Mexicans held as prisoners in iron county jail

Nº 61

AHSRE L-E-921 F. 010

St. Louis Globe Democrat, St. Louis, Missouri

21 de noviembre de 1906.

Mexicans held as prisoners in iron county jail

Arrests kept a secret

Senoritas Learn the Truth in Search for Their Missing Friend.

The arrest and detention by the federal authorities in St. Louis of two Mexicans connected with the revolutionary junta, which had headquarters at 2645 Lafayette avenue last summer, was disclosed yesterday through the inquiries of women friends of one of the men, who were at a loss to account for his mysterious disappearance. Both men are in jail at Ironton, Mo., where former Senator Burton of Kansas is confined. Their commitment was suppressed at the urgent request of the United States Marshall’s office, on the ground that its publication would defeat the ends of justice and because the authorities hoped to secure information from the prisoners which would lead to the capture of other members of the junta.

The men under arrest are known by various names. One is Aaron Lopez Manzano, whose correct name is alleged to be Saucedo. In the warrant he is styled Aaron Lopez; while in St. Louis he went by the name of Aaron Apple. Manzano was arrested last Tuesday in the post office lobby by United States Deputy Marshall W.W. Nall on a charge of taking out a letter addressed to jail by Commissioner Chase Morsey to await a hearing Friday.

Rivera charged with murder.

The second man is alleged to be Librado Rivera, wanted by the Mexican government on a charge of murder. He was arrested three weeks ago in a raid by the marshals on a house at 125 Convent Street. He gave the name of Koro at the time and claimed to be a native of Argentine. Under the impression that they had the wrong man, the marshall and committed to the Ironton jail by Commissioner Gray to await a hearing this week. Extradition papers secured by the Mexican government are in the hands of District Attorney D.P. Dyer. Deputy Nall States that the man has admitted his identity as Rivera and that he is the man wanted. The description furnished to the Marshall on which he was arrested [?] that of a man with a mustache. When arrested Koro had no mustache but otherwise answered the description in a general way.

Two other men connected with the St. Louis junta are under arrest al other points. One is Juan Sarabia, arrested a few days ago in El Paso, Tex., also on a murder charge.

Warrants are said to have been issued by Commissioner Gray for four members of the junta. Sarabia and Villarreal are two of the men and Ricardo Flores Magón, whom the marshals have been unable to locate, is said to be another. Magón and Sarabia were leaders in the junta. They published a paper, known as Regeneration, as the revolutionary organ, and were otherwise active in the revolutionary propaganda.

Kept under surveillance.

There weeks ago the marshal's office commenced a search for the men named in the warrants, who were supposed to be in St. Louis. They traced Koro and Manzano to the place at 125 Convent Street, and Koro's arrest followed. There was no charge against Manzano at the time.

Manzano is charged with receiving a letter addressed to Senor De Castillo M Romo. When he applied for and received the letter at the general delivery window, Deputy Marshal Nall placed him under arrest. Just who Romo is, if there is any such person, is uncertain. Manzano is 22 years old, speaks English fairly well, and is credited by the marshals with being a very shrewd person for his age. The offense he is charged with is punishable by a fine of $500 and one year's imprisonment. The letter contained the names of a number of Mexicans. The first name in the book was that of a reporter on a morning paper. Horace Dyer, assistant district attorney, filed the information against him.

Koro, or Rivera, is about 40 years old. He claimed whem arrested to have arrived in the United States last February at New Orleans from Havana. Little is known about his antecedents by the authorities here. He did not figure prominently as a member of the junta.

Manzano was a compositor in the publication office of the junta. He boarded at 125 Convent Street. Two young women, who say they are sisters of Villarreal, live at that address. They are Senoritas Andrea Villarreal Gonzales and Teresa Gonzales. They say he informed them Manzano had been arrested, but denied any responsibility for it.

Manzano was entrusted with the care of the mail coming to members of the junta who had departed. He carried a key to a post office box. One of the Senoritas Gonzales is said to be the sweet heart of Manzano. Efforts made by the women to learn where he was confined were unavailing. Until yesterday the federal authorities made every effort to keep the affair a secret.

Inspector Dunn stated yesterday that he had been trying for some time to find a legal excuse to deport several of the members of the Mexican Colony living at 123 and 125 Convent Street. Five women and two men live there. He says they all admit having entered this country without being inspected according to law. He informed the Mexican consul that if any of the Mexican were put in the poorhouse or became public charges they could then be deported under law. They are supposed to be in destitute circumstances and the women are not supplied with clothing suited to the rigors of winter in this climate.