The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-19
vELAsQUEz's CONFESSION.
Why Mexico City's Police Inspector
Lynched Arroyo.

CITY OF MEXICO, Nov 1S.-A profound
sensation was made in the course of the
trial of the police officials charged with the
murder of Arroyo, by the production of the
confession of the late Inspector General of
Police Velasquez. 1t is a most remarkable
attempt at self-justifcation, and falsely
states that a mob of the common people
lynched Arroyo. Velasquez said, in part:
II entertain most enthusiastic admiration
for General DiaZ. l have known him since
infancy, when my parents taught me TO
love and respect him. 1 saw him at Guada-
loupe during the siege of Mexico, and since
then l have entertained absolute ldolatry
for the man who rules our country. Only
two families remained at Guadalupe dur
ing the siege. One was that OF Don SuSano
Montante and the other was ourselves.
When l reached my majority resolved TO
serve General Diaz with loyalty, though In
inferior posts. While l was still young ana
with a salary of only $50 month had
charge of the private correspondence OF Don
Manuel Dublan. Afterwards l was elected
a deputy and still later the President sent
me to occupy the chief position of authority
in my native village at a time of a religious
movement without parallel in the history of
our country, a movement involving serious
embarrassment to the government and to
all it's representatives, and everyone knows
with what skill I acquitted myself in that
difficult position, as a friend, as partisan
and as a Mexican."f
Velasquez then went on to say that no
direct orders for Arroyos killing were CIV
en- but that the populace already strongly
wrought up by the assault on the President,
were urged by suggestions to commit the
deed. Said he: II 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 pop
uace, for nothing but the smallest hint is
needed to arm the hands of the populace
and let loose their fury on criminals II 1
have committed fault, it is the result or
my enthusiastic admiration and love for
the President of the republic, and am not
able to measure the magnitude OF that
fault for, with fourteen to sixteen hours
police protection for the life of him with
whom the peace of Mexico is bound up, 1T
may well have happened that the functions
of the heart have acquired preponder-
ance of the brain and that, in reality, l
have committed a grave error. Thought
was doing right in organizing popular
manifestation to avenge 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 whatever 1t may be
styled"
He then went on to show that others be-
sides himself thought justice should be
light of evidence, is seen to be full OF mis-
statements and in no case would 1t have
prevented Velasquez's prosecution, for the
government was determined to punish the
crime.
The prosecuting attorney this afternoon,
in a strong argument, pleaded for the exc
cution of a death sentence on all the priS-
oners except ex-Assistant Chief of Detec-
tives Cabrera and one other minor prisoner,
who were not directly implicated in the
tragedy. The case is likely to be concluded
Sunday or Monday.