Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-09

seized February 10 by Capt Apolonio
Rodriguez and three federal soldiers "A
Mexican who claimed to have VIII,
messed both the execution ana puIIal
Of vergara led them across country
toward Hidalgo and. skirting the Sleep
ing town, showed them a new grave
in far corner of the cemetery wnich
had caused comment when VerSara
disappearance became known
The grave was shallow. ana no care
had been exercised to protect the body
from the covering earth. A rude pine
box soon was lifted out. and the work
.ers evidently had known the ra men an
body they sought. The homeward
journey began with the party still un.
challenged. Once back on American soil
fication. This was made by the family,
and the body was consigned to the
waiting officials.
The party had no permission from
Mexican authorities to make the trip
and obtain the body. and Consul Gar
rett said last night that he had never
requested permission from the federals
to have this done. What complications.
II any might result from the trip into
foreign territory apparently caused no
uneasiness among Vergara's friends,
who pointed out the peaceful character
Of the party.
What Examination Of Body Disclosed
All cXdiulHhtlOn Oh NeTSdfdS poOy OlS-
closed that he had been shot twice
through the head and once through the
neck and his skull crushed as by a blow
from a rife butt. The charred finger Of
the left hand indicated that he had been
tortured before being put to death.
Identification was made by Vergara's
son and by friends in the party which
made the grim journey to the Hidalgo
rtV fha any1yy mn n
yesterday. The body was not greatly
decomposed. despite the fact it had been
buried three weeks. In addition to
recognizing the features. Vergara's son
took a bit of cloth from the trousers on
the body and matched 1t to the coat his
father wore the day he crossed the Rio
Grande.
The body was brought into the United
States at a point opposite Hida go and
near the Vergara ranch. American Con-
sui Garrett Of Nuevo Laredo. deputy
sherirs and other authorities were wait
ing to receive II, and, pending the ar
rival Of an undertaken from Laredo, an
armed force stood guard over the body.
Mexicans Give Secret Testimony.
A secret investigation. in which many
Mexicans had been questioned. Is un-
derstood to have preceded the trip into
Mexico. Leading the force was a man
who claimed to have been witness
to both the execution and burial OF
Vergara-
The force gathered near the Vergara
ranch. not far from the spot where
Vergara crossed the river to meet the
Mexican federals, who promised re-
enumeration for stolen horses. Moving
silently they began the overland march
to Hidalgo, distance of about five
miles. They avoided the town. 1t was
said, under the cover of night and met
no one likely to question their journey.
Location of the grave proved an easy
task, for 1t has been a center of specu-
lation and wonder since 1t appeared
after a swinging body had been cut
down from the place of execution. when
pearance started an investigation. The
body had been rudely inferred. with
little effort to protect II from the earth.
With their burden fixed on q stretcher,
carried by six of Vergara's friends, the
procession started unchallenged on the
return journey. which brought Clemente
vergara home again to the United
States.
Permit to Exhume Not Given.
The American consul at Nuevo Laredo.
A. B. Garrett. said last night he had no
permission to recover vergara's body and
had asked for none. Before his state
ment the circumstances of his previous
Investigations Of Vergara's death and the
apparently friendly attitude of high
Mexican federal authorities In the zone
affected gave rise to the report that he
had such permission and had expected to