T R A N
S C R I P
T I O N
HEADQUARTERS, THIRD BATTALION, FIFTH
REGIMENT, SECOND BRIGADE
MARINE CORPS, MATAGALPA, NICARAGUA. 19
April, 1928.
From: |
First Lieutenant George Esau,
U.S. Marine Corps. |
To: |
The District Commander, District
of Matagalpa, Matagalpa,
Nicaragua. |
Subject: |
Patrol Report. |
1. Cleared MATAGALPA for SAN
ISIDRO, NICARAGUA, which an eight man
patrol, via truck, at 2100, 18 April,
1928. Arrived within about one and one
half miles of SAN ISIDRO at 2330:
concealed truck in the brush by the side
of the road, detailed one guard plus
truck driver to guard the truck and
proceeded on foot towards SAN ISIDRO.
Arrived on the outskirts at 2400.
Everything seemed quiet and after
waiting about one half hour proceeded
through the town finally taking up a
concealed position in rear of Mr Huper's
store. We waited there until 0400, 19
April 1928 and as nothing developed we
returned to the truck and went to DARIO
arriving there at 0630. Left all of the
enlisted members of my patrol at DARIO,
in accordance with verbal instructions,
and returned to MATAGALPA with truck and
arrived MATAGALPA at 1000 19 April,
1928.
2. The area patrolled seemed
perfectly quiet. I interviewed a number
of citizens at SAN ISIDRO, including
Father Picado and Juan Rodriguez,
manager of Mr. Huper's store at that
place and was informed that almost
daily, rumors of bandits are spread in
town. They state that the Chief of
Police and his soldiers leave town
nearly every evening and return the next
morning. The people I interviewed seemed
very suspicious of the actions of the
Police officials. I believe that the
Chief starts these bandit rumors and
then leaves town in the evening with the
apparent intention of investigating
these rumors. He apparently starts these
rumors for the purpose of making the
people believe that he is very much on
the job. It seems that all bandit rumors
start at his office.
3. Farther [Father] Picado
recommended that the present Chief of
Police of SAN ISIDRO, Isidoro Gutierez
[Ysidoro Gutiérrez], be dismissed and
that Columbine Gutierez be appointed in
his place. He believes that if this
change is made the daily rumors of
bandits would cease and that the
citizens would not be all wrought up
continually by these wild rumors.
/s/ GEORGE ESAU
127/43A/20; see also
PC28.04.05 Atkinson
|