THE AUSTIN PAPERS. 1279 commandin'r~ officer of the iWilitia of Guadalupe, and, consequently, Grey would have had to present his complaint against Martin de Leon before judge De Leon for his decision, or to proceed against his property found in another jurisdiction. He adopted the latter course. I do not wish to ·make complaints against :Martin de Leon; but my duty towards these new Colonists compels mo to say, that, ac- cording to statements made to me, it appears that he has treated a resident of this district, named Edward Dickenson, with injustice and cruelty. Dickenson's brother, who wns killed by the Indians near Bexar, gave to De Leon a kettle, which he promised to deliver to him; on his return he was killed. Edward went to Bexar to obtain his deceased brother's propei·ty. De Leon claimed from him the kettle, which was then at Bexar, and which he promised to leave with Senor SandovaJ; but he departed from Bexar prior to San- doval's arrival, and left it with other property in a house under lock and key, in charge of Nixon to be delivered to Sandoval when he arrived. A thief entered the house and stole the kettle On the arrival of Dickenson at Guadalupe, on his way from Bexar to this town, De Leon arrested him and seized upon his property; or, to express it more clearly, put him in jail, took from him his rifle and a bag of wool, and detained him for 32 days. Dickenson made his complaint to me and presented an account against De Leon, as follows:· $12 for a rifle, $5. for a sack o:f ,vool, $23. :for one month's board, paid to Hardy, and $18 for one months detention, in all $53, without speaking of the forcible and violent manner in which he was de- tained. I do not say that l\'Iartin de Leon, went beyond the limits of his powers by taking from Dickenson all his property, detaining him for one month a prisoner, and sending him away on foot, with- out a real for his travelling expenses, because I have not heard what De Leon has to say in the matter, but I hope that Your Excellency will be pleased to give me your instructions respecting the course to be followed to ascertain the facts of the case. I consider it to be my duty to do so, because this business has created a great deal of excitement here, against De Leon, and some apprehension about the security o:f persons and property. Considering all the :features of the transaction between Grey, De Leon, and the Alcalde o:f the Colorado, I find myself in an exceed- ingly delicate and embarrassing situation. I presume that my con- duct, since I entered Texas, has been a proof of my obedience and submission to the lawful authorities, and this is the first order which I have not executed as soon as circumstances permitted, without hesitation, or delay. Like the Alcalde of the Colorado, I am between 25067°-24-VOL 2, PT 2--18
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