The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-11-19
TO PUNISH THE CRIME
THE GOVERNMENT DETERMINED
TO PUSH PROSECUTION.
AN ELOQUENT AVD INGEN GUS PLEA
veIasquez Denies That in His Avenging Act
Direct Orders Were Given For Aroyo's
Killing But That the Common People
Were Urged by Suggestion.
Were Urged by Suggestion.

City of Mexico, Mexico, Nov. 1S.-A
profound sensation was made in the
course of the trail of the police officials
charged with the murder of Arrovo by
the production of the confession of the
late Inspector General of Police, Vel
asquez. 1t is a most remarkable attempt
at self-j justification and falsely states
that a mob of the common people lynch
ed Arroyo. Velasquez said in part:
Il entertain the most enthusiastic ad-
miration from General Diaz. l have
known him since infancy when my par
ents taught me to love and respect him.
[ saw him at Guadalupe during the
seige Of Mexico and since then | have
entertained absolute idolatry for the
man who rules our country Only two
families remained at Guadalupe during
the siege. One was that of Don Susano
Montante and the other was ourselves.
When / reached my majority, | resoly-
ed to serve General Diaz with loyalty
through inferior posts. While | was still
Young and with a salary of only fifty
dollars a month, l had charge of the
private correspondence of Don Manuel
Dublan. Afterward / was elected de
putty and still later the President sent
me to occupy the chief position of au-
thorify in my native village at a time Of
rebellious movement without parallel in
the history of our country, movement
involving serious embarrassments to the
government and all of its Representatives
and every one knows with what skill |
acquitted myself in taat difficult posi-
tion. as Il friend, as a partisan, and as
a Mexican"
Eelesquez then went on to say that no
direct orders for Arroyo's killing were
given but that the populace, already
strongly wrought up by the assault upon
the President, were urged by suggestions
to commit the deed. Said he:
Il maintain that / have done service
to my country in proving that an attack
on the President will be followed by
swift and terrible vengeance of the
populace for nothing but the smallest
hint is needed to arm the hands of a
populace and to loose their fury on crimi-
mails. If l have committed fault. it is
the result of an enthusiastic admiration
and love for the President of the re-
public and | am not able to measure the
magnitude of that fault for with fourteen
to sixteen hours day devoted to eff
forts to create sufficient police protection
for the life of him with whom the peace
for Mexico is bound up, it may well have
happened that the functions of the heart
have acquired a preponderance of the
| brain and that in reality / have commit
ted a grave error. l thought / was
doing right in organizing a popular mani
| festati0n to ayenge an attack on the
| President and thus give birth in the
| people to a profound conviction that
punishment for such an act would come
/ swiftly in the form of lynching or what
ever it may be styled
| He then went on TO show that others
besides himself thought justice should
be dealt to Arroyo This confession, in
the light of evidence, is seen to be full
of misstatements and in no case would ii
have prevented Velesquez's prosecution
for the government was determined to
punish the crime.
The prosecuting attorney this after
| noon, in strong argument, pleaded for
the execution of a death sentence on all
the prisoners except ex-Assistant Chief
of Detectives Cabrera, and one other
minor prisoner, who were not directly
implicated in the tragedy. The case is
likely to be concluded Sunday or Mon
day.