Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-02-24
With Saurez, DepOsed
Vice President, He Falls
in Night Ride.
FIRED UPON BY GUARDS
Only Explanation Is That PriS-
onerS Attempted to Escape"
-UnWTiten Law Invoked.

Mexico City. Feb. 24-An oflcial In
vestigation into the death OF Madero
and Suarez will be begun at once, bus
the general belief prevails Il will sub
BtRntiate the official version
The fact that the bodies OF the two
statesmen we're recovered in the rear
Of the penitentiary Is explained by a
statement that a second encounter oc-
CURED close % the building II is said
the automobiles ran along the side Of
the road and that Madero and Suarez
jumped out and were running when
they we're caught between the fire Of
the guards and the attacking party,
this accounting for wounds being in
ficted on them from different direc-
tions.
Provisional President Huerta and
other authorities here are earnest IL
their declarations that the governme
is acting in good faith and that the
death Of prisoners was due solely to
unforeseen circumstances. With the
passing OF Francisco Madero, the gem
eral opinion prevails Slat the tense
ness OF the situation has been reliev-
ed. There is a marked tendency on
the part Of all classes to accept the
new order.
SAYS PRISONERS TRIED TO ESCAPE.
Mexico City, Feb. 24.-Francisco L
Madero and Joe Pine SuareZ, deposed
president and vice president, are dead.
in a midnight ride under guard from
the national palace TO the penitentiary
they were killed.
The es.surroupding their
death are unknown, except as given
in official accounts, which do not con-
form in all cases. The only witnesses
were those actually concerned in the
killing.
The provisional president, General
Nictoriano Huerta, says the killing OF
the two men was incidental TO a fght
between their guard and a party at
tempting TO liberate them.
The minister of foreign relations,
Francisco de Ia Barra. adds that the
prisoners attempted TO escape.
Neither makes a definite statement
as 10 which side fred the fatal shots
II is not impossible that neither
knows.
An official Investigation has been
ordered to determine the responsible
fly and solemn promises have been
made that the guilty will be punished
PUBLIC REMEM BEERS "LEY FUGA.'
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 writer
GU the record. prisoner shot while
trying TO escape"
Sonora Madero. widow OF the ex
president. received the first definite
information OF his death from the
Spanish minister. Senor Colegan q!
Colegan She already had heard re
ports that something unusual and ser
ious had happened. but friends had en-
deavored up TO that time 10 preven
her from learning the whole truth.
WIDOWS REFUSED VIEW OF BODIES
Soon afterward, accompanied by he
brother. Jose Perez, and Mercedes Ma
dero, q sister OF Francisco. Sonora Ma
dero drove 20 the penitentiary, but wa
refused permission 10 see the body o
her husband.
Sonora Suarez also was denied ac
mittRnce 10 the mortuary. where ply
siciAns, in accordance with the law
we're performing an autopsy.
In contrast 10 the widow. who's
grief was Of a pitiably silent charac
ter. expressed In sobs. Mercedes Ma
dero, a beautiful young woman. edU
Gated in Paris, who has been q bri
liant leader of society since the revc
luton Of 1910. was dry eyed and tigel
ish IN her emotions.
SISTER CALLS EI.AYFRs TRAITORS
BY the side Of the two women whoe
husbands had been killed. the gil
hurled usations At the oticers whi
barred the entrance.
"Cowards! Assassinst" she caile
them. her voice pitched high. The o.
fcers stared iEnpAksively.
"Ioui The men who fred on d
fsnseless mani You and your supei
ior officers are traitorsl"
No effort wae made 20 remove ID
women, nor did the officers attempt
silence them. Sonora Madero contif
ued weeping and the girl did nc
cease her hystsricHl TRADE until IN
arrival Of the Spanish minister an
the Japanese charge, who cens 20 o
fer their services,
BODIES TO GO TO RELATIVES.
The minister spoke with the officer
IN charge. but was told that on aoeoun
OF the autopsy Il would be impossihi