The Death of my Great Great Grandfather. (8/8)

That's it. The End...

I'm really glad that I got this out and shared it. This is the final part of the tale as I have it.

"The Standard", June 10th., 1881

The Corrientes Murder
-

With much pleasure I make room for the following papers, which speak for themselves. We shall be only too glad to lend our poor aid to the object expressed in Mr. Budge's letter and receive subscriptions to help so merited a testimonial.

-

Concordia, June 5th., 1881

My Dear Mr. Clarke.

Since the dreadful murder of poor Macdonald and Guthrie we have had occasion to note and admire the conduct of Commandante Casco, Gefe Politico of Monte Caseros, for the zeal, energy and success with which he hunted down and captured the whole gang of assassins.

He himself worked night and day, and did not rest until he had succeeded. In view of this we have drawn up the enclosed subscription list in order to raise funds for the purchase of some sort of token as a recognition of his services.

As you have already taken the matter up, we trust you will still further use your influence, either publicly or otherwise, to receive the list of subscriptions: the proceeds of same can be forwarded to myself and handed to the secretary of the Committee.


Yours faithfully,

O. Budge.

-

LIST OF SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR THE "CASCO" TESTIMONIAL
_____________________

W.G. Smart, F.C. Concordia 1-0-0
J. Carrol 1-0-0
C. Fair 0-10-0
John McCorquodale 1-0-0
F. Forkett 10-0
A.H. Coaker, Concordia 1-0-0
Philip A. Paye, Concordia 1-0-0
E. Tulbais 1-0-0
O. Budge 1-0-0
G. McLeod 1-0-0
Amadeo Bonibent 10-0
G. Brown 10-0
A. Parker, Concordia 1-0-0
Edward Ware, Salto 1-0-0
Edwards Morice 1-0-0
William Johnson 1-0-0
Robert Wilkinson, Salto 1-0-0
Hugo Lindsay 1-0-0
C. Tipper, Salto 10-0
Hume & Hardy 1-0-0
James Shaw 10-0
Revd. W.H. Shimield 15-0
W. Thompson 1-0-0
J. Perxy Clarke 10-0
John Armstrong 1-0-0
Edward Dickinson 1-0-0
J. Harris 1-0-0
G. Dickinson, Bs. Aires 1-0-0
John White 10-0
Thomas Ebrey 1-0-0
Thomas Taylor, Concordia 1-0-0
A.H. Caley 1-0-0
T.C. Clarke 1-0-0

The Death of my Great Great Grandfather. (7/8)

News of the murderers.

"The Standard", May 28th., 1881

The Murder in Corrientes
-

Naranjito, May 23rd., 1881

To the Editor of "The Standard"

Dear Sir,

I am happy to inform you that the last of the murderers of Macdonald and Guthrie passed up, well secured in the train to-day to Monte Caseros; he had the watch and ring of Macdonald, and also the recado of Guthrie, so that now the whole thing will come out.

I hope you will use your influence with the British Minister to hurry on the Government to do what is right, in having the men shot here and not sending them on to the capital, because if they are sent on there, then good-bye to justice as they in a short time will be back here again to do worse still.

Yours very sincerely,

Subscriber

The Death of my Great Great Grandfather. (6/8)

A slightly shorter update this time - The response from the Governor of Corrientes and a Mr. McCorquodale gives some details on the murderers.

Buenos Aires "Standard", April 26th, 1881

The Naranjito Murder

-

With much pleasure we publish the following telegram from the Governor of Corrientes to the President of the Republic, in reply to the President's message sent the moment His Excellency discovered that the crime was committed in Corrientes. The message in question is fully corroborated by two letters we give at foot, and for which we are much indebted to the kind attention of Mr. McCorquodale, station at Naranjito on the Eastern Argentine Railway.

-

Corrientes, 24th April, 1881

To the Most Excellent President of the Republic.

I have received Your Excellency's telegram; The Gefe Politico of Caseros announces the capture of one of the assassins of the British subjects, and is in active search of the others, as ordered by this Government the first moment it heard of the crime. I can assure your Excellency that I heartily condemn those crimes, and while I cannot possibly prevent them, I am determined to have them severely atoned for.

I fully appreciate our position and credit, and will leave no stone unturned to guarantee life and property.

I salute your Excellency

A.B. Gallino

-

Naranjito, Corrientes, April 22nd. 1881

To the Editor of "The Standard"

I have just seen in your paper of 19th April, where it is given out that the murder of Macdonald and Guthrie was in Entre Rios, it is not so, they lived in Corrientes.

It may be of some service to you from what I personally know, that the Gefe Politico in Monte Caseros, Sr. Casco, has exerted himself in every way possible and is still doing so, to find out the murderers; he has not left a moment day or night, since the murder, in searching every corner, and I learn that he has taken about thirty prisoners.

To-day I hear that he had staked out a man yesterday, and he confessed that the chief was a brother of the "capataz" of Macdonald and Guthrie; and this man the capataz they had discharged some weeks before: this has to be corroborated by further proofs yet, but Casco is labouring like a good Briton, in this affair, and also Juez de Paz of Monte Caseros told me that he would offer a reward of $500. to anyone who would discover who had been the assassins.

As you truly say, this crime comes at a bad moment, when Dean Dillon has just gone home to foment emigration to this country, and Macdonald and Guthrie told me that others were to follow them here to settle down, now this will put a scare on English coming here. The Province of Corrientes is a splendid one in rich camps, either for sheep or cattle, and a most magnificent one for agriculture.

If I learn anything new, and you should careto be acquainted with it, I shall be proud to let you know.

J.F.M.C.

P.S.

Naranjito, April 22nd. 1881

I forgot to mention in my letter that three days after the murder of our countrymen, within three or four squares a "Tropero" (Brazilian) was attempted to be assassinated also, by his own Peon, while lying down and serving mate.

The Peon gave him two shots behind and luckily that the Comisario was at the house of Macdonald and galloped over, if not the man was killed: the Peon was captured, but not before he was nearly hacked to pieces.

I have no more time, train hour.

Yours truly,

J.F. McCorquodale