The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1913-02-27
DE LA BARRA ATTEMPTS
TO EXPLAIN THE KILLING

i #E ~ lite NtI&ttNG
Mexico City, Feb. 25.-FraciscU De
la Barra, the foreign minister. sent an
official statement to the foreign diplo-
matte representatives in which he, said:
THE department of foreign relations
desires to make known, as already an
nounced to the ambassador OF the
United States, the British minister and
other members of the diplomatis corps
on various occasions, that the govern
ment decided at. council OF the min
listers that all acts relating to Madero
and Pine Suarez should be adJudicated
strictly according to law al was due,
and that in consequence the accuse
ton process, IL such had taken place,
would not have departed n iota from
the legal measure applicable to the
case. q E& 49,
THAT after making this decision the
government agreed to remove Madero
and Suarez to the penitentiafy, where
they would have the necessary Sc
curlty, consideration and comforts.
That I, as the minister Of foreign
relations, so informed Ambassador
Wilson, saying that the Mexican gov
eminent would proceed always In &C.
cord with the law. and that the re-
moval of the ex-president and the ex-
vice president would be for the reasons
afore indicated. XIII 2vy-.i.
THAT it was further expected that,
Will tIIC PdD1GBC Va NIIkic pOIltlShl pas
sions would subside. resulting in the
establishment OF greater calmness and
Judgment throughout the republic.
It desire to give all the facts of
which / am cognizant connected with
the AFFAIR OF last night, which is deep
ly deplored both for sentiment OF hui
mainly, and because of the gravity Of
the AFFAIR, which has surprised the
government. and the Importance of
which is not under estimated by the
government. ""n
Last night about 1850 o'clock I was
called with all haste to the national
palace by the chief of staff Of the
president. An automobile was sent
with an aide to take me as well as
the secretary Of the interior, Alberto
Garcia, Granades. Surprised by. the
unusual call, / attempted to talk by
telephone with General Banquet, the
military commander, who made known
that something serious had occurred.
ION u arrival at midnight at the
palace the president explained that
Francisco Madero and Jose Pine
Suarez, while being conducted to the
p~enitentiary in an automobile, were
killed in an encounter which the escort
guarding the prisoner had with o
group of individuals who attempted
to liberate the two. men. T..
"Other members of the cabinet hav-
ing arrived, IL was agreed that il was
an absolute necessity for the honor
OF the government that not only should
1t proceed to a. minute investigation
of this act as the law demands, but.
going further, that immediate notice
should be given to the chief attorney
Of the military court, Jose Vasquez
Taglo. that he, with the judge advo-
Gates, should make immediate inves-
legations and conSign those respon-
sible, whoever they might be, to Gus
tody and that he proceed to examine
them in conformity with the law.
1T was agreed also that Attorney
General Castellanos, whose energy and
competency are well known, should
take action in this most unfortunate
affair. ..
According to the reports which
President Huerta received and com
~nunicated to the ministers, a group Of
five individuals at a point about half
way between the palace and the peni-
tertiary fired upon the chauffeur of
one of the automobiles which was
under escort The order was given for
more speed. Shortly afterward another
group, more numerous, sailed from the
cross streets, firing on the escort. II
seems that Madero and Suarez at this
point attempted to escape.
president Huerta communicated to
the ministers he news Of the death
Of the ex-president and the ex-vice
president, adding there was another
killed person and two persons wound
ed, according to the information he
had at the moment, without being
exact as to which group those belonged.
He also informed the ministers there
had been some arrests.
1.-THE secretary of foreign relations.
echoing the. feeling of the government,
moved by personal sentiment which
has caused him to view with horror
the shedding of blood outside of those
cases wherein the law has imposed the
punishment, not only laments the af-
fair, but is convinced that the honor
of the republic demands that a careful
investigation and exemplary punish
ment for those who may be proven
guilty of this act, whose ~transcendency
cannot be hidden"