The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-03-09
BODY BROUGHT
SECRETLY To
AMERICAN SIDE
Mysterious Body of Men Elk.
hume All That Is Mortal Of
Clemente Vergara, Muir
dered by Mexicans.
STATE OF TEXAS TO
MAKE EXAMINATION
Early Reports That Texas
Rangers Had Crossed Rio
Grande Denied on Au-
thority of Governor.

LAREDO, Tex, March S.-The mutt
lated body of Clemente Vergara, the
Texas ranchman lured into Texas by
Mexican federal soldiers, was secretly
brought to the American side of the
Rio Grande river early today by mys-
.terious party of men.
Departing as silently as they had
crossed the river, the men who disin-
tered the body from the Hidalgo, Mex
leo, cemetery and bore it FIVE miles to
American territory left no trace of
their identity. Their act definitely es-
tablished that Vergara was executed
after his capture.
American Consul Garrett of Nucvo
Laredo, Mexico, and Captain J. j.
Saunders of the Texas rangers were the
only persons on the American side who
were told of the intended delivery OF
the body at the border. They were not
informed they said, until after the
body had been brought across the riv-
er. They went to the scene, forty-five
miles up the river from Laredo, found
the body as they had been told they
would, and tonight had it brought 10
Laredo pending an examination the
state will have made.
Early Reports False.
None of the officials would make Il
statement except TO set at rest earlier
reports that Texas rangers and friends
Of Yergara had acted together in cross
ing into Mexico and obtaining the body
for burial by the family. Rumors were F..
TO the effect that former employees of
the Vergara ranch were responsible for
the recovery of the body.
Consul Garrett also forestalled sur
misses that the Mexican authorities
might have taken this means of re-
turning the body by saying he did not
believe they knew the body had been
removed He had never asked or re-
ceived any authority from them to re-
turn the body to Texas, he said.
Only Slight Clew.
Apparently the only clew to the iden-
tity of the men tonight was a shovel
left in the open grave in the Hidalgo
cemetery. To it was attached card
inscribed: ''Eecuerdos -" Remem
brances.
Vergara left his ranch near Balafox,
Tex, Friday, February l3, and crossed
the river into Mexico on a message from
soldiers that CAPTAIN ADO
limo Rodriguez OF the Hldalgo garrison
wished to settle for eleven horses taken
from Vergara's island pasture on the Rio
Mrs. Vergara pleaded with her husband
moi to risk seizure by the MeHicans, but
disresarding her warnings, ne crossed tne
river in company with his young nephew.
Witnessed by Wife.
Mrs. Vergara since has told how she
saw her husba nd assaulted by the walt
ing soldiers and after being knocked un-
conscious, carried off. Vergara's nephew
at the time OF the attack on his uncle es-
capped and hid In the brush until he could
recross the river
went In search OF her husband and found
him in the IIidalgo jail So far as known
there was no charge against him. He
had been cruelty beaten. according to the
WIFE she dressed the wounds, she said,
and remained with him until forced to
leave. That was the last time she ever
was taken from the jail. supposedly TO
be transferred to Piedras Negras. and
When n search was begun for the miss
ing American il was learned that q man
had been shot and his body hanged to
tree outside Of Hidalgo early sunday
morning February Is. and the body lert
hanging for several days Soon after
United States Consul Garrett at Nueyo
was removed and a fresh grave was no.
ticed in the old Hidalgo cemetery IL
sinalI, wns determined by American in
vestirators that he had been executed.
Persistent Denial.
Persistent denial was made by the
Mexican federals. however. and prior 70
this General Alvarez, commander al
piedras Negras, had promised American
r,onsuI Blocker at Piedras Negras that
yerSara would he released and his cap
fors called to account. This allayed tne
fears of his friends until his contnueu
absence set In motion an eXhausuye m
yestigation. in which the limited Statee
Consul Garrett proceeded to fiidsigo
md personalIy interviewed captain roo
-jruez. the man held responsible Tor ver
-ara:s kidnapipg but the federal captain
;onIe5 ali Knowledge OF the rancbmans
,eath and said he had been sent 10 Pc
,ras Negras but that he had ESCAPED
m rnute and that the federals we're GER
ain that he had Joined tho constitution
lists, ~. ..
.iowing numerous Mexicans and others.
CONTINUED on Page Two.)