El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-02-17
S36O,OOO FOR
MASSACRE Of 18
Evidence Now Being Gath
cred By State Department
IN Santa ISABEL Case.

w ashlngton, d. C, Teb. 17.-Evidence
is being gathered by the state depart
lnent touching the killing of is Amer
lean citizens in western Chihuahua by
I winch IT viii be determined whether
thls government can hold the de
Iacto government In Mexico liable in
damage to the families or heirs Of the
dead. 1t viii first have to be deter
mined whether Carranza was respon-
SIDE under the rules governing the
movement of citizens of one country in
me territory Of another government
II this responsibility cannot be fixed,
lhen It is improbable that a claim for
indemnity could be sustained.
Affidnvits Made.
evidence being gathered by the state
department is in the shape of affida-
Wits and statements touching the move
ment Of the party in Mexican territory.
the degree Of protection guaranteed,
and whether the offer of protection, If
such was given, can be traced to the
established government in Mexico. In
a general way it is understood the
showing will be that the party entered
Mexico under promise by officials Of
the Carranza government, and in one
OF Two instances passports were held
from the governor of Chihuahua. Cop
les OF passports said to have been is
sued by other Carranza military au-
thortties are on file with the depart
ment.
1t is further understood that the evil
dence tends to prove that the people
were killed because they were Ameri-
can citizens. One Mexican was I'M
molested and another who succeeded
IN showing that he was an Italian, was
allowed to go free.
Question of Indemnity.
The books are full of precedents
touching the question Of Indemnity for
the death OF the nationals Of one
country in the territory of another
and there have been many cases Of
atrociOus murders, some of them aris-
ing from race hatred, but unless the
crime can Enthusiastically be traced as
being an act of the government, it is
generally agreed that nothing more
than an indemnity can be sustained, and
even that condition is said to rest up
on certain fixed rules in international
affairs.
MeManus Case.
The McAlanus case, in which this gov
ernment collected $4,000 from villa,
does not furnish fair illustration of
the responsibilities resting upon a gov
eminent About the only fact estab-
lished was that the soldiers Of Zapata
battered down the door Of The McManus
house in Mexico City and murdered
him. Villa hardly questioned the show
ing this government made, but has
tened the payment of the gold with
the evident purpose Of preserving his
time, IL may be said, Villa expected
to be recognized as the de facto head OF
Mexico
Discussion has not reached the stage
OF determining what amount Of in ,
demnity would be asked in event the |
responsibility is placed upon the Car !
rama government. In international /
law il is said that where no fixed sum |
is contended for. the minimum of 5000 /
is allowed. Considering the Chihuahua /
in the light Of the McManus /
claim. it probably will be contended /
that the claims shall not be for less
than was asked in the McManus case. /
This being true, the government would
demand a total of S360,0O0.
Under no circumstances, It is said, |
will the claims be pressed until the /
United States has an ambassador to (
the de facto government of Mexico, and 1
this depends upon the length of time
the senate will consume in confirming /
Henry P. Fletcher, whom the president I
has nominated for that post There is
quite an accumulation OF diplomatic
matter to which the new ambassador |
will fall heir, and 1t Is said to embrace I,
about every phase Of international ne
There are number Of per-
sons whom this government viii ask
to be extradited for crimes alleged to
have been committed here.