The Washington herald., 1916-01-24
EXECUTED IN CEMETERY
Bernardo and Federico Duran
Curse People of U. S. with
Last Breath.
BLAME ON PUBLIC OPINION
Slayers Declare They Are Sacrifices
to Popular Clamor North
of Border.
,seiaI to The Washington Herald.


FL Paso. Jan. with curse upon
their lips against the American people,
two young MexicaRs-brothers-we shot
to death by a Csrranza firing squad in
the Juarez Cemetery at 6:N this morning
for the murder on Friday afternoon Of
Bert L. Akers, an American rancher Of
Ysleta, Tex. Bernardo and Frederico
Duran, the executed men, went to their
death standing shoulder to shoulder
against the whitewashed adobe wall Of
the cemetery. They faced the firing
sf,uad with undaunted bravery. refused
to be bindfoIded and fell together at the
first voIley.
Almost their last words was this chal
lenge, flung at the small group Of Ameri-
can newspaper men and friends OF the
murdered Akers:
Watch and see how Mexicans die, you
Americans"
The only plea of any sort was made by
Bernardo Duran. the elder brother. few
minutes before the end.
Dying for Americans"
said, in his own tongue:
We are dying for you Americans. Tell
the world that. shot the American be-
case ne was trying to force entrance to
III, home was defending my rights.
as any-nan would have done.
My brother here is entirely innocent.
llo didn't fire a shot, but they are going
.
IIc is being sacrificed to your American
public opinion. We are not afraid to die,
hut why should an innocent man be
killed? He is only p years old. am "a
Some day we will be avenged"
The Juarez cemetery is a mile and a
half from the Jail, where the condemned
men spent their last night.
The morning air was cold, but they
wore no coats when they emerged at $50
a. m from the prison and took their
places between six silent guards and set
out, sfoOt, for the place OF death.
Slowly the little procession approached
the gate At the cemetery. which stands
at the crest of a gentle rise. The little
group marched toward the death house"
in the center Of the graveyard.
!: was nearly daylight now. The moon.
hanging low in the west, struck full upon
west wall of the death house. against
which the prisoners took their stand.
Twenty feet in front of them stood five
soldiers With rides ready.
Discards Eye Cover.
Il was O'Clock. The church tolled in
Fl Paso and reverberated over the plains.
Family then. but clear, came the sound
Of reveilIe bugles in the camps of Ameri-
can regiments along the border and at
Fort Bliss. Suddenly the dawn broke
capt. Ortiz advanced and placed a soil
cd handkerchief over the younger mans
eyes. but as soon as the officer stepped
away he slipped it to his forehead and
r1uttered:
I will die like Bernardo. with my eyes
open"
Bernardo. who had stood quietly until
now. broke out into torrent of abuse
directed at the American spectators.
oh. for a carbine now in my hands, ;"
he shouted. I'D show you Americans
something. Our death will not 60 un-
avenged. Ah-watch and see how Mexi-
cans die. you American-.'
A Mexican officer who had accom-
panied the Americans to the cemetery
walked to the prisoners and said a word
or two. The younger handed him a
cheap little picture of himself and asked
that it be sent to his parents in Santa
Rita, y. NJ.
The elder gave him his hat as a pres
ent
Fire as Bell. Chime.
Then the policeman embraced them
both and Bernardo said. ''por la sausa
for the cause"
The brothers spoke softly to each other
as they turned and embraced.
Ready" said the captain.
Take aim"
Church bells in the ancient cathedral
Of Juarez began tolIing to early mass.
''Fire?
The brothers crumpIed to the ground
Bernardo's arm, even In his death
agony. lay across his brothers breast
as though trying to protect him.
A groan came from the ~rithinx figure
Of the elder. With his dying breath he
said clearly.
20 God. wait minute"
Capt Ortiz drew his revolver and ad-
ysnced to the fallen men. Quickly he
sent a bullet into the brain of each-the