Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1913-07-09
TRAGEDY IN
MATAMOR0S
CAPTAIN HERNANDEZ, FORMER
FEDERALIST WHO HAD JOINED
CONSTITUIONALIST KILLED IN
SELF DEFENSE By SUPERIOR.
SLAYER Is COL. NAFARRATE. WHO
IMMEDIATELY SURRENDERED --
STORY OF DEPLORABLE EVENT
TOLD BY EYE WITNESS.

Captain Gumecondo Hernandez, a for
mer officer in the federal army of Mexico
who recently joined the Constitutional
lists, was shot and instantly killed this
morning at half past nine in the garri-
7 son at MatamOrOs. by Lieut. Col. Jose
\ Natlarcttc an officer in the ommand of
General Bianco of the Constitutionalist
/ forces. {, l. Navarette claimed that he
acted in seif-defense. and the testimony
I of eye witnesses of the tragedy appears
to bear him out in the assertion. The
shooting occurred just in front Of the
colonel quarters, and as soon as he had
killed Hernandez, the colonel sent mes
Senger to the quarters of General BlancO
and reported what he had done. He then
waited until an officer was sent to arrest
him. He was disarmed and placed under
restraint, awaiting a court martial hear
ing.
AS nearly as could he learned BY the
representative of The Herald who visit
ed Matamor0s in regard to the affair
the facts are as follows:
Capt. Gumecindo Hernandez had come
lately from the City Of Mexico to OBJ
tain aui horty from General Carranza
to operate in behalf of the Constitution
alists in one of the southern states OF
Mexico. After comforting with Carran-
ia he spent severaldays ut Piedras Ne
oras. From there he came by the Texas
side 10 Matamoros and visited General
BIancD, informing him of his intention to
proceed southward in the near future
He had been in Matamoros about ten
DAYS
As stated. Hernandez haT formerly
served in the federal army. and he was
acquainted with a number of the officers
and men of General Blanco's command
who were also formerly allied with the
federalists. 1T appears that Hernandez
was attempting 20 obtain following
from among the men in Blanco's com
mand,/ inviting the men to join him in
his proposed expedition to the south Of
Mexico. He is said to have been I'M
successful and intended To leave this
afternoon. Being nervous and depressed
at his failure to obtain following, he
appeared unable to control his temper
Going this morning to the quarters of
Lieut.. Col Nafarrate. whom he met in
front of the latter'S quarters. he il said
to have addressed Col. Navarette nj the
most insubordnate manner as to wheth-
er or not some Of the men of the latters s
command would be permitted to accom-
pany him as escorts. The colonel com
manded Hernandez to address him with
the respect due his superior officer. Her
nandez then attempted to draw his pis-
tol when Col. Navarette ut once drew
his own weapon and shot Hernandez
twice. The first bullet struck Hernandez
in the head, and. the pistol being an au-
tomatic, as Nayarettc was lowering it,
a second shot followed. striking Herman
dez in the chest. Either wound probably
would have proved fatal.
The court martial began at eleven
O'Clock, being in progress when the Her
aid reporter arrived. He was admitted
to the court. and obtained the informa
ton given. The court was still in ses-
" SlOn UP I'D = ID ClDCk. .AbDUj lNpHtN HlHI
of Lieut. Col. Navarette's command. who
were lined up near the spot where the
tragedy occurred were examined as wit
ncSScS.
v Col. Nafarrate. as well rs Hernandez
had also served formerly in the federal
army. both having been officers at The
same time in the Twenty first Mexican
regiment. 1t il said that most of the
thirty men who were lined up at Tho
scene of the shooting had also been il
the same federal command as the TIVE
officers and had served under both o
them Hernandez was about - years o
age. Very little appears TO be known o
his antecedents.
Col. Nafarrate appears to be almOs
prostrated on account of the dcplOrabl
tragedy IIc is said by those who know
him to be refined and highly educate'
gentleman, being 4 graduate of the Mex
lean military college at Mexico City. Hi
friends are standing staunchly by him
and declare their belief that he acte'
solely in selfdefense in shooting HeI
: nandez.