The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-03-11

Mexican fcdcrals, however and prior
to this Gen. Aware, commanding a.
Piedras Negras. had promised Amer.
/ lean Consul Blocker at Piedras Ne
gras that Nergara would be released
and his captOrs called to account
This allaycd the fear OF his friends
until his continued absence set in mo-
tion an exhaustive investigation in
which the United States government
took q part. Consu! Garrett pro-
cceded to Hidalgo and personally in
tervicwed Capt. Rodriguez, the man
held responsible for Vcrgara's kid
mapping, but the federal captain de-
MED all knowledge OF the ranchman's
death and said he had been sent to
Piedras Negras, but had escaped en-
route and that the fcdcrals were Ger.
tain he had joined the constitutional
/ isis.
Consul Garrett, however, after in
tcWicwing numerous MeXicans and
others, reported officially that Yer
CARA had been executed. He added
that he was convinced from the fed
erals attitude while he was in Hi
dalSo that it would have been dan
gcrous for him to demand surrender
OF the body.
The investigation was ordered con-
/ tinued by the state department and
in addition the state of Texas also
ordered an investigation by Texas
rangers, the State military police.
who guard the border. The island
pasture Of Vergara, where it had first
been reported he was assaulted, COM
plicated the affair by the question
whether it was Mexican or American
territory until it was found that Yer
CARA had been taken on the Mexican
mainland. This rendered those re-
sposihie safe from state prosecution.
- the horses were alleged to have
heon taken from this pasture, how
ever, and county records showed it
ITO belong to the state OF Texas, Mrs
Nergara filed an affidavit charging
Capt Rodriguez and three of his men
with horse theft.
Gov. ColQuitt requested permission
Of the United States department to
send Texas rangers across the border
to pursue the "abductors and muir
derers' of Vergara and was told by
Secretary Bryan that the United
States government alone cared to take
authority for sending an armed force
into foreign country. Later when
Mrs. Nergara made the charge of
horse theft, Gov. Colquitt asked Of
the state department, whom the Unit
cd States recognized as constituted
authority in northern Mexico, 80
that he might make reQusition. un-
der the Mexican treaty, for the mon
named This question was never an
swered to the satisfaction OF Gov
Colquitt, and the governor announced
that. to solve the question, he would
stitutionalist governors Of the States
Of Nuevo Leon and chihuahua. This
was on Friday, and SO far as known
the requisition has not been issued.
Vergara's seizure and dsappear-
ance cast the Texas border country
in this section into q turmoil. Many
and while there has been no sign OF
disorder feeling has run high. Dis
satisfaction was especially keen be-
cause OF what Vergaras friends
thought Il delay in demanding return
of his body for burial, and there had
been rumors that an attempt might
be made to secure it. Interest IN the
case was renewed tonight.
Named in Mrs. Vergara's com
plant were Capt Apolonio Rodriguez
and the following privatcs of the Hill
dalgo federal garrison: Nito Sierra,
Juan Nastillon and Andres Rodriguez
II has been said that they were trans
ferred TO another post after the Ver-
cara incident became public. Their
arrest was promised by Gen. Joaquin
Maas. federal commander of the
northern zone f Mexico, when Coy.
Colquitt asked if rcquisition would
20 honored, but it was not said
whether they would be delivered to
Texas authorities.
no further word has come from
Gen. Mas.