Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-01-24
Juarez Cemetery Is Scene Of
Execution Witnessed by
About 90 Spectators From
El PaSo,
THOUGHT ONE DEATH
SHOULD BE ENOUGH
Killing Two MeyicanS for One
Grlngo Puzzle to Bernardo
Duran Who Asked Mercy
for His Brother

tss sosslsa JouRHAl srrc,Al taAsso wlsal
lei Paso, Texas. Jan. 23.--Bernardo
and Frederick Duran, tho Mexican
cattle thieves. condemned to die By
tho Carranza authorities for the KILL
Ing OF Bert Akcrs at san Lorenzo,
few miles below the International
boundary, Friday. were executed at
daylight today IN tho cemetery at
Juarez. The body OF Akers was In
tered here this afternoon. The bod
les OF the Mexicnns were buried i'm.
mcdiatcly. but that OF Bernardo, who
confessed to having fired the shots
that killed Akers, was exhumed to
satisfy doubt concerning the iden-
tity OF the slayer
Executed the Right Man.
Douglas Downs, another American
who was with Akors seeking stolen
COWS. and who escaped the bullets
OF the Mexicana, declared last night
after seeing Bernardo Duran that tho
prisoner was not the man. Downs
was al Juarez cemetery when tho
face OF the executed man was ex-
posed this afternoon and then ad-
m,ted that he previously had been
mistaken. American officials were
with Downs, and their certification
that the slayer had been duly exc
cuted served tonight TO calm feeling
at Ysleta where Akers and Downs
lived, which authorities believed
might result In trouble.
Died Cursing Americans.
Thrae McNldins previously. arrested
in connection with cattle stealing at
Ysleta, were removed 10 Jail In I'll
Paso for protection.
The Duran brothers died cursiny
Americans Bernardo appealed fer
mercy on behalf Of his brother Fed
erico
IT Is unjust TO kin two Of us for
ono American" he said 1T Is CIV
ing two cyes for one tooth. am
willing 20 die, because killed the
sringo, but my brother ought to DO
allowed 20 live"
The bullets Of the firing squadron
killed Federico, but bernardo was
still conscious after he fell and the
officer commanding the firing squad
gave him the mercy shot through
the head.
Spectators In Automobiles.
Tho execution was attended by
about fifty Americans, of whom
number were women.
Tho first automobile carrying spec
tators reached the cemetery shortly
after three n. IN. II was greeted by
n lone sentry and a chorus Of dog
barks.
Tho sentry growlcd that the pris-
oners had been shot aud buried"
The machine raced back to tho
cuartel general whero drowsy cor
poral, reused from slumber OH the
floor declared the Durans we're to
be shot at o'clock by the provost
guard
Placed Before Blank Wall.
Bugos rc'sdunding revcille. how
over and the dawn was dmmIng the
moon before the prisoners, bound
and ready, appeared TO take their
place before the adobe wall where
have fallen since civil war
began in Mexico nearly six years ago.
AS the prisoners faced the rifles
II the firing squad, with eyes un-
Bernardo shouted:
watch and see how Mexlcans die.
Il had rifle" he added some of
YOU would go with us
There were NO Mexicans present
except the soldiers and officers in
.harge.
Bernardo. the elder of the Mexi-
ans, was twenty-tour years old. and
Federico was twenty-five. The lat
cr gave "a tin type picture Of him
self to "a soldier to be sent TO his
parents at Santa Rita, y. NJ. Ber-
larGo gave his hat as "A present to
policeman who embraced both prison..
.ra as they left the cuartel for tho
EXECUTION ground.
Wanted Things Hurried.
Just inside the cemetery gates the
,nrty halted for a last word with the
,andits
'Wo want to hurry up aud have 1t
'Ncr," said Bernardo IN Il srowl.
answering the question of an Ameri-
an. "Therc is nothing to say except
hat Killed the American and am
Wiling to die We thought the Amer
cans were trying to rob us and that
hey were armed The peace officer
With them had no warrant TO search
mr. place. But hurry up, have IL
'ver with"
Captain Alfredo Ortiz, commanding
he firing squad. offered Bernardo
for his eyes. He refused.
I want to see" he srowled.
81 want to die as my brother dies
aid Federico. who hraced himself
gainst his brother and said
BulIcts End II All.
We are bad men, we kill the
american: we should die"
Captain Ortiz shook hands with the