Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-01
h|LLAREAL HAS GONE
He Was a Professional Rev0Iu-
ZIONIST.
HELD BY THE MARSHAL
At Ell Paso, Texas, as an Undesirable
Emigrant.
MEXICO OFFERS A REWARD
Of 81 900 for Him Dead or Alive-An
Official Inquiry Being
Made.
MEXICO OFFERS A REWARD

ViIlareal has escaped. The situation is
saved as between this country and Mexi-
co, and the Department of Commerce and
Labor is moved with emotion. Just what
sort of emotion 1t Is has not been stated up
to date. Secretary Straus Is inaccessible to
callers and reports have it that he is using
two handkerchiefs, but whether this is due
to Viareal or the unreasonable weather
cannot he officially stated
Altogether the situation is very funny and
a little more than opportune. In fact, it is
so much more than opportune that II the
Department of Commerce and Labor said
anything the subject 1t would probably
explain that 1t had no lot part in the
escape of the revolutlonist.
Who Villareal Is.
Everybody may not know who Villareal
Is. His Christian name is Antonio and he
has been mixed up In some of the bargain
counter border revolutions for years enough
to have secured himself residence In the
United States II he had come over here and
led peaceable life. But ne did not. He
preferred to revolute. 1t was more excit-
ing and probably paid better.
He has been in this country, more or
less, for three years to a day yesterday.
The more or less refers to the times when
he has strolled down to the Mexican end
of the Dos Hermanos saloon in Ell Paso
to get drink, or fitted across the border
by moonlight to make trouble for the
Mexican government. Anyhow, he was so
we'll konwn in FL PasO that he seemed
like an old resident and it was with gem
uine regret on the part OF numerous credi-
tors that he was finally taken into custody
by the United States marshal on the plea
that he wanted for having killed
man in Mexico and subsequently escaped.
This incident of murder on his part was
a pure afterthought by the Mexican gov
eminent. What they wanted him for was
revolutIng But this country Is not In
the habit of giving up political refugees,
and as any excuse better than none,
they decided to take him back and try
him for murder or jail-breaking. or some
thing else, and then shoot him. Inc
shooting was the essential part, since 1t
would get him out of the way. Now. Mr..
Villareal denied strenuously that he had
ever shot anybody. Being a professional
revolutionist. this probably was correct.
But the Mexican government insisted that
he was the man, and then took mean
advantage of this government by pointing
out that if he had shot any one or even
If he had been convicted of 1t without do
ing 1t that ne was barred from entry to
the United states as a convict.
This was all way back in last October.
Mr.. Villareal has since then been awaiting
a decision to his fate. and has been
granted time on several occasions to pro-
duce additional evidence to the effect that
he was not the man who was wanted in
Mexico
A Legacy to Secretary Stratus.
The case was shifted from the State De-
partment and the Department of Justice
and the War and Navy Departments. and
few other places to the Department or
Commerce and Labor as coming under the
immigration authorities. Thus it came as a
legacy to Secretary Straus when he took
office. and has been hanging fire ever since.
1t was very well understood that Antonio
were deportcd as undesira lie immi-
grant that the Mexican authorities would
be waiting on the other side of the border
and would grab him promptly. He could
not be turned loose in this country If he
had been convicted abroad of crime In
volving moral turpitude. So this govern
ment was rather up against it, and the
horizon looked stormy for MIR Villareal.
Then came another quaint and curious
development in the case. 1t had been as
sumed that Nillareal had been in charge of
the immigration authorities all this time,
and orders had been issued from Washing
ton with that understanding of the case.
But 1t appeared later that he had been In
custody of the United States marshal and
living a life of primrose dalliance. Then
day before yesterday while the case was
still hanging fire he was turned officially |
over to the immigration officers and then |
on his way from the court house to the |
Jail he vanished into thin air. Just how he |
managed to escape there Is only meager |
teIegra phic information available. but the |
report is coming by mail and that will tell |
in detail.
A Reward of 81 900.
The Mexican government is very much in |
censed. The Department Of Commerce and |
Labor is pros uting official inquiry to find |
out how he escaped and who Is responsible. |
Aud the concluding funny point IN the
whole matter is that it has never yet been
announced whether Mr.. Villareal was an
undesirable allen. He might have found |
out il he had waited twenty-four hours
longer