Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-02-25
MADERo Is A3sASsINATED.
Deposed President and Vice President
of Mexico Shot Down in Streets.

Deposed PRESIDENT and vice fresioeh'
of Mexico Shot Down in Streets.
Mexico City, Feb. 23.-Francisco /
Madero and Jose Pine Suarez are dead
In midnight ride under guard from
the national palace to the penitentiary
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 ac-
counts, which do not in all cases con-
form. The only witnesses were those
actually concerned in the killing.
The Provisional President, Gen. Vic
toriano Huerta, says the killing Of the
two men was incidental to a fight be-
tween their guard and party attempt
ing to liberate them. The minister OF
foreign relations, Francisco de la Bar
ra, adds that the prisoners attempted
to escape. Neither makes a definite
statement as to which side fired the ia
tai shots. 1t is not impossible that
neither knows.
An official investigation has been
ordered to determine the responsibility
and solemn promises have been made
that the guilty will be punished.
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 fu-
ga" the unwritten law which is invok-
ed when the death Of prisoner Is de-
sired. 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 in
formation of his death from Senior Col
ogan y Cologan, the Spanish minister.
something unusual and serious had
happened but friends had endeavored
up to that time to prevent her from
learning the whole truth.
Soon afterward, accompanied by her
brother, Jose Perez and Mercedes Ma
dero, sister Of Francisco, Sonora Ma
dero drove to the penitentiary but was
refused permission to see the body Of
her husband. Sonora Suarez also was
denied admittance to the mortuary,
where physicians, in accordance with
the law, were performing an autopsy.
In contrast to the widow, whose grief
was of a pitiably silent character, ex-
pressed in sobs, Mercedes Madero,
beautiful young woman, educated In
Paris, who has been a brilliant leader
Of society since the revolution Of 1910,
was dry-eyed and tigerish in her emo
tions. BY the side of the two women
whose husbands had been killed, the
girl hurled accusations at the officers
who barred the entrance.
"Cowards!" "Assassins!" she called
them, her voice pitched high. The Of
ficers stared impassively.
You! The men who fired on a de-
fenseless man! You and your superior
officers are traitors!"
No effort was made to remove the
women nor did the officers attempt to
silence them. Sonora Madero continu-
ed weeping and the girl did not cease
her hysterical TRADE until the arrival Of
the Spanish minister and the Japanese
charge, who came to offer their SER
vices.
The minister spoke with the officers
in charge, but was told that on ac-
count Of the autopsy 1t would be i'm
possible for any one to see the bodies
Later in the day they said the request
would be complied with. The diplo-
mats then conducted the women away
from the penitentiary.
Madero's father and Rafael Herman
deZ, former minister of the interior, and
other friends made efforts early In the
day to recover the bodies and 1t was
Ambassador Henry Lane Wilson had
interested himself and secured the
promise Of Minister de la Barra that
the bodies should be delivered to their
families for burial.
The tragedy occurred shortly after
midnight Madero and Suarez, who
had been prisoners in the national pal
ace since their arrest on Tuesday last,
were placed in an automobile which
was accompanied by another car and
escorted by one hundred rurales under
the orders of Commandant Francisco
Cardenas and Col. Rafael Pimiento.
With instructions not to out distance
the escort, the cars moved slowly. No
incident occurred until they had reach
ed point near the penitentiary, where
in an open place, the guards attention
was attracted, according to the official
version, to a group of persons follow
ing. Shots were fired at the escort out
of the darkness. The rurales closed In
and ordered the prisoners out of the
car.
Thirty of the guards surrounded the
prisoners, while the remainder dispos-
ed themselves to resist an attack
About fifty men, some afoot and some
mounted, threw themselves upon the
detachment guarding the cars and the
exchange Of shots lasted twenty min
utes, when the attacking party fed
The dead bodies of Madero and Suarez
were then found.
The body of Madero shows only one
wound. A bullet entered the back of
the head and emerged at the forehead.
The body Of Pine Suarez shows many
wounds, entering from in front.
Columbia State, Feb. "a: THE case
against Hebert will not be mol pressed"
said Wade Hampton Cobb, solicit
tor, yesterday, when shown a report
IN