Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-02-26
VILLA FORMERLY OF The TENTH
Cavalry Troop Mates Sure Mexi-
can General Was Sergt. GOldsby.
left United states Service mt Fort
Davis, Texas, ana Crossed the
Border, Declare Mcssrs.
Haynes and Scott.

That Cen Pancho Villa, the "conqueror
on horseback" of the constitutionalist
army in Mexico, and the man to whom the
United States government evidently looks
to overthrow Huerta, is a former trooper
of the 10th cavalry, is an American citizen
and a native of Maryland Is apparently
a well established fact on the testimony
of two former troop mates, whose integ-
rlty Is unquestioned. The men who testl-
fed to this fact are w. A. Haynes, for
merly of ID troop, 10th cavalry, ana FREQ
Scott. a former non-commissioned officer
of the same troop. Both are certain That
Villa Is former First Sergeant Goldsby
of their troop, who left the United states
army for Mexico Scott informed Haynes
a few days ago that he had gone over the
border and talked with villa swapping
yarns regarding the old days on the from
tier
Haynes is now retired from active serv-
ice in the army and Is at present acting
as messenger in the quartermaster's office
at Preside, Cal. He recognized Villa
from some pictures and in talking the
matter over with Scott they decided that
there was no question about his identity.
There is absolutely no chance of my
being mistaken" said Haynes General
and the same man. ! served in the same
troop with him for a considerable time
when the regiment was doing service on
the frontier in the old Indian days and
men who put in their service in this man
ner do not often forget each other Their
little idiosyncracies are not forgotten in
a hurry
"Villa was born in and enlisted from
Maryland When he Joined d troop, he
had been transferred from some other
troop, for on the first day he was made
top sergeant of the troop.
He was a good soldier. 7 will give
that to him. although at times he appeared
a trife unstable and wild. When he left
the service at Fort Davis, Texas he got
into some scrapes and went across the
border into Mexico, where he entered
the Mexican army. He soon afterwards
rose to the rank of major and was known
under the name of Ronstozt,
After that his history is an open book
for ii is known in all the territory. He
became bandit on leaving the army. He
was the greatest bandit that Mexico ever
saw and his success both at the unlawless
game and as military leader is no doubt
to large extent due in large part to
his training in the United States army"
TALKS WITH VILLA.
Scott saw villa and talked with him
villa made no secret to him of the fact
that he the former top sergeant Of
D troop of the 10th cavalry. Rather, he
seemed pleased to meet an old friend
Moore told me of the conversation before
ever mentioned to him the fact that
had recognized him from his pictures as
my former first sergeant
"Godsby. or villa he now prefers to
be known, is the type of a man who read
fly could pass for a Mexican. He Is not
an educated man. but his natural inteli-
gence is such that he deserves the admira
ton of every one. From an enlisted man
in the United States army to the general
ship OF force that bids fair to conquer
all Mexico Is a long step, and any man
who can make it Is deserving of ell
credit"
General Villas history prior to ten or
fifteen years ago is shrouded in mystery.
fIe never has divulGed any information
concerning it, so far as the records show.
HAYNES. who is n clean-cut man and a
man OF considerable education, is willing
to swear that in Villa he recognizes his
old top cutter az the first sergeant of
a company or troop in the United States
army is generally referred to. Not only.
he says. does he recognize him from his
published pictures but ne was at some
pains to follow Villas career after he left
the United States service
BOLD FIGURE IN MEXICO
General villa is easily the foremost fig
ure in Mexico at present, not excepting
President Huerta and the constitutional
ist leader, Carranza, under the latter of
whose banner Villa is enlisted, Under the
most adverse circumstances and handi-
capped by "A lack Of arms and ammuni-
ton, the leader OF the insurrectos has dis
played generalship unique in the annals
Of even revolution-swept Mexico. He
shows in his manner of handling his