Luiz Jiminez

MR. CANALES: Now, here are those other in

the case of these two witnesses whose testimony you have heard.

MR. MOSES: No objection to them if we can introduce

our affidavit.

THE CHAIRYi.AN: We will only introduce one at the time.

We don't predicate one on the other. Do ycu care to have that

read?

:MR. CANALES: Yee, sir. The affidavit of Jesus Villa-

real is practically the same as his testimony given here.

(The affidavit referred to reads as follows):

"THE STATE OF TEXAS, )
COUNTY OF DUVAL.

Before me, the undersigned authority, on this day per-
sonally appeared ' Jesus Villareal, personally known to me and after
being by me duly sworn, upon his oath testifies as follows, towit:

"On the 3rd day of September, 1918, I was going to Rio Grande
City to bring a nephew (Miguel Villareal) that was going to get
married at Falfurrias, Texas, on the 15th day of September, 1918;
at Conception, Texas, I was called by Concepcion Benavides; he
said that he understood that I was going to Rio Grande City, and
that if I could take his son Guillermo Benavides and Eulalia Bene-
vides (his nephew) that they were going in a buggy but if I would
take them it would be better; that they were going to purchase some
goats; to which I agreed; we left about 2 p.m., more or less, ar-
rived at Rio Grande City about 12 p . m. and went to my ranch to
sleep, so that in the morning I could take them to Roma, Texas; at
the Villareales ranch, and before I got to my ranch, a Ranger was
standing on the road and ordered me to stop, which I did; he asked
me where I was corning from, I told him from Capita, Texas; he
asked me where I was going to, I answered to my ranch to-night and
in the morning to Roma to take these passengers; he asked me if I

would do him the favor to take him where his car was, that his water
had given out; then I asked him how far was his car, and he said

that it was 1 mile or t of a mile; then I said get on my car, we

left, when we arrived there were three more Rangers that had two
prisoners, there and then they said I was arrested; two of the
Rangers took the boys away and two were guarding me, when they
came back they told me the boys had said that they were going
across and that I had contracted to deliver them in Mexican terri-
tory, to which I answered that it was not so, that my contract was
to take them to Roma, Texas, as I had offered his father; then they
took me away (two of the Rangers) and told me to lie down with my
up and one set on my stomach and told me that if I did not say that
what the boys had said, they would kill me, to which I answered
that they could do what they pleased, that what I had said was the
truth; then they took me by the throat, nose and mouth and choked
me for about 5 minutes, when they let me speak they said talk, I
could not answer because I could not take my breath, when I re-
covered I told them it was not so what the boys had said; then they
said that if I did not say that I was going across they would kill
me, and they stuck their pistol in my mouth and then they said What
do you say, is it so what the boys say or not? They took the pistol
from my mouth and I said it is not so what the boys say. Then they
said, and stuck the pistol in my mouth again, this is the last time
we will ask you what do you say is it so what the boys say or not?
Then one said - put the knife in his hand, and then he said no we
will do it after he is dead and claim he jumped on us; then they·
said what do you say, is it so or not that the boys are going
across, to which I said it was not so; then they took the pistol
from my mouth and told me to get up and took me to where the boys
were and asked the boys that if it was true that tbeu were going
across , then the boys said yes and I told them that they were
ti' •• lying, and they asked me if the three were lying and I said yes all

three were lying, then they said to go to the Camp where they left

us in the guard-house, a.nd were freed in Brownsville, Texas, by

Federal Court.

(Signed) Jesus Villareal.

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 20th day of January,

A.D. 1919.

(Seal.) R. M. Gonzales
Notary Public, Duval County, Texas."

.........

MR. CANALES: The affidavit of Benavides is as follows:

"THE STATE OF TEXAS, )

)

COUNTY OF DUVAL. )
Before me, the undersigned authority, on this day person-

ally appeared Eulalio Benavides, personally known to me and after
being by me duly sworn upon his oath testifies as follows, to-wit:

'We were going to Roma with Don Jesus Villareal, we were going
to buy some goats and there near the Villareales Ranch was a Ranger
standing on the road and he said stop, then Don Jesus stopped, the
Ranger asked where are you from, Don Jesus answered from the Copita,
the Ranger asked where was he going, Don Jesus told. him he was going
to spend the night at a ranch he has near, so that he could take us
to Roma, Texas, next morning , and then he said why don't you do me
the favor of taking me to where my car stopped, then Don Jesus said

how far is it to your car, he said about 1 or ! of a mile, then he

said get on the car and kept on going to where his car was, and then
when we got to his car there were three more Rangers with two
prisoners and just as we arrived they said we were under arrest,

then two stayed with him and two went with us to one side; the one
that took me asked me where we were going, I said to Roma, Texas, to

buy some goats, and he said no, you are lying, you are going across,
then I said no, sir, we are going to Roma to buy some goats, then he

slapped me and struck me with his pistol in the head and said you

say that you are going across, a.nd took hold of my throat and put

his pistol in my breast; to say that I was going to the other side,

if not he would kill me; if you don't say you are going to the

other side I will kill you, and then I said that I would say that

I was going to the other side, and from there he took me to where

the others were and then asked us all, in the presence of Don Jesus,

if it was not a fact that we were going to the other side, to which

for fear that they would kill us, we answered yes; to which Don

Jesus said that the three of us were lying and from there they took

us to the Soldiers Camp and put us in the guard-house ; afterwardswe

were tried at the Federal Court of Brownsville, Texas, and freed .

his
(Signed) Eulalia -x- Benavides

mark

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 20th day of

January, 1919.

(Seal). R. M. Gonzales

Notary Public, Duval County, Texas.

. .... . .. .

THE CHAIRMAN: Now, Judge, is there something that you want
to introduce?

MR. MOSES: We now offer the affidavit of Andrew Uresti,
with regard to the charge against Captain Sanders in connection
with the alleged outrage committed at Brownsville in 1912. He
was one of the parties, according to the affidavit, who were pre-
sent that night.

THE CHAIRMAN: Is this part of the Adjutant General's files?
MR. MOSES: No, sir, it is an affidavit just like the one he
read, sworn to before an officer authorized to administer oaths -
sworn to and subscribed before J. J. Woodhouse, Notary Public in and

./s,.. for Victoria County, Texas, on the 12th day of January, 1919.

#'t/

captain whose name I do not know was sent to make an examination
of the matter, and bodies, e.nd who made a.n examination of each

body and took their names, and had the bodies buried at Pol"Venir,

Mexico.

Asked if he knew the assassins, and he said he

could not say whether they were rangers, or .American soldiers,

because he could not distinguish one from the other; but that he

understands they were rangers, because he saw the before mentioned

aoldi er s, a.nd they were not the same that were there on the morn-

i ng of the 24th. He was asked if they had any difficulty in get-

ting permission to pass to Mexico their animals and family u ten-

si ls and grain; he said that they had secured permission to pass

them over in two days, but that the greater part remained in the

United States, a.a it was planted lands they had in cultivation for
four years. He was asked if he knew or had information as to

whether the dead men or survivors participated with the raiders

of the Brite Ranch, and if he knew of any, to give their names
and whether they liyed at Porvenir, Texas, or if they had any

connection with the bandits, or if they had always lived peace-
ably at above mentioned place; he said that he was sure none of

the dead men, or survivors, had participated with the bandits.
and that they had always lived peaceably, and he can testify to

that, and that the school teacher at that place, and an .American,

by the name of Enrique N. (Henry We.rren), who is married. to a

Mexican woman, as well as another American who is married to a
Mexican woman, by the name of John Bill (John Bailey), both of

whom were at Porvenir at the time of this occurence, can also
testify to this fact. Asked for the reason of his statement,

that he saw the occurence and knew that it was true.

(Si gened) JUAN MENDEZ (SEAL)

STATEMENT OF LUIS
Luis Jiminez testifies that he is

a Mexican citizen, 34 years old, not having lost his nationality,

and before the Judge testifies that his name was as written above,

married, farmer, but accidently at this place.

He was asked what he knew about the assassination

committed at El Porvenir, who did it, what date, the causes, who

were the men killed, and anything else he knew of the affair; he

said, that on the 24th day of aanuary, 1918, a group of armed

individuals came to Porvenir about 40 in number, being rangers,

American soldiers, and .American ramchrnen, about one A.M. on

the same day; the soldiers surrounded the ranch and the rangers

and American ranchmen '. took all the people out of their houses,-

about 30 men and boys,- and when they were altogether, they took

about a quarter of a mile out on the road that comes be-

low Porvenir to the River, without saying they cause, or ask-

ing them anything. After we had arrived there, they told us

we could go back to our houses, with the exception of Eutemio

Gonzales, Ramon Nieves, and Manuel Fierro, who they took away

and kept two days in the mountains, threatening them with death,

and at last allowed them to return to Porvenir, Texas, where

on the day of the assault Eutemio Gonzales and Ramon Nieves

were killed, but Manuel was saved, not being there that day.

Asked to tell all that he knew with reference to the assault,

said that on the 28th day of January of the present year the

Porvenir ranch was again assaulted, about two A. M. on said day,

by the same band of men who were armed, and whose number was

about forty, consisting of rangers, Uni ted States soldi era,

and Texas ranchmen; immediately upon their arrival at the said

ranch, proceeded to take from their houses all of the residents,

and selecting 15 from this number, took them a quarter of a

mile from said ranch and infamously shot them. Asked if he

knew the names of the dead persons, and if he knew them, said:

Their names were Roman Nieves, Euternio Gonzale s , Antonio Caste-

nedo, Ambrocio Hernandez, Macadonio Huerta, Serapio Jiminez,

Jiminez, of this witness), Juan Jiminez, (first

cousin of the witness), Alberto Garcia (brother-in-law of

witness), Tiburcio Jaquez, Longinio Flores, Pedro Herrera,

Biviano Herrera, Siberiano Herrera (brothers of these foregoing),

1.5. ..:J

and Manuel Morales, who I have known and traded with person-
ally for a long time. He was then asked if the inhabitants of
said Porveni r ranch had any r 'e1 ati on with the bandits that
assaulted the Brite Ranch, or if they had any of the goods
taken therefrom, answered: That the inhabitants of Porvenir,
Texas, did not have any connection, and never had any connect-
ion with the bandits, neither did they have in their possess-
ion any property taken fran the Brite Ranch; that they were
people who lived peacefully, and who were dedicated to their
work in the fields, which is well proven by the fact that in
their houses they had suf ficient grain on whieh to sustain
their families, as well as their animals, that consisted of
cattle, horses, and goats; that the product of their work was
honorable, which could be proven for a period of more than one
year by the .American school teacher of that place Enrique N.
(Henry Warren), and another .American by the name of John Bill
(John Bailey). His declaration was then signed on the margin
and a tteated to before the Judge and other persons who were
assisting him.

(Signed) LUI S JI MI 1'1'EZ (Seal)

STATEMENT OF PABLO JIMINEZ:
On the same day Pablo Jiminez was

present, and made the following statement in writing: That he
was fifty-five years old, Mexican citizen, and that he had re-
sided, in Porvenir, Texas for the past four years prior to the
28th day of January, 1918. He was asked under oath to tell all
of the truth in answer to questions to be put to him with re-
lation to the assault or assaults perpetrated in the ranch of
Porvenir, Texas, on the 24th and 28th of January, of the pre-
sent year, respectively.

He said that on the 24th and 28th of the said
month of January, he was in Candelaria, Texas, and was not
present at the bloody assaults in Porvenir, on 28th day of
January, when these fifteen peaceable Mexican citizens who be-

EXHIBIT A,
Attached to Charges of J. T. Canales.

San Diego, Tex. Jen 26, 1919.

Hon. Canales,

Austin, Tex.

'J,ty dear air:---! note with satisfaotton that you are bringing

into notice the injustice done by that lawless band of high-

waymen known as Rangers. Twice within the months they have

"shot up" this town. They have no regard :ror either the o1v11

or military laws. They make their own out of a bottle, it used

to be old Rippy it is mesoale now. Seriously, I've seen them

drunk and abusive without the least exouse for it. They have

abused me and I have appealed to the Adj. for rel1of. I oan tell

you of many instances to my personal knowledge of their lawless

praottoes. If you wish. I am sure that they are the German

Propogand1sts--they keep strife between the u. s. & Mexico they

harass the lives out of the Mexican speaking citizens. The

Germana are alone of strangers to find weloome to this part of

Tex. !!any men went to Mextoo. not to avoid the service of the

u. s. but to avoid the 1nevttable unwarranted assault and arrest

by the RanGere. It was and still ie a reign of terror. They are

1n to overy thlll6. even civil cases. I can give you detailed

aooounte of their frightfulness here lf you wish.

Respeotftllly,

MRS. VIRGIIJIA YEAGER.

I am Chairman Women Suffragists of this co.

6-a

(COPY)

CANAL & DAMCY
Brownsville, Texas,
December 12, 1918.

His Excellenfy.

Gov . P . Hobby,

Austi n, Texas.

Dear Governor:

I write you this to infonn you that one Frank Hay-

me r who is Sergeant of Rangers in Captai n Taylor ' s Co ., sta-

tioned in Brownsvi lle has threaten to do me bodily i njury

if I would continue to complain to the Adjutant General ' s

Department or to you, for the abuses and outrages eommi tted b

by Rangers in this part of the State. He met me on the street

yesterday and in the presence of a respectable citizen to-

\Vit, Jess e Dennett, repeated this threat. It appears that

sometime i n last Oc.tober a peaceful c i t i zen of th i s c ount y

and a relat i ve of mine by the name of Santiago Ti jeri na ,

lives n i ne mil es Northwest of \Vas the

trail in his own land of some cattle recently stolen from

one of his relatives and taken in the direction of the Ri o

Grande , on his return he was stop1rnd by SO' .e officers and

Rangers and shamefully abused by them . He complained to me

about it and \Vanted me tu get him a passport J:' or h i m and

his family to go into U.exico for fear of his life. I dis-

suaded him from doing so and to report the incident,

I did so to Captain Hanson of the Rangers who had requested

me to report any abuse committed by Rangers . Hanson d i d noth-

ing but instead told these Rangers that I was maki ng complaints

against them and evidently had instructed then, as the best

·.vay to stop complaints , to threat me in the ltlanner indicated.

Captain Hanson has told me personally that he is a c t i ng under

\.;,

your direct orders and that his men are acting .l8::t under his

(Hanson's orders) it is for this reason that I appeal to you

as Chief Executive of this State, and as such , commander of

t he Rangers, for the protection of rrry life and my person in

the discharge of ny- dutie s a s a citizen and as_ Rep·:r:esenta-

tive of the peopl e in my district . I have refused to believe

that you would give any such orders to Captain Hanson or any

other man , and for this reason I am writing you personally

about it. The trouble· th this ruffian Haymer is nothing .

personally but i s acting under instructions, I am sure, of

Hanson, who is using this method in order to gag me. It is

useless for me to appeal to our Local Civil authorities as

the Rangers claim that they are above them in authority and

are acting under your direct orders . This man Hanson is a

corrupt Republ ican intriguer whom I know for the last eigh-

teen years. He served as secret service man for General

Diaz, President of Mexico ; was a co-conspirator of General

Huerta ; wa$ expell ed from Mexico for intriguing and because

he was a pernicious citizen by the Carrancistas Government

ani has ever since been plotting against that Government

and working to force intervention in Mexico by the United

States. This is an open secret along the border and he i s

the man who claims that is acting under your direct orders

and in charge of all the Rangers and is inciting the Range r s

to connnit unlawful acts under the promise that he is the only

one provided by the department to investigate the outrages

and that he will see to it that nothing be done . In the act

yesterday of this ruffian Haymer I the voice of

Jacob but the hand of Essau; artl: there was no poss ibly way

of Haym.er knowing of the above incident except Hanson would

tell him a nd Haymer admitted that Hanson told him. I make

this statement so that you would know that the trouble is

not only with this ruffian parading as peace officer, and

calling themselves State Rangers , but that the trouble lies

higher up in the person of Hanson who claims to be your per-

sonal representative.

Governor, so long as you have Hanson as the head

of the Rangers and acting, as he says, under your authority,

we will always have trouble along the border becaus·e he is

and has been the chief instigator of trouble against our

neighbors on the other side ; with him it is a personal re-

venge against the Mexican Government for expelling him as a

pernicious citizen and because he knows that I will not stand

to see murders and outrages perpetrated by the Rangers with-

out raising my voice against such action, that he is now

seeking, thru intiI!ladation, to gag me . This corrupt Repub-

lican politician who has been made Lord over us, has yet to

learn that I am willing to be murdered rather than, thru

cowardice, refuse to do my dut; as representative in this

District. I therefore appeal to you as my Chief Executive,

to protect me from the intrigues of this corrupt Republican

intriguer Hanson and his gang of ruffians, who are called

State Rangers, and claim to act under your authority, from

the threats made upon my life and person. I am not asking

for investigation; for it is useless to investigate acts

of this kind when the very man who does the investigating

is the very man who orders the outrages to be done. Please

let me know by wire, at my or by letter, whether

you will give me the protection that I am entitled at your

hands as Executive of this State.
Yours truly,

(Signea) J.T.CANALES.

JTS/ct

December 14, 1918.

Hon . J. T. Cahales,
Merchants National Bank Bldg.,

Brownsville , Texas.
I will investigate the matter mentioned i n your letter of .
December Twelfth and see that justice is done .

W. P. Hobby .
Paid- Official.

December 19, 1918.

Hon . J. T. Canales,
Brownsville, Texas.
My aear Mr. Canales :-

Answering your letter to the Governor of the 12th
which has been referred to me , I regret very much that the
situation has taken such a turn in your sectiou of the country
and assure you that I will endeavor to straighten out the par-
ties you mention in your letter. If there has been any injury
done you, will endeavor to rectify it.

You understand, of course, that the Rangers like
everyone else, make mistakes sometimes, but I do not believe
that they would do any intentional wrong.

As to what you say of Captain Hanson , I faar that you
do not thoroughly understand him or his pos ition. He has been
acting under orders from the Governor with reference to mat-
ters done there and it was fully proper for h im to reprimand
those Rangers , as I understand it, upon being informed that
they were not conducting themselves properly toward you. I
do not believe he instructed them to make any threats against
you . He has assured me that he gave no such orders as indi-
cated in your letter to any of the men , but on the contrary
had instructed them·to treat all people with respect and fair-

ness .

As to the matter of Captain Hans on's connection

with any officials or Government, that matter has

been thoroughly i nves tigated and was found to be a thing of

the past. The Governor has recently received a letter from

the Honorable .F • .Frazeros , Consul of :.i.exico at San Antonio,

in which he compliments Captain Hanson very h i ghly and states

he is not objectionable to the Carranza Government. I am go-

i ng to make a thorough investigation of thi s ma tter at the

request of the Governor and see wherein the fault lies. I
trust you will fully co-operate with me and g ive me the neces-

sary information abo ut the whole affair.
I will be pleased very much i f you will call here

at some c onvenient date and let us go over the matter and

see if we cannot straighten out the whole situation. I know

you are p rompted by mot i ves for the good of your communi ty

down there as I have found your advice and information in

the past to be very valuable . It is my bel i ef that if a per-

sonal discuss ion of the matter could be brought about , I

would understand better how to adj ust matters.

Rest that I am endeavo ring to go into this

matter, and if the \vrong committed by these Rangers was done

intentionally> or with any apirit of unfri endliness toward

you , they will be hel d accouhtable. Please let me hear from

you and if it is for you to make a personal call

at this office , I would it.

With k indest regards, and the season ' s greetings ,

I am ,

Very sinc erel y yours ,
Jas . A. Harley,
The Adjutant,General,
State of Texas.

Brownsville Texas , Dec. 21, 1918.

Gen 'l. Jas . A. Harley,
State Capi tol ,
Austin, Texas.

My dear General:

I am just i n receipt of your letter of the 19th.

in reply to my letter fo the Governor of the 12th i nst. , and
I note wi-iat you say about the Rangers , l .ike everyone else,

make mistakes sometimes . I am always ready to overlook the

- -mistakes of my fellows provided they do not make the sam.e mis-

take too of ten, but the action of Sergeant Frank HaY'mer in

threatening me is no mi stake , my dear General. I cannot be
mistaken for, a l aw breaker for everybody knows me as a l aw

abiding ci t i zen and I take pride in this. If this t hreat on

my life by a State Ranger is a mistake i t i s better to cor-

rect it py putti ng h im out he can do no harm.

It is pos s i ble that I do not thoroughly under stand

Cap t. Hanson , but I believe , General , that I know him before

even Col . Chapa who recommended him to your Department. I

have known Hanson at Laredo , Texas , whil e Deput y u. s. Ma r-

shall in 1900 ; I have knovm him .wkJfx la::& .W1ltK i n Mexi co near
Tampi co where he has some land ; I have known h i m when he was

Gen 'l. Di az ' s detec tiv e on the Government of the United
States , and you know me well enough to know that I sel dom

make up my mind on a question like this unl ess I have reason

and especiall y facts to base my judgment .
You say that "He h as been acting unde r orders from

the Governor with reference to matters done there and it

™- fully pro:eer !.2.£ him to rep remand Range r s ." What

Rangers did he r eprimand? You certainly have mis11lnderstood

my letter to the Governor, if you think I stated that Hanson
ever reprimanded any Rangers . When he investigated Range r

John Edds of Capt . Wright ' s Company., for the murder of a poor

man near Hebronv i lle, in J im Hogg County he repr imanded h i m
so well that he, John Edds , within a short t i me murdered a-

nother man named Munoz near Rio Grande City, , and Capt. Hanson

showed me a sworn statement of John Edds which shows him

guilty of murder in the second degree. I got a copy of the

affidavit. John Edds has not been even arrested much less

reprimanded and enjoys the distinction of staying at same

place as Sergeant of among a people that ·1ook upon

as a murdereu. Judging from that I am sure Hanson will

reprimand this fellow Haymer by making him Captain of the

Rangers .

I have appealed to the Governor for protection, for

I know my life is in danger from this source because I have

acted an good faith in your promis e , General, that all abuses

and outrages connnitted by Rangers will be stopped, and you

have requested me to inform your department of any abuse and

you will correct it. You have done so in the past, and I

trust you i.vill do so now. I assure you, General, that ·I

.know· my man aµd have the evidence but will not submit it to

Mr . Hanson .
I shall be glad, if I live that long, to see you in

Austin next January.
Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas, I am,
Sincerely your friend,
(Signed) J. T. CANALES.

JTC/ct

(Telegram) Austin , Texas , Dec. 23, 1918 .
Ur. J. T. Canales,

Brownsville, Texas •
.Am •viring Ranger Frank Haymer to-day that he must make no
threats against you and that he is to give you proper pro-
tection from harm. Would like to see you here at an early
date after First of January. Wire me if you can come.

Harley, The Adjutant General.

(Telegram) Austin, Texas, Dec. 23, 1918.

(Te l egr am ) Aust i n , Texas , De c . 23, 1918 .

Rang er Frank Haymer ,
Brownsvi lle , Texas .

Und er Governor ' s ord ers y ou a r e i ns tructed not to make any
threats a gai nst the lives of any citizen esp ec iall y J . T.
Canales , and that he is to be g iv en prop er p r otecti on .as a
citizen. Complai nt has been fil ed tha t you have made some
threats. Without g oing i n to t he t r uth of t h e matte r, you
are instr uc ted to be c areful and c ourtemus at all times and
n ot to ma k e a personal matter of y our off i cial dutues . Under-
take to adjust d i f f er enc es as best you can without caus i ng

any trouble . Answer.

Harl ey , Th e Adjutant General .

S.P.

Brovmsville , Tex. Dec. 24 , 1918 .

Gen . J ames A. Ha r ley ,
Aust i n , Texas .

Your wire twent y-th ird r eceived a nd c ontents not ed . It
would not be possible for me to be i n Austin unt i l January
Twelfth, on a ccount of b us i nes s , but i f you need to see me
bef ore t his I sh all make an effort to leav e h ere earlier.

Rec eive Sea son ' s greetings .
J . T. CANALES .

----··-·-- -------

I received Decemher 14th the telegram of that date ,
the ori ginal of wh i ch i s my files in Bro wnsv il l e .

On Dec emher 19th I recejved the l etter of that date ,
the or1 e.;j rial of wh j ch is in my files in Bro vmsville , an,d this
j s a correct carbon co py of ·.Nhat Gen eral Harley wrote me .

I 1rotP. t.o h i m on the 21st , and thi s .va s written on the

19 t.h .
On the 23d of December I received the wire from Ge ner a l