All available information on the murder of Jacob Rosenthal, the American business man, by bandits in Mexico was sought of the State Department today by President Coolidge.
Beyond a brief statement at the summer executive offices, however, that the President was following the situation closely and keeping in direct touch with the State Department, no announcement of the course he was follow was forthcoming.
Alfred D. Lind. attorney for the Rosenthal family, sent the following letter to Secretary Kellogg, in answer to the Secretary’s communication informing Mr. Lind of Rosenthal’s death:
“I acknowledge the receipt of your telegram of this date, addressed to my firm, advising of the sad death of Jacob Rosenthal. In all our broad land there could not be found a finer type of American citizen.
“From what I gather not only from your telegram but from press dispatches, some agreement appears to have been reached to pay a ransom for Rosenthal’s release, and that while pretense was made of paying the ransom the Mexican troops surrounded the parties to the transaction and opened fire on the bandits, with the result that they, in desperation and revenge, killed their captive.
“Rosenthal’s life was worth far more than any ransom which could have been demanded. The question may be a debatable one, but I feel that if a bargain was made to pay ransom it should have been carried out, the captive rescued and the bandits could have been pursued and captured.
“Your department seems to have done all that it reasonably could, and from all reports which have thus far come to me the Mexican Government has rendered every assistance in its power.
“Of course, we will want the body of Mr. Rosenthal returned to New York, in connection with which I feel assured that our diplomatic representatives will furnish to the relatives and friends of the family every measure of assistance.”
Mrs. Jacob Rosenthal left New York for Mexico on Wednesday with Mr. Lind.
Jacob Rosenthal was sixty-two years old. He lived in Woodmere with his wife, his daughter Rose, and her husband, Joseph Ruff.
COMMUNICATION TO THE EDITOR
Sir:
At the turn of the year permit me, on behalf of the Hebrew Sheltering and Immigrant Aid Society of America (Hias) to express to you our very best thanks for the splendid cooperation you have given us during the past year. Through your courtesy Hias has been enabled to keep in touch with American Jewry and acquaint them with the status of Jewish immigration.
At no period in the annals of Jewish migration has it been so important to place all the facts before the public as now. The ever-changing conditions, the adoption of new laws and the need of helping Jewish wanderers everywhere make it imperative that American Jews shall know intimately what is being done and what demands are being made. In this respect the press is of inestimable value and we are greatly indebted to you for placing your columns at our disposal.
Wishing you a very Happy and Prosperous New Year,
ABRAHAM HERMAN, President, Hebrew Sheltering and Immigrant Aid Society.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
