The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-04-11
AMERICAN EXECUTED
BY MEXICAN REBELS
Thomas Fountain of Las
Cruces, N. NJ, Officer in
Madero's Army, Slain.
KNEW HE WAS DOOMED
Effort of Consul General
Letcher to Save Country
man Proves Futile.

man Proves Futile.
Ell PACO, April 10.-An American
newspaper man who returned today
from Parral with 1S4 American and
other foreigner refugees from the bat
tle.swept district, brought news of the
execution of Thomas Fountain Of Las
Csuces, n. NJ, by the rebels.
Fountain was captain Of q federal
gun under General Pancho Villa.
When Villa retreated last Thursday
night, Fountain removed certain parts
of the piece and concealed himself in
private residence. The occupants
were ignorant that they had guest in
part of the house seldom visited.
Compelled to Give Up.
The American was driven by thirst
and hunger to reveal his presence on
Sunday, after seventy-two hours OF
self imposed torture,
he was armed with a revolver, but
made no resistance. On Monday he
was compelled to show the rebels
where he had secreted the missing parts
of his rapid flrer, was tried by court
martial and condemned to death, ap-
parently for having disabled the gun.
American residents made every ef-
fort to secure g modification of the
sentence. but without avail. Finally
American Consul Letcher at Chihuahua
sent to General Salazar what Is be-
lieved to have been an appeal from
Washington that his life be spared. In
delivering the missivc to MESSENGER
the consul remarked:
"This is the last resort
Law of Flight
In Mexico they have recourse to
what is known as f'the law of flight, -
under which a prisoner who has been
but where there exists
doubt as to the legality of the sea-
tence, is allowed his freedom within
certain limits. The prisoner knows that
his fate is sealed. Even if he does
not walk step, from some unexpected
quarter the fatal bullet will como and
the report will be made that he was
shot "while in aight.'
1t was thus in Fountain s case. He
told the correspondent that there was
no hope, but strolled about the streets
waiting for death.
When his body was brought in 1t
contained four bullet wounds made by
shots fred from behind.
The young man s father was Colonel
Albert Fountain, who, with another
son, was shot by cattle rustlers in New
Mexico fifteen years ago. Colonel
Fountain was one OF the most famous
lawyers of the then territory and was
noted in particular as a prosecutor.
Rifles Arrive.
MEXICO CITY. April 1O.--A thousand
rifles and large quantity OF ammunition
consigned by the United States govern
nent to the American ambassador, de-
signed for use by Americans in the capt
tai In an emergency arrived today from
Vera Cruz, They still were In the GUS
.omhouse tonight. The guns will be sold
% Americans at 10 pesos each. including
zoo rounds OF ammunition, Hundreds OF
lilies have been spoken for.
Seventy representative members OF the
American colony at the annual meeting
IF the organization known as the So
,iety OF the American Colony today
.ook cognlzance OF the published attacks
IN Embassador Wilson in certain news
papers OF the United States. elected the
honorary president and
adopted resolution indorslng mis- man
,gemcnt Of American affairs In Mexico.
Battle Expected.
JIMENEZ, Mexico April 10.-Gcneral
lose de le Cruz Sanchez and the federal
orcs which he has been recruiting at
1nijaga for many weeks, are on the |
march toward Santa Rosalia with n col |
INN estimated at 300 men. according TO
Ldvices received today BY General Sala- !
Jar. commanding the federal troops at
ills point.
Upon receipt OF this Information Con-
ral Salazar conferred by wire with
General Orozco ut Chihuahua. after
which General Fernandez WAS dispatched
o Santa Rosalia. about midway between
his city and Chihuahua. At that point
II its neighborhood the two forces are
xpccted to clash at any time.
Whether General SanjineZ accompanies
General Sanchez is not known, but It is
elieved that the two are together.
The news or the approach OF tho fed
rals serves TO clear the mystery of the
lowing up OF bridges between here and
anta Roeaiia last night and the cut
Ing of wires. Evidently 1t was the in
ention of the federals who sent a scout
NJ party for the purpose, TO prevent the
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