T  R  A  N  S  C  R  I  P  T  I  O  N

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

[23 April 1928]

III Report of Patrol
ON April 21 Ascencion Benabides [Ascención Benavides] a native from near Jocomico reported in at the outpost at San Francisco and stated that a man by the name of Santiago Tercero, Sr., had recently threatened him (Benabides) with a pistol. At 1300 April 22, PFC Doyle and two men cleared San Francisco for Jocomico to investigate the case. The patrol found the Tercero house but Tercero, Sr. was not at home. Members of his family declared that he owned a pistol, but had not threatened any person with it. A fighting knife was found on the person of the son of Tercero so he was taken to San Francisco for questioning. On April 23, Tercero reported in with a Colt. 38 cal Police Model pistol, which he stated he had bought in Honduras for the sole purpose of turning it in, and that he intended to prefer charges against Benabides for falsely accusing him of owning a pistol and threatening Benabides with it.
 
     On April 22 a patrol of four men left San Francisco to patrol in the NE direction. On arriving at La Herra, situated on the west bank of the Rio Negro, about 12 miles north of east of San Francisco, a house was found containing five loop-holes and a supply of water containers and six saddles. No arms were found. One man present stated the saddles belonged to men who were working in the vicinity of La Herra. About five or six good trails converge to this house. It is being carefully watched by patrols from San Francisco.
 
     Active patrolling is being carried out from San Francisco and to date there has been no information concerning the smuggling of arms across the border. Only one case of unauthorized possession of arms has been noted; that contained in this report.

/s/ J. C. McQueen

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