The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-02-24

Il0S GFNl"o hNSb
FOR sLAYINe OF Ex.PREsIDEN7
AND FORMER VICE PRESIDENT
PROBE AND PUNISHMENT Is
PROMISED BY THE GOVERN
MENT.
MEXiCo CITY, Reb. "a. -FIancisec
| ]. Madero and Jose Pine snaTez are
dead. In a midnight ride under guard
from the National Palace to the peni'
tentiary they were killed.
The circumstances surrounding the
death Of the deposed President and
Vice President Of the Republic are un'
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 Provinci
The Provisional President, Gen.
Victoriano Huerta, says the killing OF
the two men was Incidental to fight
between their guard and a party at
tempting 10 liberate them. The Min
lister of Foreign Relations, Francisco
De La Barra. adds that the prisoners
attempted 10 escape. Neither makes
definite statement as to which side
fred the fatal shots. 1t is not itnpos-
sible that neither knows.
An official Investigation has been
ordered to determine the responsible
ity and solemn promises have been
made that the guilty VIII be pushed.
Not unnaturally 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
invoked when the death OF prisoner
is desired. After its application there
is written on the records, Prisoner
shot trying to escape"
Widow Can't See Body.
Sonora Madero, widow of the ex-
President, received the first definite
information CT his death from theI
Spanish Minister Senor Cologan y Col.
ogan. She already had heard reports
that something unusual and serious
had happened, but friends had endeav.
ored up to that time to prevent herT
from learning the whole truth.
Soon afterwards, accompanied by
her brother, Jose Perez, and Mercedes
Madero. a sister of Francisco, Sonora
Madero drove to the penitentlary, but
was refused permission to see the
body of her husband. Sonora Suarez
was also denied admittance to the
mortuary where physicians, in accord
lnce with the law. we're performing
an autopsy.
In contrast 10 the widow, whose
grief was of pltiably silent charac'
ter, expressed in sobs, Mercedes Ma.
dero, a beautiful young woman, edu. I
,ated> in Paris, who has been a bril-
liant leader OF society since the revo-
luton OF 1910, was dry-eyed and tiger.
ish in her emotions. BY the side Of
he two young women whose husbands |
had been killed, the girl hurled accuse.
:fcns at the officers who barred the en-.
trance.
Denounced Them as Traitors.
"Cowards!" "Assassins!" she called
hem, her voice pitched high. The
of7cers stared impassively. !
You! The men who fired on de-
enseless man! You and your superior
officers are traltOrs!"
No effort was made to remove the
women, nor did the officers attempt
TO silence them Sonora Madero con.
.inued weeping and the girl did not
cease her hysterIcal TRADE until the
arrival of the Spanish Minister and
The Japanese Charge, who came to
,ffer their services.
The Minister spoke with the officers
in charge, bdt was told that on &c.
count Of the autopsy it would be i'm.
possible for anyone TO see the bodies.
.ater in the day, they said, the re.
luest would be complied with. The
diplomats then conducted the ladies'
lway from the penitentiary.
Madero's father and Rafael Herman.
lez. former Minister of the Interior
and other friends made efforts early
the day to recover the bodies, and
It was stated this afternoon that the
Nmerican Ambassador, Henry Lane
Wilson, had Interested himself and
ecured the promise Of Minister De La
3arra that the bodies should be de.
ivered to their families for burial.