River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-02-27
MYSTERY SURROUNDS SHOOTING
or FORMER HEADS OF
MEXICAN REPUBLIC AT
MIDNIGHT.
HURETA SAYS ATTEMPT
WAS MADE TO ESCAPE
Official inquiry Ordered and Guilty
Persons Will Be Punished--Dip-
lomats Are Shocked
by Fearful Ira
gedy.

Mexico City, Feb. 25.--Francisco /.
Madero and Jose Pine Suarez are
dead. In a midnight ride under guard
from the national palace to the peni-
tertiary they were killed.
Accounts Do Not Conform.
The circumstances surrounding the
death OF the deposed president and
vice president OF the republic are I'M
known, except as given in official &C
counts which do not conform in all
cases. The only witnesses were those
actually concerned in the killing.
The provisional president, General
Victoriano Huerta, says the killing or
the two men was incidental to fight
between their guard and a party at
tempting to liberate them. The min
lister of foreign relations, Francisco de
Ia Barra, adds that the prisoners at.
tempted to escape. Neither makes a
definite statement as to which side
nred the fatal shots. 1t is not impos-
sible that neither knows.
An official investigation has been or
dered to determine the responsibility,
and solemn promises have been made
that the guilty will be punished.
''Ley Fuga," Possibly.
Not unnaturally a great part Of the
public regards the official versions
with doubt, having in mind the use
for centuries of the notorious Ley
fuga," the unwritten law which is in
voked when the death of a prisoner is
desired. After its application there
is written on the records, Prisoner
shot trying to escape"
Sonora Madero, widow Of the ex-
president. received the first definite
information Of his death from the
Spanish minister, Senior Cologany
Cologan. She already had heard re-
ports that something serious had
happened, but friends had endeayored
up to that time to prevent her from
learning the truth.
Soon afterward, accompanied by her
brother, Jose Perez, and Mercedes Ma
dero, a sister of Francisco, Sonora Ma
dero drove, to the penitentiary, but
was refused permission to see the
body of her husband. Sonora Suarez
also was denied admittance to the
mortuary with physicians who, in ac-
cOrdance with the law, were perform
ing an autopsy.
RurIs Accusations at Officers.
In contrast to the widow, whose
grief was of pitiable silent character,
expressed in sobs, Mercedes Madero,
beautiful young woman, educated in
Paris, who has been brilliant leader
of society since the revolution of 1910,
was dry-eyed and tig IRISH in her emo
tions. BY the side OF the two women
whose husbands had been killed the
Girl hurled accusations at the officers
who barred the entrance.
Wilson TeIegraphs Washington.
Washington. - Ambassador Henry
Lane Wilson telegraphed to the state
department last night that Francisco
de la Barra, minister for foreign af-
fairs, had invited all foreign diplomats
in Mexico City to take lunch with
him.
The ambassador stated that none of
the diplomats would attend the
luncheon unless the tragic death of
former President Madero and former
Vice President Suarez is cleared OF
mystery.
indicates Gravity of Situation.
This decision on the part of the di-
plomatic corps in the Mexican capital
indicates the gravity of the situation
which will confront the Hureta gov
ernment should it fail to clear the
mystery in which the killing of Madero
and Suarez still is enveloped.
Creates Painful Impression.
The killing of the deposed presi-
dent and vice president of Mexico,
after Provisional President General
Huerta had assured American Ambas-
sador Wilson of the safety of his
prisoners from just such attacks,
created a painful impression in adj
ministration circles here.
When the first feeling of surprise
had passed it was realized by officials
that this last tragic event had added
greatly to the gravity OF the situation
and undoubtedly had placed an addi-
tional strain upon the already tense
relations between this government