Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-08-27
LETTER REVEALS
MURDER OF AMERICAN
BY MEXICAN BANDITS
Band of Outlaws Attacks Mine
Where Work Had Been Re-
sumed on Assurance
of Safety
NEBRAsKAN THE VICTIM
Two of His Military Escort Killed
and Others Wounded
When Ambushed

The murder Of an American by Mexican
bandits and the robbery OF one OF the
largest gold and silver mines In tnat
country is described In a letter received
by Jacob Rothschild, an investment
broker with offices I'm the DreXel Building.
Mr. Rothschild is the local representa-
tive of Makcever Brothers, OF New York,
owners OF the El Favor mine, the stock
Of which Is held TO a large extent by
sent by James IT. Nelson, an employe OF
Makeever Brothers, on May 81 Because
Of the inadequacy of the Mexican mail
service, caused by the turbulent political
conditions, the letter was just received.
II tells how Glenn Parmenter, native
or Nebraska, was held up by band of
outlaws, robbed OF gold valued at 5000.
his body horribly mutilated and his gold
teeth knocked cut of his mouth, that they
could be converted into cash. Two Mex
lean soldiers, members Of Parmenters
military escort, were also killed, and two
others were injured. Parmenter begged
the bandits to take the gold and spare
his life, but the robbers were unrelentng.
MUTILATED BY MURDERERs
When the body was returned to the
mine and examined an explosive bullet
was found in his eye, an ordinary bullet
in his body and six explosive missiles in
municated to Major Riveros, and hun
dred soldiers are now searching for the
assassins. The unfortunate man was only
30 years old and was regarded by his en-
ployers as a worker of unusual executive
ability. He was engaged on April 4, 1915,
as superintendent of the mill attached to
the FL Favor mine.
On March 1 General Villa issued orders,
according to the letter. that all mines not
in operation within 90 days should be
confiscated. In accordance with that
command, Mr. Nelson made all necessary
arrangements for the beginning of work,
the El Favor mine having been idle for
many months because of the risks to
which American property was sub
jected.
WORK RESUMED BY MINERS.
Mr.. Parmenter and Mr. Nelson de-
parted from Guadalajara for El Favor on
April 4. arriving two days later. They
were assured that a resumption of opera
tions would not be attended by any
danger. Various supplies were needed
so that Mr.. Nelson was compelled to re-
turn for awhile to Guadalajara. Mean
while, the work was conducted without
! interruption, the miners declaring that
they had been starving and would be
glad to return to steady jobs.
Word was soon passed about, however.
that polio" described In the letter as
| an assassin" and "robber," was in
the vicinity Polio" whose real name
was Castellon, was wanted as a de-
serter from the army and report of
his whereabouts was dispatched to Hos
totipaquillo. Troops were scarce then,
so that the Mexican were unwilling to
send soldiers to arrest him either as a
| menace to the Americans or as deserter
from the Mexican army.
BANDITS ATTACK CAMP.
A night watch was at first instituted
but when 1t was reported that polio
had left the district, all employees were
| permitted to retire at midnight. The re-
| taxation of vigilance was costly. how
ever, for at o'clock on the morning
of May II several bandits made their
| appearance in the camp, armed with
Mauser carbines. knives and pistols.
The Americans were disarmed while the
| Mexicans departed, taking $342 with them
| A far larger amount, concealed in safe
was not discovered by the robbers.
Mr.. Nelson was held up again several
days later and when his life was threat
ened he surrendered $1,000 in bullion, which
was carried away on the backs of mules
| Five of the II thieves were later appre-
| hended and after a brief encounter be-
| tween them and the soldiers the bandits
| escaped, with one of their number wound
ed. They lost part of the booty during
| the hight Whlcn occurred near lne INNING
| camp.
KILLED FROM AMBUSH.
Subsequently, Mr. Parmenter was held
up at Jocotillo, and it was here that he
| met his death. He was accompanied by
| ten soldiers and two mule drivers. When
the first word of the murder had been
received % men were sent out to search
for Parmenter. They returned to the
camp on May 26 bsarning the body of
the murdered American.
Their hasty investigation led them to
believe that Parmenter had been am
bushed. Although a complete story of
I the massacre will never be obtained. il
is thought that when the first volley
was fired all of the native soldiers de-
serted the American, excepting the two
who were killed and the others who were
wounded.
A report OF the affair was dispatched
to Will b. Davis. American Vice Consul
at Guadalajara. The concluding para
graph read
"Such a dastardly and brutal crime has
cast quite a gloom over the district. and
as Mr.. Parmenter has been the third vic
tim to bandits in the Ell Favor district
since the month of April last year the
writer trusts that YOU will use avery ef-