The Detroit times., 1911-05-29
NIP SCHEME TO
KILL MADER0
Rebel Leaders Aides Draw Mexican
and American Into Trap and
They Are Arrested.

Ell PASO. Texas, May 29.-With
Dan De Villars, OF Mexico City, and
w. r. Dunn, an American, under ar
rest on charges OF plot TO assassinate
-Aadero- and fe-establish q dictatorship
similar TO that enjoyed by Diaz, II is
oef1eved today that one OF the prin-
cipal obstacles to Madero's rule has
been removed.
Gen. Benjamin Villjoen, who is re-
sponsible for the arrests, gave the
story OF the alleged plot:
Dan De Villars, who Is now under
arrest In FL Paso came OF rich fam
lily In the Transvaal," he said. Il
met him there during the Boer war.
lie had good reputation as soldier
and was highly respected on account
OF his unusually thorough education.
He Went 20 Mexico about eight years
ago and married an American girl In
Mexico City. They have two children.
Eight days ago he wired from Mex.
leo City that he had a scheme where
by We could make lot OF money.
did not reply but he came on TO FL
Paso. He came to my hotel and told
me that he could get $4,000 for me
and $4,000 for Orozco, Maderos fav-
orite general II We would turn on
Madero, convince his men that he
could not succeed and then lead them
Ia an insurrection against Madero.
Il told Madero about the plan and
Madero told me TO go ahead and lead
De Villars OH. did as Madero ordered.
Mrs. Villjoen helped me. We dined
with De Villars and took him out auto
mobile riding and finally he gave me
$500 on account. lie gave Orozco
$500.
He told us that a Coahuila man
was putting up the money and thar
he wanted us TO let him know on
what train Madero would start Tor
Mexico City De Villars told US that
the man had-said- that, he knew
on what train Madero would ride,
someone would enter the train and
kill him. While Madero was on the
train between Juarez and Mexico City
we were TO seize Juarez.
de Villars told us there were 200
men in the federal army in Mexico
City and on the Mexico City police
force who understood rhe situation,
and at a signal would form into. An
army and seize Mexico City from DE
La Barra and the friends OF Madero.
There was some mitch about the
payment OF the rest Of the money,
though De Villars received many tele-
grams to go ahead and Guy orozco
and myself, no matter what the cost.
Finally w. J. Dunn. an American from
Mexico City who was helping De VII
lars in the plot. started for some Mex
lean city to straighten out the money
matter William Smith. detective,
was put on Dunn's trail. He secured
copies Of all the kilograms sent by
Dunn to DE Villars and others aud
they will be used as evidence In
court.
For eight days | and others who
were forced to mix up IN this despic-
able business have had lively time
OF il. We all carried guns because
we knew that IL there was slip be-
fore an arrest, somebody would have
to suffer as betrayer. | understand
now that De Villars felt the same way
about 1t and that big revolver was
found on him when he WAS -arrested.
After he was arrested he sent for me
To help him out. He doesn't know yet
that | helped to lead him into the
trap. But we had to do II. II was the
only way to save Madero's life. | am
convinced they would lave killed
him"
Francisco Madero, Sr., father OF the
leader, said today:
This is only another instance of
divine interposition. My sons life
has been saved by miracles, actual
miracles, more than a score OF times
in the last three months. This plot
might have succeeded, only my sons
enemies got hold Of two faithful men
by mistake. | believe the plot was
made by the Cientificos who represent
the money and grating interests of
Mexico. | know the leader Of the plot
well. My father once made his father
governor of Coahuila but the COVER
nor proved inefficient and failed of re-
election. The mans family has a
grudge against us.