New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-02-12
Mexican Left Them When
He Fled, and He Says
Villa Sold Them.
WANTS THE $4,000
THAT GENERAL GOT
MARTINEZ Brings Action Against
Leather Firm Which Bought
Fugitive's Stock.

The government In Washington may
refuse TO recognize Pancho villa. the
chancellcries of Europe may look upon
him as a mere brigand, but he should
worry.
His government has been recognized
bv the Central Leather Company,
corporation duly formed under the laws
OF the sovereign state of New Jersey.
True. this Reorganization does not carry
international weight, but Villa has
So. 900 OF the Central Leather Com
pany's good money, and, as General
". J. Wollman. leader Of the insurgent
stockholders Of the Central Leather
Company. has been known 10 remark.
every little bit helps.
The recognition of Villa became
known yesterday through the fling Of
papers in a suit brought by Manuel NJ.
Martinez. a merchant Of Torreon. Mex
leo, who asserts that the Central
Leather Company has some 1900 per
fectly good hides which, in order 10
save his own hide, he was compelled 10
leave in Torreon when Villas forces
took that city on October last.
Villas men could not take Maritime
for he broke all worlds records in
sprinting TO his favorite cyclone cellar
where he remained until December >,
when tire forces Of General Huerta re-
took the town. Then, when MARTINEZ
emerged, he found that his home had
been looted, his Offices burned and that
his hides were missing. He traced the
hides to Juaroz and thence across the
river to III Paso, but owing TO the fact
that he was not moving as rapidly as
when ne left Torreon TO avoid meeting
Villa ne arrived one day after they had
been sold by agents Of Villa TO the
Central Leather Company and shipped
North.
SO Northward Martinez hied himself.
This time he had the advantage, for he
wardcd by the steamer FL Oricnte, OF
the Morgan Line Before the steamer
arrived he retained Harrington, Big
nam & Englcr. of No. G. Wall street,
TO rcplcvin the goods, and when they
were landed at the Jersey piers of the
Pennsylvania and Erie railroads. billed
for the tanncrics of the company, in
Rib Lake, Wis, Deputy SEeriffs Walsh,
Sullivan and Mccarthy seized the
goods on a writ issued by the Hudson
County Circuit Court. Martinez said
he identified the goods by his brand
marks, and the Central Leather Com
pany, wishing TO turn the skins into
leather, gave a bond to secure their re-
lease.
Then. in order to expedite matters,
Mr. Martinez went before George II.
Beach, special master in chancery.
who took his testimony. lie told Of
his escape from Torreon, leaving the
five carloads of cattle and goat skins
behind, of his subsequent discovery of
their travels and his Identification
which. according TO his counsel, oscar
Houston. Of Harrington, Bigham &
Englcr, was perfect Later, when the
case comes TO trial the testimony be-
fore the master will he submitted in
writing.
The Central Leather Company, rep
resented in the action by Frank H.
Plat. of O'Bricn, Boardman & Plat,
OF No. Rector street, does not recog-
nze Mr.. Martinez's claim to the skins.
1t contends that his identification is
faulty, that he has yet 10 prove that he
ever owned the property in question.
and that. anyway, Villa was the de
facto government and could give per-
feet title 10 anything he might seize.