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99 483. HAYNES, [left margin] July 6. 1874. Colonel J. L. Haynes, Collector U. S. Customs Brownsville, Texas. Dear Sir:

                     Your letter of June 27th is received, and a copy of it forwarded to Capt. Beyer for explanation.  He is at the same time instructed, that he is to limit his operations, so far as enforcement of the Revenue Laws is concerned, to protecting when necessary the Revenue Officers employed in such enforcement.
         It is quite probable however that the men referred to were arrested for causes outside of any question affecting the Revenue laws.  In the present condition of affairs on the line of the Rio Grands, the fact of strange Mexicans being engaged in gathering and branding Cattle, is a very suspicious circumstance and one, requiring on the part of those engaged in breaking up illicit Cattle Traffic - not perhaps the arrest of the parties - but at all events careful inquiry as to the legitimacy of the transaction, and it seems to me that honest dealers cannot object to this - if not offensively done - as it is an act entirely in their interest.
                                                                                                     Very respectfully
                                                                                                       Your obdt. servant
                                                                                              (Sgd)   C. C. Augur
                                                                                                           Brigadier General U.S.A.

2558.D.T.'74. Commanding _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 513. THROCKMORTON, [left margin] July 10, 1874. Hon. J. W. Throckmorton, Land Commissioner Texas & Pacific R. R. Marshall, Texas. Sir:

                   Your letter in reference to the Soldiers arrested for Cattle-Killing near Palo Pinto has been received and I think your for the trouble and the interest you have manifested in the matter.
         The statements made by the Sergeant in charge of the party is very different from that furnished you by Col. Byrnes.  I say furnished, for Col. Brynes evidently had no personal knowledge of the immediate circumstances of the arrest.  The Adjutant General of the Department is now at Fort Richardson and will ascertain as fully as he can there the facts in the case, and the result will be placed in the hands of the U. S. District Attorney at Austin, who has been instructed by