Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-02-26
BODY OF VERGARA
TO Be DEMANDED
Mexican FederaIs Not Expect,
ed to Oppose Request of
United States.
STORY OF GUSTAV BAUCH
BEING IN JAIL DOUBTED
Ten. Villa Reiterates Declaration
That He Will Not Surrender
Body of Benton.

i--Ahhpo' TEX. February cS.-Cnited
states Consul Garrett and s J. Hin o,
Laredo brother-in-law OF Clement
Nergara. the American executed bv
Mexican federals. were expected TO
reach the scene of Vergara's execution,
near Hfdaiso. Mex, today.
The consurs visit to Hidai9o today
was largely to demand formally that
Nergara's body be surrendered to the
FAMILY for burial. Opposition to this
was not expected, for. at last reports
the body was still hanging to a tree
and the Mexican troops have not denied
the manner of his death
Personal responsibility for Vergaras
death, however, hardly will be fixed
until an extensive investigation is
made. Col. Alvarez. commander of Nuevo
Laredo. has assured Consul Garrett
that the guilty men will be punished.
A report that rebels were responsible
for the seizure of Vergara on his island
pasture in the Rio Grande and his sub
sequent death was not given credence
by those in touch with Texas authori-
ties. 1t was pointed out that rebels have
not operated In that section OF Goa
hui!a, though there are several bands
OF federals opposite Vergara's ranch.
A Citizen of Texas.
Vergara was citizen of Webb county,
Tex, where he engaged in the ranching
business. He used an island in the Rio
Grande as pasture for his horses. Yer
CARA comp aimed that Mexican federsIs
were stealing his horses and a small de-
tachment Of Texas rangers was sent to
his ranch.
February Is Mexicans appeared on the
island ana called to Vergara to come over.
saying they would pay him for the horses
When Vergara reached the island. &C.
cordinS to reports, he was struck in the
back of the head, then carried into the
interior.
Representations in behalf of vcrgaya
were made to the federal commandant at
Nuevo Laredo and to Gen. Mas az Mon
terey. The ranchman's release was prom
Used.
Yesterday reports were brought to Con-
sui Garrett that Vergara had been hanged
by the Mexicans. either on the night OF
his capture or the morning after.
Island's Ownership in Doubt.
AUSTIN. Tex, February e6.-whether
Mexican federal soldiers invaded United
States territory in the alleged abduction
OF Clemente Vergara depends on the I'm
settled question whether the island where
vergara pastured his stock and where
he is said to have been seized is on the
Texas tr Mexican side OF the Rio
Grande.
j. T. Robinson. state land commissioner.
says that yegara offered to buy it In
1910 scrap land" but his application
was refused when 1t could not be definite
ly established that the state owned il.
Since then Vergara had used the land n
pasture.
Doubt if Bauch Is in Jail.
Ell PASO, Tex, February 26.-Investl-
cation of the story told last night by
A. Michaelis that Gustav Bauch and
thirteen other Americans were locked up
in a Jail in Juarez was set on foot to-
day
Despite Michaelis' assertion that his
father IS Brooklyn IN. " banker, his
statement was received skeptically. for
American Consul Edwards at Juarez has
been assured that with the execution OF
William S. Benton and the removal OF
Bauch no foreigners remained behind the
bars.
Michaelis. who said he left his home at
2a6 Vernon street. Brooklyn. after a
quarrel with his family, and. was ar
rested at Juarez because of q fist fight
over a game of cards, declined to leave
Juarez when newspaper men offered him
asylum on the American side. He said
he had telegraphed ms 1ather Tor money
and would leave this section as soon IS
funds arrived
He said his jailers took his clothes from
him and left him only the rags he had
on when turned into the street
Charles Perceval, British consul at Gal
weston. Tex, is expected here tonight to
cooperate with the American inyestisa-
ton of the death OF Benton
Will Not Give Up Body.
CHIHUAHUA, February cS.-Gen. villa
TO-DAY reiterated that he would permit the
examination but not the removal OF the
BODY of William S. Benton. which he
asserts is buried here. He said that rep
of the American and British
governments and of the widow alone
would be permitted to view the body
Claim of Michaelis Disproved.
NEW YORK. February 26.-No relatives
or acauaintances of A. Michaelis could
be found today in Brooklyn. There is
no such street and number as that given
hy Michael as his former home.