Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-24
D|Az IS threatened MAY mean TROUBLE
May Have to Answer for Any u S. Conss to Investigate
Summary Executions. Killing Of Americans.
MADERO ISSUES A DECREE EIGHT SHOT BY MExICANS
Declares Personal Responsibility for All Said to Have Taken
Life Insurrection.
HOLDS MANDATE IS ILLEGAL OFFICIAL ADvICES LACKING
and State the
Who Execute It Will Be Strength of Reports
Dignowitty Family Aroused
EIGHT SHOT BY MExICANs
All Said to Have Taken Part in the
1nsurrection.
OFFICIAL ADvICES LACKING
State Department Acts on the
Strength of Press Reports.
Dignowitty Family Aroused. ]

Taking cognizance Of the press reports
that four Americans had been executed
by Mexican soldiers in chihuahua and
four others at Aqua Prieta, the State De-
partment today instructed the United
States consular officers In the vicinity
OF those places to investigate the reports
and advise the department.
The consul at Chihuahua was instructed
to investigate the report that John Ham,
ilton Dignowitty and three other Ameri-
cans had been shot to death in the state
Of Chihuahua under the orders Of a Mex
lean court-martisl. The consul at No
gales. Mexico. will inquire into the re-
ported execution OF four Americans.
named Adams, Young, Howard and Shan
ley. after having been captured with the
insurrectos at Aqua Prieta.
No Official Advices.
State Department officials announced
regard to the reported executions. and
that they had received no protests from
the friends of the dead men.
AuO ASpOit Ol tue cAeCutlOn OF D1guOs
witty and his three companions in
Chihuahua state came from San An
| tonic. Tex. where advices to that ef-
feet were received by the Dignowitty
family from Fred Dignowitty, a cousin
OF the man said to have been shot. along
| with his companions, after q drumhead
court-martial.
News Of the execution OF the other
Anna orfa nfo{ In cd in
dispatch from Tucson. Ariz.
AN American arriving here from
| Naco. Ariz..'' says the dispatch, re
ports that four American boys Of Pr
tleville named Adams. Young, Howard
troops after having been captured with
linsurrectos. following the engagement
at Aqua Prieta.
IAN American whose name is not dis
closed was standing beside the Mexican
officer In command OF the firing squad
and saw the boys facing the guns. He
heard the command aim. but as 1t was
given the ofncer grabbed him by the
shoulder. turning him sQuarely around.
and while he heard tho shots. he did not
! witness tho execution"
Family to Demand Action.
NEW YORK, March 24.-"If Ham
Dignowitty was shot by Mexican fed
eral soldiers" said r. g. johnson here
today, there's going to be trouble
about it. Ham was in Mexico to pro-
| tect the property OF his family and
for nothing else He was no insurrec-
| to and had no part in any revolution.
He kept to his own business, but he
had no end of nerve. and SO have all
his family. They'll never let this mat
ter drop II they have any case.
Mr.. Johnson until recently was In
business here with Col j. V. Digno-
witty, an uncle of Ham Dignowitty.
reported in dispatches from San An
tonic last night as shot by order OF
Mexican court-martial for taking part
in the insurrection.
Story Not Confirmed.
Col. Dignowitty. who is a mine owner.
had no confirmation today Of the press
dispatches, but he, too, was sure his
nephew could have had no part in the
instruction "We shall ask for a full
Investigation and the punishment OF
those responsible, II the news Is con-
firmed.'' he said.
John Hamilton Dignowitty said his
uncle was q mining engineer aand owned
considerable property I'm Mexico. Since
the insurrection began he had been muoh