Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-24
Former Huerta Cabinet Officer
Coming to This Country to
Be Citizen.
AMERICAN OFFICERS
ARE GREATLY RELIEVED
Removal Of Fleeing Mexican Official
Ends Constant Apprehension
for His Safety.

VERA CRUZ. May 23-:After five dav.
OF virtual imprisonment In a hotel wher.
ne was held under guard against per
sonai enemies. DR. Aureliano ur1,tia
who was minister of the interior In
Huerta's cabinet and who recently fed
from the capital to escape Huerta's
wrath, was quietly taken aboard the
United states transport Hancock this
afternoon by the American authorities.
which will carry him to Galveston.
So quietly was the transfer made that
rev outside of those who were personally
enlisted in the task of removing the
former minister, his wife and six children
ana their personal belongings to the
transport were aware of the occurrence
Early in the afternoon Lieut.. Aristides
Moreno of Judge Advocate Porter's
staff. called at the hotel with two army
automobiles and whisked the unwelcome
guests to the sanitary pier. where ReaI
Admiral Badgers barge was waiting.
Close Guard by Marines.
Before the trip to the water front be-
gan marine guards were posted incon-
spicuously along the route to be trav-
ersed, with squads covering the cross
streets and watching windows. Marines
marines followed closely.
Even the guests at the hotel and the
loungers about the cafe tables under the
portals, which commanded a view of the
whole proceeding. We're not aware that
the much-hated Mexican had been
slipped away until hours after his de-
parture.
DIR. urrutia was greatly relieved when
Lieut.. Moreno informed him that -Ad-
miral Badger had consented to his pas
sage to the United States on the Han
cock. He expressed over and over again
his gratitude to the American officers for
the care they had taken in guarding him
from his enemies, and assured the lieu
tenant that he would seek American
citizenship, having abandoned his detsr-
mination to sail for Europe.
To Become q. s. Citizen.
Dr. Crrutia declared that he intended
to go to New Orleans. where he would
probably establish a permanent residence
! uralization. His relief is shared by the
| American officers. to whom his pres
ence in Vera Cruz has been a source Of
constant worry. Both officers and men
have felt that the honor of the United
States was involved in seeing to 1t that
Urrutia left the country In safety. and
they were aware that numerous plots
political leanings for the assassination of
Huerta's former minister.
Numerous demands have been made
on Brig. Gen. Funston that Urrutia
should be held until order was restored,
and he could be tried by the Mexican
courts it being alleged that he was
guilty of murder and other high crimes.
Col Porter has made a most careful
investigation of every charge, SO far an
it was possible under the circumstances.
He found that there was not only moth
ing to warrant Urrutia'S detention for
trial by an American court. but that
the accusations against him were based
on fiinsy hearsay evidence and general
runlor.
Envoy's Actions Bear Weight.
The fact that the German minister al
Mexico City vouched for DIR. trrutia to
the extent of having aided him to es-
cape from the capital. and in recovering
funds and valuables which he had
abandoned in his hasty fight, also bore
weight with the American officers.
While Urrutia. his wife and six chill
dren were speeding to Galveston 10,
night, his six other children occupied
less enviable position. When ne haa
determined that only flight would save
his life the plans for his departure
were made with such secrecy and haste
that only the six youngest of his chill
dren could be taken The others are stu
in the capital. Presumably they are
safe. as no reports of their fli-treatmeht
have been received.