Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-18
Ell Paso immigration Official
AbsoIves Heifron and
Jonah in Report.
ADMINISTRATION TO NOW
PLAY A WAITING GAME
Attitude of q. S. in Event of an Elec-
tion Is in Doubt-Constitution-
alists Claim Five States.

y citdT case OF SGII-Q01enSG was the
Characterization given the shooting Of
Mexican army officer by Immigra-
tion Inspector Thomas n. Heifron and
Customs Inspector T. f. Jonah at Ell
Paso September s, according to a re-
port received today at the bureau of
immigration here from F. w. Berk-
SHIRE. supervising inspector at Ell Paso.
Ihe report shows that the Mexican
opened fire while Heifron, Jonah and
trooper of the 18th Cavalry were in the
guardhouse. Heifron went to the door of
the guardhouse and saw the Mexican
dismounting with gun in his hand. He
ordered him to drop that gun," but the
officer raised it to his shoulder and aimed
al Heifron, whereupon the latter fired
four Ahots In rapid succession from a 81
callber revolver. His revolver then being
house to reload. and Jonah took up the
firing. When Heifron returned a minute
or so later he saw the Mexican lying on
the bridge, making vain efforts to rise
to sitting position.
Died While on Stretcher,
The soldier died while he was being
placed on a stretcher, and he was allowed
to remain where he died until the coroner
arrived. According to testimony, he had
three belts loaded with cartridges, Win
chester rifle. bottle Of very fiery Mexi-
can liquor and bottle Of beer, and was
considered crazed with liquor.
The two United States agents gave
themselves up to the police authorities
Both were held by the coroner because
he could not. determine which had done
the killing. Heifron, however, asked that
he alone be indicted. SO that he could be
acquitted in the regular course. Both
men later were indicted by the grand
United States attorney at FL Paso has
to defend them.
Playing Waiting Game Here.
With a complete lack of vital develop
ments in the Mexican situation since the
delivery of Gen. Huerta's message to his
congress. the Washington administration
today began to play a waiting game to
see how long the Mexican provisional
president can continue to carry out his
present course OF ignoring President Viii !
sons demands. That the wait will not
be as long as is expected in some quar-
ters was believed in official circles here
Secretary Bryan sent cablegram to
John Lind at Vera Cruz yesterday, ad-
vising him of the governments view of
the Huerta message, but the contents of
Huerta's declaration in the message
that he hoped to turn over the ad interim
government to successor, while not
giving any direct information as to his
intention not to be candidate. strength
ened the belief that he would figure in
the coming elections, if they are held
These points may be the basis for the
resumption of negotiations. but the
United States does not intend to go for
ward with them unless the Mexican au-
fhnrifiQS 70 %ho
parleys.
Attitude of u. S. in Doubt.
Should an election be held. the attitude
the United States would take is doubtful.
Recognition will under no circumstances
be accorded to Victoriano Huerta. This
is known from unQuestioned sources. Re-
ports that Huerta intended to obtain the
election of some friends who might SUBJ
sequently appoint Huerta to a post in the
cabinet and resign in his favor are caus-
Ing some uneasiness. for If the election
Is constitutional the position of the
United states toward Huerta then might
be embarrassing.
II Is said to be quite probable how
ever. that no matter who is elected
next month, the Washington govern
ment will hold alOof for some time un-
til ii is convinced that stability and
peace have been accomplished and that
the choice of an executive is ap-
proved by the Mexican peop,e.
Deny -ederals Control Country.
\ big point has been made BY the off,
cials of the Huerta government over their
claim that they are in control OF practi-
cally all Of Mexico, and State Depart
ment officials here have accepted the
claim that the territory controlled by
Huerta compr1ses four-ffths Of the popu-
lation of the country.
Both OF these claims were denied here
today with great detail by constitution
alist representatives. To show how COM
pletely their forces control the states Of
Coahuila, Durango. Sonora, Sinaloa and
Chihuahua, they declared that in the
last two months Gen. Carranza, their
commander-in-c chief, has made a tour of
inspection completely through these
states. accompanied only by his STAFF
and twenty soldiers.
They said that Gen. Huerta could not
travel for more than fifty miles through
any part of Mexico without getting into
difficulties, whereas Gen. Carranza has
travelled more than 1900 miles without
molestation.