Arizona republican., 1914-02-26
Huertistas Take Hand ill Executing Foreigners on Mexican Soil by Lynch ing Citizen of United States at Nuevo Laredo
HE COMPLAINED
 OF HORSE STEALING
U. s. Consul Investigating
 Affair-Body Must Be
 Returned - Further In ' quiry into Benton Incl ] dent Also ill Progress
ASSOCIATED PRESS p1sPATcH1

ASSOCIATED PRESS DlSFAICHl
 LAREDO. Tex, Feb. 25.-Ranchers in the country along this portion of the Texas border awaited with intense excitement tonight the details of the hanging by Mexican federals. of Gle mente Vergara, a Texas ranchman, whose execution was officially con- firmed today in message to United States Consul Garratt, at Nuevo La redo
 Consul Garratt left for Hidalgo, near where Vergara's body is said to have been left hanging, to arrange for it's disposition and begin an investigation. Late tonight no word had come from him that would explain the reason for the long interval between Vergara's death and the time the news became public, or the contradictory attitude of the Mexican federal authorities, who promised his release and of those who Laredo made no comment today, nor would they admit that Vergara had been executed by the federals His frequently expressed complaints, which are said to have lead to his death, had been that the federals were stealing his horses.
 Assurances that the men responsible for the execution of Vergara will be punished, have been given Consul Gar ratt at Nuevo Laredo by Colonel AL varez, commanding the Nuevo Laredo garrison. Just what steps are being taken were not made public, but it is understood the federal officer has as- Sured Consul Garratt that the investi- gation of the case will be thorough. Colonel Alvarez is a relative of General Alvarez, the federal commander at Piedras Negras, whose order that Yer gara should be released, came after the hanging. At that time, General AL varez was ignorant of the execution, it it said. General Alvarez also ordered the arresting officers to report to Pied ras Negras to explain Vergara's deten- tion and the alleged assault on the American. Vergara leaves a widow and three children.
 The town of Guerrero, in the state of Tamaulipas, was occupied by the Mexican federals, Monday, according to reports today. The federals under General Guardiols, previously had oc- cupied San Ignacio the same day On- ly forty rebels were garrisoned at Guer- rero, two of them were killed. Heavy fighting is reported at Lampezos on Monday and Tuesday, but no details have been received
 WASHINGTON, Feb. 25.-The Mexi- can situation, which has centered the last few days upon the efforts to de- termine how and if the constitution alists executed William s. Benton, was broadened when Consul Garratt of Ne evo Laredo, was instructed to inquire into the hanging by Mexican federals of Clemente Vergara, an American citizen. The consul was directed by the state department to demand the body from the officers of the Huerta government. in the vicinity of Hidalgo, where Vergara was killed Earlier in the day, Marion Letcher, American consul at Chihuahua was instructed to insist that Villa permit the delivery of the body of Benton to his widow for burial where she may wish. This, with the explanation by Secretary Bryan to the senate foreign relations committee of all the information on the Benton incident and the Mexican situation gen. erally in hands of the state department constituted the principal developments today. Villas message, offering to per- init Benton's widow and relatives, and American officials to see the body when exhumed, is taken to mean by the American government that a complete medical examination may be per. formed. Bryan told the senators, the United States is insisting that two American representatives be permitted to see the body, one of these to be ar army surgeon. It is understood that the British ambassador will be satis- fled if an opportunity for an autopsy which is to determine whether Villa shot him by pistol bullet, or by a firing squad is given. It developed that tho
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