The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-04-25
MAYOR Of MEXICAN TOWN KILLS
HIMSELF WHILE A j. 5. PRISONER
WAS TAKEN WITH ONE OTHER
AS HOSTAGE TO STOP
SHIPPERS
Misunderstood Motive Owing To Pre-
JUDGE Against Americans And
Sent Knife Into Heart

COLUMBUS. " NJ. April ga
story OF the suicide OF the mayor ol
Mexican village. who chose death
at his own hands in preference to liv.
ing as an American hostage. was
brought here today by n widely known
american returning from a business
Trip in Mexico. The story, dramatic
in its details. was verified. he said. by
several expeditionary officers. who re-
gard the attitude OF the Mexican rs
typical OF that OF some of the more
ignorant poems.
The Mexican. presidente OF q
squalid adobe village along the Ameri
can line OF communication. together
with another native. was taken pris
oner by American cavalrymen. accord
ing to the story. after snipers who
have menaced American columns had
been traced to the village.
Given an army mess kit at meal
time. seized a small sharp knife. and.
barring his breast. folded his arms and
pressed the knife underneath them
into his heart before his guards could
stop him. Meanwhile. the other host
age attempted 10 escape and was shot
so seriously that he died shortly aft
erwards.
Shippers have been particularly act
i've in the last week in the district
though few of their bullets found their
marks. the American said. Accord
ingly. The military authorities served
warning on the Jefes Of some of the
communities that summary action
would follow further activity. When
the warning was disregarded the two
were taken from a village which the
ranchman said was Las Cruces, ~
be held as hostages against a repeu-
tiOn of the Offense
The ranchman also said that Major
Frank Tompkins Is rapidly recovering
Is Is Lieutenant James Ord. who was
shot through the. left ear.
The eNpeditionary force was further
strengthened today by the dispatch of
a column of infantry. 4 band. the first
To enter Mexico with the expeditionary
forces, played marching songs from
the head of column nearly "A mile
long as II crossed the border. Unoffi-
cially II was learned that part OF the
detachment at least is bound for an
advanced point along the American
line.
The only activity reported from the
mont today was renewed reports "a
eXterminate the scattered bands OF
villa followers which, learning of the
halt in the American operations. ap-
parently have become more daring in
their forays. \ detailed map of Co
lumbuS and the military reservation
was lbuuu ON the DOlN OF Mexican
killed in sortie across the frontier
following the raid. according to a story
brought to the border today. The map
Il now said to be in the possession
of an officer of the Thirteenth cavalry
AZ the front. The nap. according "a
the story. showed me roads leading
into Columbus and the location OF the
principal business houses and desig.
mated homes of various officers of the
American command. With IL was a
typewriter article stating that Ameri.
can business interests were attempt.
ing 10 obtain control of the Mexican
railroad lines. II was asserted. and il
pointed out in support of the conten.
ton that the conference between Pres.
ident TAFT and President Diaz in FL
Paso several years ago. was to make
arrangements for such transactions
The story Of the finding Of the papers,
which apparently came from a reliable
source. could not be verified here to
dav. however
Only meagre and somewhat conflict
reports seeped across the border to-
day but these agreed that the mac
uNlty or the American troops in the
field continued At the base camp,
concentration of supplies and troops
continued although numerous rumors
We're current that plans areunder way
Tor the transfer OF the base TO some
Other point east along the border ana
closer 10 the scene of operations in
Mexico. Nothing Official however was
available.