Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-11-16
First Details Of Capture of Border
City by Rebels Told by Special
Correspondent ofHearst's Sun
day American a Graphic Story.
ConstitutionaIist Leaders Put to
Death Officers of Huerta Men;
Victims Die With Cries Of
Loyalty to President on Ii ps.
BY G. A. MARTIN.
Special Correspondent of Hearst's
Sunday American,

Ell PASO. Nov. 15.-From a peace
full, sleepy border city, twenty four
hours ago. Juarez. Mexico, became a
| city of slaughter this morning.
Pancho Villa, general" of the
Constitutionalists army of Mexico,
surprised the Federal garrison in the
early hours after midnight last night
and, defeating the defenders took
possession of the place in the name
of the followers of Venustiano Car
rama. Hundreds of Federal defend.
prisoners of the former bandit chief.
First Of those to receive Judgment
at the hands OF the new dictator was
Captain Jose Torres He was placed
against an adobe wall in the plaza
in the border of the city this after
noon and MS life was shot out by
twenty five armed Constitutionalists.
Their commander gave the order Of
load, ready, aim fire" and 1t was
declared legal.
Stirring Scenes Described.
From that time, throughout the af-
ternoon, rifles were popping all over
the city of Juarez and Americans
who rushed across the river this af-
ternoon when the embargo on traffic
was raised, came home tonight with
horrifying tales of executions in ali
quarters.
Some told of men shouting viva
Mexico" as they knelt before the fir
ing squad and paid the penalty for
espousing the Huerta cause in place
of that of Carranza Others told OF
men begging, with tear-filled eyes,
for a chance TO send a note to a
wife. a child or father or mother.
Others told of piteous appeals for a
trial by civil officers and jury No
appeals were listened to.
Villa was firm.
at must be done: traitors must pay
the penalty" he declared. 'Huerta
murdered our Constitutional Presi-
dent: he would murder the liberty of
Mexico. His supporters must die
for the good Of our fatherland."
Admits Death Orders.
villa did not deny the executions
but declared that only men known to
be traitors had been killed. He ad-
mitted the killing of Torres and also
of Colonel Enrique PortiIlo, but ex-
cused the first execution with the
declara ton that Torres had been a
Constituencies and had deserted to
the Federals at .Torreon.
He also declared that Portillo, while
never actively embracing the Consti-
tutiona!ist cause since the death of
Nadero. had done traitorous acts that
made his death necessary" to the
liberty of Mexico
Portillo was a colonel IN the com
mand of the band Of irregular Fed
eral soldiers that longest withstood
the rebel siege when Juarez was at
tackled this morning. His body was
left IN the streets Of Juarez through
out the afternoon. He was executed
within an hour after his capture.
Villa admitted the execution Of -four
captains, Colonel Portillo and two
Iieutenants, but Americans in Juare7
this afternoon declared they had
seen a much larger number OF dead
bodies in the streets with bullet holes
through their hearts, Notwithstanding
the bodies of all those killed IN battle
this morning were declared to have
been removed by noon. Several re-
ports are that 25 or 80 were exc
cuted.
Juarez Quiet Now.
Aside from the executions this aft
ernoon. Juarez was as quiet as any
Mexican border town. There was not
the slightest evidence that a battle
had ragged few hours, before There
was no indication in the demeanor
of the people or the character Of The
business section Of the city Of SUD
den transition from the rule of one
faction to that of another.
Where last night the crowds
laughed and drank and gambled I'M
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