Palacaguina,
August 11, 1931.

Sr. Captain J.O. Brauer:

On the mission on which you sent me I have obtained the following information from Sr. Cesilio Matey, who is a murderer and was a bandit; and knowing that he had presented himself (for amnesty), I obtained his confidence as a friend, in order to find out for sure what has happened among the bandits, and he told me:

That the deaths of Miguel A. Ortez and Pedro Blandon are certain; that he had obtained positive information from a friend of yours that Sandino had written to a friend of Matey, saying that the death of Ortez was brought about during a fight in Palacaguina, and that having been informed that a captain and three others of Ortez’ force were enemies and that they were responsible for the death of Miguel Ortez, he had ordered them shot; that Pedro Blandon and a brother had died on the coast (Atlantic) after having entered a permanent camp, by a new attack of the aeroplanes, and therefore it should be said that the two dead generals were always heroic and that they invited it (death). That this section would remain tranquil for a while, since the lines of communication have been cut, through the death of various runners whom they had permanently employed, such as Ubaldo Munoz and Carmen Lopez.

Also, people of this neighborhood (Palacaguina) who were friends of Ortez, on account of his death have decided to live as honorable workers. And likewise, friends of those who were ordered shot by Sandino for responsibility in the death of Ortez, have decided to present themselves, and on this account the tranquility of the district is almost certain. I obtained the confidence of Matey in this manner: coming from Condega I met Moises Gonzales, Jr. who told me that Matey was a bandit and that he had killed a cousin of his; so in accordance with your instructions I looked for the means of obtaining the confidence of Matey, so that as an ex-bandit he might inform me somewhat; and that is where I obtained the information that I am setting forth to you.

He told me that when Lopez died in a fight in the jurisdiction of Condega, with the Guardia of that place, he was on a mission with ten civilians, and that Agapito Talavera was wounded. Talavera had been cited a few days previously by Sr. Lopez, who from time to time acted as judge for Sandino, and when the latter needed [p. 2] […] So Talavera was one of the civilians who was accompanying Carmen Lopez when he was killed, and when Talavera was wounded.

That Munoz, another valley chief, was killed in the jurisdiction of Tolpaneca by the Guardia of that town. Matey told me that in the valley where Munoz had lived, only one man had not presented himself, but he believes that he will present himself because since the death of Ortez the bandit forces have retired and are running away, but he believes that very soon he also will present himself, and this information that I am giving to you is guaranteed to be true: this man is Catalino Olivas, who has been a chief of the bandits since the death of Francisco Galeano.

(Note: Catalino Olivas surrendered himself at Palacaguina on 13 August, 1931, with one pistol, ammunition and one rifle).

He told me that it was true that Sandino had returned after the retirement which he made to Mexico; that Juan Martinez who has actually presented himself at your headquarters, was one of Sandino’s assistants.

That Sandino was occupying a mountain in the Cua area, the name of his camp being Chipoton, and that a short time ago he had information that he was located near Bocay. Matey told me about some campsites that they had in Cua, a mountain range near Palacaguina; that one time he had been sent by Lopez to deliver forty tortillas to Jose Leon Diaz, and in this way he found out about the camps. I asked him how the camps were, and he said that three of them had been destroyed, one in the valleys of Rio Grande and Plazuela, another in the Tamarindo-Cealouna area, and the other near Limon and the valleys towards Telpaneca.

I asked him if he intended to rejoin the bandits and he said, “no”, that he had found out how the bandits lived, unsheltered receiving rain and sun, and the only ones of them who got along a little better were the jefes, who whenever a rain coat appeared appropriated it for themselves. That the new tactics of the Guardia in not shooting the outguards, had brought them into difficulties, since these outguards would show them the camp sites, and then when they returned to them they found them burned, and at other times they were almost taken by surprise. That the guardia had adopted the method of traveling on side-trails (off the main trails) just as they themselves do, and that nobody told them about it, and that when they least expected it they were fired upon from the hills, being in ravines themselves; that many times it appeared as if they were seen because the showers from the machine-guns came close to them; that the vigilance of the guardias in the mountainous districts is terrible because at most any hour of the night they may be found in the valleys. One time Jose L. Diaz was leading a cow in a small valley, about eight o’clock, when they received news that the Guardia was coming, and they had to leave, carrying along their hunger; and for these reasons he would not be a bandit.

He told me that it was almost certain that they would not molest people in this district any more; that with the death of Ortez his companions had been disillusioned and had presented them- [p. 3] selves; this is believed by all, and that in this district Ortez and his force was what interrupted the tranquility.

He asked me when the elections for President would be held, and what I know, and said that if there should be a civil war perhaps he might join with it, but not with the banditry; because in the civil war there were less sacrifices to be made, such as being in the mountains without coming to town, or knowing anyone excepting those who went about with them in the group and a few unfortunate merchants who might fall into their hands, who had not had information from their friends or from the chiefs of the Guardia, only taking away from them whatever they carried, and, if they had been denounced, sending them from this world (killing them). That the proofs, in order to execute a man who might be captured by them, should be from the chiefs of valleys, proving their connivance with the Guardia, and if they did not have these proofs to execute no one, but that then they had to carry out the duties of civilians in their (bandit) forces, and if there was a combat, to fight like the civilians who accompany the Guardia, and those who do not obey a valley chief when they meet a force, this valley chief would report to the general of the expeditionary force who named them, and he would impose the punishment merited for the offense of disobedience.

He told me that recently there have been killed many chiefs and runners of Sandino. That he has heard it said that they will remain pacific for a while until the elections, but if the Liberals triumph the capitalists of Granada will make a civil war, and if the Conservatives win, the Liberals will go to war. That banditry will remain inactive; that there will remain small groups but not as they have been, for they have been receiving orders from Sandino, but those which remain will operate on their own hook and will not be subordinates of Sandino. That according to information from a friend of his, Sandino will remain quiet for some time, that after the elections he will decide whether to continue or not.

He said that the relief of Ortez, after the fight in Palacaguina, was his second in command, Perfecto Chavarria, who afterwards presented himself to his chief, Sandino, to tell him things and to receive orders, and that on account of what he said there were held responsible for the death of Ortez, a captain and three others, who were ordered shot immediately afterwards; but Chavarria did not return. Another chief who went to this valley was Salgado, and he has not been seen any more, nor J. Leon Diaz either; that it is believed that they are all united at the camp of the General Headquarters, because no news has come from them. After talking over all these things with Matey, I give you all the information by means of this letter, hoping that it will be useful for your reports, part or all of it; and with desires to see that it is for our own good not to hide any of it, since as soon as banditry ceases we may work freely.

With friendly remembrances, I subscribe myself

Your attentive and sure servant,

s/s I. Molina R.

M31.08.11

Transcribed by Pleet Initiative-funded Lebanon Valley College student-researcher Nicholas J. Quadrini.