The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1915-12-24
.MADERO KILLED BY
HIS OWN FRIENDS.
De La Barra Tells Story After
Long Silence.
DEFENDS HUERTA CABINET
Got First News OF Tragedy Wren
Huerta Told Him They Had Been
Slain BY Bandits Who At
tempted To. Free Them.
DEFENDS HUERTA CABINET


former provisional president Of Mex
leo. and minister of foreign affairs at
the time of the death of President
Madero and Vice-President Pine
Suarez, told the circumstances attend
ing that tragic eyent-the first state
ment he had made on this or any other
Mexican subject during the long period
of turbulence and disorder in that
country.
Senior de la Barra came here as
Mexican ambassador after retiring
from the provisional presidency and
later in the shift of administration in
Mexico he gave up his diplomatic posi-
ton and devoted his attention to pri-
vate affairs.
Personally would have preferred
to have continued SILENT" said Senior
de la Barra, "and to have allowed to
pass the calumnious attacks which
have appeared in some books and pa
pers, believing that they have fallen
by their own weight. On the other
hand, not wishing legend put in cir
culation for obvious political reasons,
to take form as reality, and also be-
cause do not wish my silence to Se
misinterpreted, consider that it is
my duty to make this declaration:
His Story OF Tragedy.
Il declare in the most solemn and
precise manner that the death of MI.
moi
brought about as result of a council
of the cabinet and that the first in
formation l had of this tragic occur
renee without any antecedent circum-
stance permitting me to foresee such
an event was given to me by General
ruary %, 1913.
ION Friday, February 81, at noon.
at a cabinet council, / Intercepted
the Minister of Justice and the Minis
ter of War, asking if they had any Of
fetal knowledge of the detention of
Mr.. Madero and Pine Suarez Their
replies were negative and thereupon
urged the strict necessity of conform
ing with the most scrupulous regard
to the requirements of the law. / added
that in case the examination Of the
documents, to be submitted to the
Secretary of Justice, led that official
to the conclusion there was legal JUS
LITIGATION for detention, then these
papers should be sent to the COM
petent authorities for action. Some
of the cabinet ministers spoke in SINH
lar terms and it was finally unanimous
ly agreed that the Minister OF JUS
tice, after receiving the documents,
should proceed in accordance with
the law.
Slain BY "Friends."
s'Following this, General Huerta
told us that. owing to the lack of Sc
curity in the apartments at the Ma
tional Palace, occupied by Mr.. Madero
and Pine Suarez, he was going to give
orders for their removal from the
palace to the penitentiary, where there
would be additional security. After
renewed ratification of the decision of
the cabinet, in regard to acting strict.
~ W1luAA bAO A6WS We AA4oACu tAAD
meeting at l o'clock on Friday after
noon. have In my hands several let
tiers from the other cabinet ministers
giving confirmation to the foregoing
statements.
81 did not return to the National
Palace until midnight, Saturday. Feb
ruary %, when was called there by
telephone from a member Of General
Huerta's staff, who said he desired to
inform me and the other ministers
that very grave event had occurred.
General Huerta then told me that Mr.
Madero and Pine Suarez had been
killed in fight while they were being
removed to the penitentiary. He
stated that as the automobile bearing
them and the escort were proceeding
toward the penitentiary, two armed
bandits opened fire with the apparent
purpose of freeing Madero and Pine
Suarez, and that in the ARRAY which
ensued, both had been killed, also two
other men and fifth man who was
wounded and taken prisoner.