican
border in April and May. have been re-
ported by commission of our army off,
GERS entitled to indemnities asgregating
sS6.00o. and this will probably he paid
All of these claims were reduced by the
commission from the amount Originally
asked
In addition to these there are great
many other demands on account OF per
sonal damages. and there will be large
amount asked for on account OF damages
to property. One of the Mexican papers
here prints an interview with a promi-
nent American. hose name is not given.
in which il is stated that the United
States asks 60.0e00 pesos or s2o.0p,"o.
as an indemnity for the damages caused
10 American interests here. and suR-
gests that the Mexican government may
compromise the matter by giving us Low
er California This supposition is doubt
full. to say the least. although large
part of the mines and lands Of that Pc
ninsula now belong TO Americans
Americans are not popular in Next
co. This is especially so among the
middle and higher classes. They are
jealous of our success as nation,
and also of our success In making
money out Of Mexican investments.
They realize that some OF the best
properties in Mexico belong TO our
people. and while they want American
capital they feel sore because We
make money out OF investing that
capital here.
In a suit at law the American l,ss
but little chance with the Mexican
without the evidence is altogether in
his favor. and IL he gets into trouble.
he is liable TO find himself in Jail
when the right is all on his side. In
deed, the red tape surrounding the
law here is such that most foreigners
here submit 10 petty thefts rather than
be involved in law suits. l know OF
an American who had an umbrella and
some hats recently stolen from his
front hall. He announced the fact IN
the authorities. and policemen came
and arrested all the servants in the
house. The American was called before
the court again and again. He went a
half dozen times and lost many days
S from his business and at the end could
: not see that he was any nearer finding
: his property than at the beginning. He
finally sent word to the judge that IL
was all mistake He had not lost any
hats, coats umbrellas. and he hoped
that no further account would he taken
e of the matter He had 10 write this
: fact on the court book and the case
# thereupon was dismissed.
it
n One of the troubles connected with JUS
tice is the graft which is universal on
q the part Of the police and other officials
:. and sometimes even the judges. Some
q Americans claim that judges com
m pelied to give decisions az 10 important
I'd cases by higher officials. and one man
a who has a big mining claim which Is ~
Df come before The Hague ntimated to m.
r that President Porfirio Diaz had forced
lie the Judge to change the decree and de-
~ eide against him.
Mt One species of graft worked by thu
T. police is Matchmaking the foreigners
W through service upon the jury. The for
in eigners know that IL called they are
he liable to two or three months OF daily
a sittings in a courtroom listening 10 Z
90 language they cannot understand. The,
I'll have also found that they cannot bes
tn off on the plea of not knowing Spanish
Id for the court will say that il will fur
e. man is willing 10 give all the way from
e $40 to 500 to have himself and hi
at clerks left off the jury list The police
de men know this and they take the names
is OF responsible foreigners living In thu
I'd city and blackmail them I'm this way.
rs l was told OF one queer blackmailinl
IN attempt last night. In this instance on
Id of the grafters saw the sign Scott
Emulsion" printed on the window or :
lie drug store and thought that this mus
Of be the name of the American owner. HI
ms thereupon went to the court and haf
T. Senior SCOTS Emulsion put on the 1ur,
vo list. He served his papers. and, fndine
es his mistake, came back to the court anf
e. said the man was not present. The SUD
an poena was sent out again and again
st and the court had at last to be told tina
in Senior SCOTS Emulsion's real name wa
at Mr.. Cod Liver Oil. and that the SAID
ed senior would not pay to be released from
il, jury duty. FRANK G. CARPENTER