El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-12-19
PLEA FOR
REYES'S FRIENDS
Marshal Hicks Cites Politi-
cal Executions Under
MaderO in Mexico

counsel for Gen Bernardo Reyes and
other citizens OF Mexico who have been
arrested within the last month along
the Texas border or at points in the
interior OF the state, has given TO the
press a letter forwarded to senator
Charles A. CulbersOn and congressman
John n. Conner in reference to these
cases He says:
There Is no charge that these men
are undesirabl citizens or that they
belong 10 any class prohibited Dy our
immigration laws, but simply that they
came into this country at place other
than a port designated by the secre-
tary of commerce and labor. The truth
of the matter is that their arrest on
this charge was a part OF a plan OF
the government officials who are actlFe
in attempting to put down an alleged
conspiracy on the part Of certain alleg-
ed partisans Of Gen. Reyes to organize
a. military expedition in this country 70
make war on the constituted authorl-
ties in Mexico.
when President Aadero was to be
fnaugurated president Of the Mexican
republic on or about November 1
large number Of MeXtcans lied the
country and came to this country
through the port Of Laredo, and many
Of them remained in Laredo and some
came to San Antonio. Most Of them had
been officials under the DiaZ admins
tration and had taken an active part
against MaderO, and they feared, ana
some of them had already experienced,
prosecutions at the hands Of his %Gien9s
who were then in power.
What the Charge Is.
The federal grand jury met at Lare-
10 about the middle of November and
others for violation Of our neutrality
laws. The next step that was taken
was to request the immi grafton authori-
ties to arrest and examine practically
every unknown Mexican in Laredo to
see whether or not he was lawfully in
the country under the immigration laws
and I am informed that over fifty Next
cans were taken up and given prell-
minary examination by the immigration
officers at Laredo and questioned as to
their right to be in this country, and
when and where they entered.
Fear the Republic.
These men stated on their eXamtna-
ton that they feared to go back y
Mexico at this time because they would
be imprisoned and that their lives
would be in danger. They say that they
came to this country seeking an asylum
and safety and that they believe that
If they are returned to Mexico at this
time they will be shot, or at least perse-
cuted and put in prison. They all claim
that they have done nothing in Mexico
except stand by the old administration
and perform their duties as officers
and citizens but that their lives and
liberty would be in danger If they are
returned to their country, and each one
of them requests that in the event the
United States authorities see proper
under the facts to deport them that
they be depOrted to any other county
than Mexico, and in the alternative they
ask that if this cannot be done that
they be held until conditions in Mexico
will render it safe for them to return
there.
Who Men Are.
"One Of the men, Capt. Carlos Con
Zales, was a captain in the army under
president Diaz, and he states that since
his arrest here by the immigration au-
thorities that it has been published in !
the Mexican papers that he is a Reyista |
and connected with the Reyes move /
ment, which means that it has been /
published in his country that he is d /
revOlutiOnist. Another Of the meg,
ArmandO l. ROjas, formerly chief Of /
police in Monterey, says that as an Of /
ficer he arrested Francisco Madero. now /
president of Mexico, on June Z, 1910, ]
and put him in the penitentiary at San |
Luis PotOsi. and that on the accession |
Of Madero to the presidency he came to 1
this country for protectiOn-asking the /
Amerlcan protection is the way he puts
It, Another man, Alfredo Renteria, was
formerly chief Of police at Lampazos,
Mexico, and still another, Francisco /
Adiath (POrrler), was a captain in the |
regular army of Mexico, and he states
z
soldier against Madero he was put in
prison and was afterward released and /
discharged from the service. He SAYS:
In Guadalajara they tried to assas-
sinate me" The fifth man appears to
nave held no official position in Mexico,
but he says, as all the men say land
evidence in the record bears it out.
hat all these five men, on account OF !
heir arrest here. have been published
n the City of Mexico papers as being
'evOluuonists and against the present
administration in Mexico.
The daily papers in this country OF |
he past week have contained several
notices OF the shooting without trial |
# Reyistas in Mexico and at one point
{ was noted that one leader, former
man, I think, with pass
port from president Madero IN his
pocket, was taken out and shot with
light Of his companions. The San An
ONTO Express published the fact that /
here was great dissatisfaction in Mex