The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-24
Murder and Anarchy
Let Loose in Mexi-
can Republic.
RUMORS OF MORE
ASSASSINATIONS
Only Martial Law Prevails, and
Opposition to New Regime
Which Overthrew Madero
Will Be Drained in Blood.
Jails Are Being Filled
With Suspects.
Especial to Tho Times.Dispatch.)

tSPeCtBl TO The ItmeS-DlSpatch.)
Mexico City, February :.3.-A
reign of terror has been ipaugurated.
Francisco I. Madcro and lose Pino
Suaren, deposed President and Vice
President Of the republic. have fallen
shot down In cold blood during a
midnight ride from the National Pal
ace to the penitentiary.
Felix Diaz's threat OF last night
Eve Will use such energetic means
rs TO put an end tU rcbeIlions for
cyer"-has been followed by swift
execution.
Murder and anarchy have been
let loose to cement the work of the
revolutions. The Maderistas and all
other opponents of the military dy-
nasty which has bceu established
arc TO be exterminated. Opposition
to the Diaz-Huerta regime IL to be
drained in blood. Martial law alone
prevails. Tho iails are being filed
with suspects. There are rumors OF
other official asSassinations.
Shock Civilized World.
The events of the past twenty -four
hours in this fag-bedecked capital,
where there Is seeming peace and.
order, have been such as to shock the
civilized world and call for instant
retribution In behalf of. outraged bu-
manity.
The official explanation of Ma
dero's assassination and Suarez's Is
,tWofold. and cnntradietarx- &C ssinraiS
Pfctoriano Huerta, the provisional
President, swears that. the killing
was incidental to An attempt to res
cue the two deposed officials. For
eign Minister Francisco de la Barra
declares that it occurred because the
two men attempted to escape.
Neither will make definite state
ment. 1t is impossible to obtain in
formation as to which side began the
firing which side came the
fatal shots
But Francisco Madero, riding in
an automobile, with guards before
and behind him. died from a single
shot. A bullet entered the back of
his head and emerged at the fore
head.
Suarez fell, pierced By many bull
lets, most of which entered from the
front.
The only witnesses were those ac-
tualiy engaged in the shooting.
An international phase of the trag-
edy, which is causing great concern,
is that these two officials were
slaughtered after diplomatic repre-
sentations bad been made by the am
bassador from the United States in
their behalf and assurances from
Huerta that their safety would be
guaranteed.
Ambassador Wilson is making an
investigation. An official investiga-
tion has also been started, and SOL
emn promises are made that the
guilty will be punished
Reports Not Believed.
II is simple truth to state that not
one man in fifty In Mexico City to-
night believes the official reports of
the assassinations. The doctrine OF
ley fuga" is being quoted on all
fugitive law"-which is the
unwritten law that has been invoked
Tor centuries in Latin countries when
the death of a prisoner Is desired.
Under it, the fight of prisoner is
facilitated, In order. that he may be
shot down in the attempt, after
which it is recorded in the records
that the prisoner was slain while
trying TO escape"
In this manner Gustavo Madero
was disposed Of the other day. Now
Francisco Madero and Senior Suarez
are added to the list.
The most dramatic and heart
rendlng incidents attended the dis
coyery of the slaughter Of the two
officials. Sonora Mader6, heart
broken wife of the former President,
got the first definite news of her hus-
bands death from the Spanish min
istcr Senor Cologau y Cologan. Re-
ports had before this reached her
that serious and unusual events had
occurred. But few hours before
she had been on her knees to Huerta,
begging for the life OF her husband
for a sight of him-a word from,
him to enable her to sustain tho sus-
pense under which she was labor
ing. Huerta had turned her coIdly
away. Painting, she was carried off
by friends.
When the'news calne to-day of the
tragedy, it reached her friends first,
but they endeavored to keen il from
her. For forty-eight hours. she had
not slept. There were fears for her
reason, which have grown grave now,
In the light OF the days deyelop-
monts. At last, when the tragic de-
tails could not longer be kent from
her, she was told as gently as pos
sible that the end which she had
feared had come -
She tainted. Then. after having
been revived, accompanied by her
brother, Jose Perez. and Senorita
Mercedes Madero, sister of the for
NOR PRESIDENT, Sonora Madsro drove
to the penitentiary. Evensthen, with
Continued on seventh Rag@I