The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1913-02-27
MYSTERY SURROUNDS SHOOTING
OF FORMER HEADS OF
MEXICAN REPUBLIC At
MIDNIGHT.
HURETA SAYS ATTEMPT
WAS MADE TO ESCAPE
Official Inquiry Ordered and Guilty
Persons Will Be Punished-Dip-
iomats Are Shocked
by Fearful Ira
gedy.

Mexico City, Feb. 25.-Francisco l
Madero and Jose Pine Suarez art
dead. In midnight ride under guart
from the national palace to the peni
Tertiary they were killed.
Accounts Do Not Conform.
The circumstances surrounding thu
: death of the deposed president ant
vice president of the republic are un
known, except as given in official &C
counts which do not conform in al
cases. The only witnesses were those
actually concerned in the killing.
The provisional president, Genera
Victoriano Huerta, says the killing o.
the two men was incidental to fight
between their guard and party at
tempting to liberate them. The min
lister of foreign relations, Francisco d.
la Barra, adds that the prisoners at
tempted to escape. Neither makes q
definite statement as to which side
fired 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 endeavored
up to that time to prevent her from
learning the truth.
Soon afterward, accompanied by hel
brother, Jose Perez, and Mercedes Ma
dero, a sister Of Francisco, Sonora Ma
nsro 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 &C
eordance with the law, were perform
Ing an autopsy.
HurIs Accusations at Officers.
In contrast to the widow, whose
grief was Of pitiable silent character
expressed in sobs, Mercedes Madero
q beautiful young woman, educated II
Paris, who has been a brilliant leader
of society since the revolution Of 1910
was dry-eyed and tigerish in her emo
lions. BY the side OF the two women
whose husbands had been killed The
Girl hurled accusations at the ofhceri
who barred the entrance.
Wilson TeIesraphs Washington.
Washington. - Ambassador Henry
lane Wilson telegraphed to the state
Aepartment last night that francisco
Ao h Darra, minister for foreign At
kaiss, had invited all foreign diplomat
h Mexico City to take lunch Will
him.
The ambassador stated that none q
The diplomats would attend tn
luncheon unless tho tragic death o.
ldeuer President Nadero and former
Wee President Suarez is cleared o.
mystery.
Indicates Gravity Of Situation.
This decision on the part Of the di
plenatic corps in the Mexican capita
indicates the gravity Of the situation
which will confront the Hureta gov
efnment should it fail to clear thu
mystery in which the killing Of Madert
and Suarez still is enveloped.
Creates Painful Impression.
The killing Of the deposed presi
dent and vice president Of Mexico
after Provisional President Genera
Huerta had assured American Ambas
sador Wilson of the safety Of hi;
prisoners from Just such attacks
created . painful impression in ad
minHtration circles here.
When the first feeling Of surprise
had passed It was realized by onicial'
that this last tragic event had addet
glsatly to the gravity Of the situation
aid undoubtedly had placed an add
+,r.no, etroi,, unon the already tens,
relations between this government
and that in the Mexican capital.
No Change Of Policy.
Still, as President Taft himself de
clared, the event in itself was no
sufficient to demand any departure
from the policy of strict non-interven
ton which so far has governed hi
administration.