The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-02-26
MlDERO AND sSUAAEz SHOT.
KILLED WHILE ON WAY TO PEN
TrENTIARY WHEN RESCUE
WAS ATTEMPTED.
Accounts Of Killing as Given out by
President Hucrta - Members of
Guard Arrested and Held Until
Government Can Hold Invcstiga-
tion.

Madero and Jose Pine Suarez are
dead In a midnight ride under guard
from the National palace to- the pen
intentiary they were killed.
The circumstances surrounding the
death OF the deposed president an1
. vice president OF the republic are un-
known. except as given in Official ac-
!, counts. which do not in all cases cor
form. The only witnesses were those
actaily concerned in the killing.
The provisional president Gen.
victoriano Huerta, says the killing of
the two was incidental to a fight he
tween their guards and a party at
. tempting to nberate them. The min
ister OF foreign relations. Francisc D
de Ia Barra. adds that the prisoners
attempted TO escape. Neither makes
definite statement as to which side
fired the fatal shots. II Is not imprs
sible that neither knows.
An Official investigation has been
! ordered TO determine the responsible
ity and promises have been made that
the guilty will be punished.
Not unnaturally a great part OF the
public regards the Official version
with doubt. having In mind the use
for centuries OF the notorious ley
>fusa." .he unwritten law which Is In
voked when tho death OF a prisoner
IN desired. After ltsapplication there
is written on the records. prisoner
shot trying to escape"
The widow OF the ex-president re +.
ceivei the first definite information Of
his death from the Spanish minister.
senor Cologan y Coiogan. She already
had heard reports that something un-
usual and serious had happened. but
friends had endeavored up TO the:
time to prevent her from learning the
whole ruth. ~ 81 t nt--s--
Soon afterward. accompanied Ly
her brother. jose Perez, and Mer-
cedes Madero. n sister OF Francisco,
Sonora Madero drove to the peniten-
tiary. but was refused permission to
see the body OF her husband. Sonora
Suarez also was denied admittance To
r the mortuary. where, In accordance
with the law. physicians were per-
forming an autopsy. In contrast TO
the widow whose grief was of a
pitiably silent character. expressed IN
sobs. Mercedes Madero. a beautiful
young woman, educated in Paris. who
has been a brilliant header of society
since the revolution OF 1910. was
dry-eyed and tigerish in her emo
tions. BY the side OF the two women
whose husbands had been killed, the
girl hurled accusations at the off,
GERS who barred the entrance.
-Cowards. Assassins!" she called
them. her voice pitched high while
the officers stared impassively.
You. The men who fired on a de-
fenseless mani You and your superior
officers are traltors!'
No effort was made to remove the
woman nor did the officers attempt
TO silence them. Sonora Madero con-
tinued weeping and the girl did not
cease her hysterical TRADE until the
arrival OF the Spanish minister and
the japanese charge de- affaires, who
came TO offer their services.
The minister spoke with the II
flcers I'm charge hut was told that On
account OF the autopsy II would be
Impossible for anyone To see the
bodies. Later In the day. they said,
the request would be complied with.
The diplomats then conducted the
women away from the penitentiary.
Madoros father and Rafael Hern-
adcZ. former ministc: OF the interior
and other friends made efforts early
in the day to- recover the bodies and
II was said this afternoon that the
American ambassador had interested
himself and secured the promise Of
Minister de la Barra that the bodies
would bo delivered TO their families
for burial.
The Tragedy occurred shortly after
midnight. MRdcro and Suarcz. who
had been prisoners Ia the National
palace since their arrest on Tuesday
last. were placed in an automobile.
which was accompanied by another
car and escorted by 100 ruralcs under
the orders ot Commando Francisco
Cardenas and Cot Rafael P.mcuto.
with instructions not 90 'Itl.staueo
the escort, tho cars moved slowly So
incident occurred until thDy had
reached point near the pcnit,ntilry,
whore In an open place tho guarj.'
attention was attracted. accordius to