MEXICAN MINE MURDERS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1695, 26 October 1887, Page 4

MEXICAN MINE MURDERS

•;-"■• -— ■» I Several friends of the late Leon M, Bddwin, who was murdered m Mexico some month a ago, are taking steps to bring, his case before the State Depart' xnent at Washington and obtain redress from the Mexican Government. Mr Baldwin w&i Snperlntendeut of several mines In the Sta'e of Duracgo, and was murdered by M?xicav bandliß wbi.*e « n a tour of Inspection. The tragical btory of bow -Mr Baldwin and a me at his predeOßßßors met their fate is thus told by Mr H. N. CJement m the "San F— • olsco Bulletin " :-0a the 19Ji c f .' Manager Baldwin started to inc^ of the group of mines of which he waa Superintendent, known as the Valenolana, He arrived about 10 am., and juat as he alighted from his mule two men armed with Winchester rifles arose from behind some rocks and fired at him, one ehot striking him m the right shoulder, passing ibroogb. it, and breaking the shoulder blade, bo that bia right arm was rendered useless. He succeeded In drawing bis pistil with his left baud, and ran into a tunnel which was near at hand. The atBRBsins were afraid to follow him, but mada prisoners of the five unarmed miners who were there. They then threatened the miners that if they did not bting Mr Baldwin out of the tunnel they would shoot them. The foreman went into the tunnel and told his employer what the bandits had said, Mr Baldwin directed the foreman to go out and try and find out what they -wanted, that if It was money he had only 55ioi wltas him, but that hit company would pay a reasonable ransom for his release. The blood-thirsty scoundrels finally agreed not to harm the wounded man any more, and said they would fix a Bam of money for his ramom Mr Baldwin then came out to the tunnel and mounted his mule, but as he was so weak from the effects of his wound thac he oould not guide the animal, they took a boy from the mine to lead it, threatening the miners that if they followed them they would be shot. Shortly after the departure of the party the miners heard five shots, and upon going down the road they, found Mr Baldwin lying dead with • ballet through the brain. The robbers had departed taking the boy with them, slace which time nothing has been beard of him. " A little over a year ago, a locally noted marauder named Eractlo Bernal, who commanded a small army of freebooters, took forcible posseslon of the mines owned by aa American, company, and demanded a tribute of 10,000dols. In order to enforoe their demand, they took Don Tuberlco, the Sheriff of the county, as a hostage. Knowing the utter useleesneas of depending upon the Mexioan authorities for protection, Mr Carroll and his associates, the owners of the mines, meekly paid the 10,000dols m monthly Instalments of 2000 dols. per month. la the meantime, Don Tuberoio, the Sheriff, being suspeoted of sympathising with the Americans, was ■hot, m violation of the agreement under which he was held as a hostage, and Braollo Bernal, the bandit oomandante, is atill at large. The foregoing facts were fully laid before the proper authorities at Washington, m October of last year, by John W. Twiggs, the Aseayer of the United States Mint m this cliy, and were duly transmitted to our United States Consul at Mazatlan, for investigation. The Consul verified the facts as above set forth, but no attempt was ever made by the, Mexican Government to catch or punish the marauders. " About three months ago some of the lame band made a descent upon a rancbo belonging to Mr Carroll and his associates, In the vicinity of and forming a part of their mining property, and murdered the superintendent, a Mr Smith, who was m charge of the rancho, plundered the house and rancho of everything they oould carry away, and departed m perfect safety to mingle freely with the people of the district, who made no attempt to arrest ■'■- and bring them to justice. "A Mr Blanche, another Amerloan was Immediately employed by the company to take * the plaoe of Mr Smith as Superintendent of the raocho, upon the vain supposition th»t the bandits would not dare to repeat ao flagrant an outrage at the same plaoe ; but he, too. was foully murdered by the same gang, who, after plundering the placerode fifteen miles away to a vill*> ' where they openly stated that tb' l ge j killed the foreigner at the ran' v* y n Bt J tbeir friends together and had - j» caUe drunken frolio, eihiblted a* . * d * nc .° ft ° d the money whloh thej c" , A v , d ", pftnfc , / / re! el * had taken from the h said they and viciously ann<* ' od 7 of the)r victim, driving the en*' their intension of of the coo*" - ire " GrlD 8° " company out or shortl" - itr y« About the same time, taking 1 B * ter these violent scenes were kr & place, Mr Carroll, one of the aierican company, while travelling m the vicinity of Ventanas, was waylaid on the public highway by a part of - -txie'same band, made to walk to the top of a high mountain, taken before a bandit oommandante, who, upon discovering his indentity, demanded 10,000 doL from him. Mr Carroll told them they might as well shoot him then and there, as he could not pay them co large a earn of money, and that he would not promise what he could not fulfil, fie was at once ordered to be taken away from the camp and shot ; bat, finding him firm m hi* determination, they began to ' regulate ' — which is the term they me for negotiate «ith him, and finally agreed te accept SOOdoL, which, with the sum of ISOdol. they forcibly took from his person, made 650d01. as the prica for which they would release him. He agreed to their terms, was released, and, immediately upon arriving at his destination, remitted them theSOOdol"