The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-02-25
MADERO And SUAREz SHOT TO DEATH ON
THEIR WAY TO JAIL
GEN. HUERTAs STORY DOUBTED DIPLOMATS
ANGRY-NEWS KILLING WITHHELD FOR SEVERAL
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. COURTED.


Being Taken From Palace to Peni-
tentiary.
City of Mexico, Feb. 24.-Francisco
l. Madero, Jr., and Jose Pine Suarez,
deposed president and vice president
of Mexico, whose lives President Taft
endeavored to save, were killed In
street near the penitentary.
They were being conducted under the
escort Of a force of ruraes to the peni-
tentiary, ostensibly to be held in safety
until the government of General Vic
toriano Huerta could give them the
fair and open trial which had been de-
manded by Ambassador Wilson In the
name of the Washington government.
General Huerta and the members of
his cabinet, including Francisco L. de
la Barra, unite in asserting that none
of those in authority were responsible
for the murders. The official version
of the affair is that the escort of the
prisoners was attacked by force of
Maderistas and that in the fighting
Madero and Suarez attempted to es-
cape and were shot down.
Victims of Fugitive Law.
A similar account was given of the
death of Gustavo Madero when he was
killed while being taken from the ar
senal to the National palace the day
after General Huerta had seized the
government. In each case there was
the application of ''ley fuga," the law
which excuses the killing of prisoners
} who attempt to escape, under which
many Mexicans who were troublesome
to the government have been put to
death from time to time.
Practically all accounts of the as
sassination come from government
sources. The men who We're in com
mand of the escort are under arrest
and cannot be interviewed. the eX
planation being made that strict In
quiry is being conducted by the mill
tary and executive authorities. The
men of the escort are under confine
ment In barracks. where they cannot
be reached.
OF the Maderistats who are supposed
to have made the attack naturally none
can he found. for they would not wish
to reveal their identity. Such spec
tators as there may have been of the
occurrence are keeping their own coun-
sell
The first news the correspondents
had Of the tragedy came from Presi-
dent Huerta himself. They were sum-
moned to the palace in the early morn
Ing hours and there told the govern
ments version.
1t was said that a plan had been
arranged to move the prisoners with
the utmost secrecy and that the hour
near midnight had been chosen for
this purpose, for then the streets
would be quiet. Two automobiles
were used, one a scout car and the
other containing the prisoners, three
officers and one soldier. Other rurales
were with the machines.
Auto Party Attacked.
Apparently the plan of the govern
ment had been learned by Madero
sympathizers, for when the party was
two-thirds of the way to the peniten
tiary they were attacked by men who
shot from side street. The automo
larger number of assailants and 8
sharp engagement ensued. In the
midst of this, the government report
bays, Madero and Suarez attempted t.
escape and were shot
1t was pointed out that the govern
ment had endeavored to assure thu
safety of the prisoners by the elab
Drate and secret precautions taken il
moving them. 1t had also appointed
military man to take charge of tn,
penitentiary, so that nothing should b.
done to them while they were con
fined there. AS an evidence that
fight had occurred the automobile
were shown, with many bullet mark
soaring them.
General Huerta, after receiving tn
report of the commander of the escort
called his cabinet In session. Tha
body officially deplored the event, bu
were comprehensive, in view Of th
disturbed state of the city.
General Huerta afterward issued
formal statement in which he repea
ed the account of the matter give
above ard promised that full e,
animation into the unhappy cricun
stances would be made by a militar
court and also by the department {
justice.
A feature of the affair that is attrac
Ing comment among observers is Il
fact that the government had full wal
ing of plots for the rescue Of the pr
oners by the Maderistas. AS early
Friday it had been announced that t
government intended to have them
moved from the palace to the penite
tiary When that was not done 1t W
explained that Maderistas were pla
ming to take them from the guards.
this General Zapata was believed
have a hand, as he had received lar