Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-01-24
AMERICANS, INCLUDING WOMEN,
WATCH EXECUTION OF TWO
DURAN BROTHERS.
CARRANZA FIRING SQUAD
GIVES ONE ENERGY SHOT"
Brothers Object to Giving Two Lives
For One-Bernardo Duran Cries
"Watch Us Mexicans Die"-Con-
fesses to Firing Shots Which Killed
Akers-Bodies Buried Immediately.

FL Paso, Tex, Jan. 24.-Fifty Amer
leans, among whom were several wom-
en- and also representatives of the
United States government, saw a Car
rama riding squad avenge Sunday the
murder of Bert Akers. The Duran
brothers We're executed legally at dawn
in the cemetery at Juarez, Bernado
cursing Americans with his last breath
and begging mercy for Federico.
1T is unjust to kill two of us for
one America" said Bernardo. 1T is
giving two eyes for one tooth.
Il am willing to die, because I killed
the gringo, but my brother ought to
be allowed to live"
Gives the "Mercy Shot,
The bullets Of the firing squad killed
Federico, but Bernardo was conscious
after he fell. The officers command
ing the firing squad gave him the
mercy shot" thru the head.
The bodies of both MeXicans were
buried Immediately. but that Of Ber-
nardo, who confessed to having fired
the shots that killed the American
ranchman, was exhumed to satisfy a
doubt concerning the identity Of the
slayer.
Douglas Downs, an American who
was with Akers seeking stolen cows,
but escaped the bullets of MeXicans
had declared after seeing Bernardo
Duran in jail that the prisoner was
not the murderer.
At the Juarez cemetery. however,
when the face of the executed man
was exposed. Downs admitted he had
been mistaken.
Fear Trouble at YsIeta.
American officials were with Downs
and their certification that the slayer
had been duly executed served at night
to calm a feeling at Ysleta, where
Akers and Downs lived, which authori-
ties feared might result in trouble.
Three Mexicans previously arrested
in connection with cattle stealing at
Ysleta were removed to Jail in Ell Paso
for protection.
Go to Execution by Auto.
Bernardo and Federico Duran were
Mexican cattle thieves and were con-
denned to die by the Carranza au-
thor!ties for the killing of Akers Fri
day at San Lorenzo. a few miles be-
low the international boundary. @
The execution was attended by
many besides Americans. The first
automobile carrying spectators reached
the cemetery soon after a. m. 1t was
greeted by lone sentry and chorus
of dog barks.
The sentry srowled that the pris-
oners had been shot and buried
The machine raced back to the
Quartet general where drowsy CORP
oral, reused from slumber on the
floor, declared the Durans We're to be
shot at O'Clock by the provost guard.
"Watch Us Mexieans Die"
BugIes Were sounding reveille and
dawn was breaking when the pris-
oners, bound and ready, appeared to
take their place before the abode
wall where hundreds have fallen since
civil war began in Mexico, nearly six
years ago.
AS the prisoners faced the rifles OF
the firing squad. with eyes unban-
aged, Bernardo shouted:
Watch and see how Mexicans die.
If l had a rifle some of you would go
with u.s."
There We're no Mexicans present ex-
cept soldiers and officers in charge.
Bernardo was "a years old and
Federico %. The latter gave a tin
type picture of himself to a soldier
to be sent to his parents at Santa
Rita, N. NJ. Bernardo gave his hat
as a present to policeman who en-
hraced both prisoners as they left
the Quartet for the execution ground.