South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-01-18
Col. Miguel BaCa-ValIeS Con-
ViCted by Court Martial
of Taking Part in
Massacre.
GEN. JOSE RODRIGUEZ
MEETS THE SAME FATE
Bodies of Two Rebels Are EX-
hibited as Warning That
Americans Must be
Protected.
International News Service:
By John ". Roberts.

By John ". Roberts.
Ell PASO. Texas Jan. 1S.-With
his back TO a cottonwood tree be-
hind which his hands were tied with
heavy rope, Col Miguel Baca-Val-
les. official executioner of the Villa
army. was shot TO death in Juarez
by a Carranza firing squad at a.
m today. The execution took place
at a point one hundred yards from
the National Railways station, where
stood a special train filled with
American refugees from Mexico
which had arrived a few hours
earlier.
Col. Baca-Valles was put to death
after conviction by a court martial
on the charge of having taken part
i'm the massacre of American citizens
near Santa Ysabel a week ago Mon
day.
While Baca-Valles was being ex-
ecuted the body of Gen. Jose Ro-
driguez. another Vilhsta leader. lay
in "A freight car nearby awaiting the
hour set by the Carranza officials
for its exhibition in the Juarez rail-
way station as a warning to all Mex
leans that American lives must be
respected in Mexico. Rodriguez was
executed last week near MADEIRA.
Knew Death Was Coming.
Col. Baca-VaIles met his death
with a stOicism characteristic Of his
( Indian ancestry Knowing that he
was doomed TO death Immediately
after his arrival in Juarez, he
smoked cigarets necessarily during
the night, but the only words he ut
tered in the hearing of his guards
were:
May God be merciful to me-"
In the darkest hour Of the morn
ing. just before dawn. Baca-Valles
was led out of a water tank station
by a squad of 20 Carranzista soldiers
commanded by Capt Alexandra
Reginio. The prisoner had been
under guard at the tank station for
/ five hours.
When the execution squad arrived
! Col. Baca-Valles rose heavily 10 his
feet, cast away his last cigaret and
came out Of his prison. but without a
word Of protest. Two blocks away,
on the bank of a muddy irr sation
canal, stood a large COTTONWOOD tree.
To this marched the firing squad
with the prisoner, hands bound, in
its center
Wears Coat sweater.
Through the morning mist cleo
trio lights twinkled from the railway
station. The air was chill. but the
prisoner did not shiver. lacking
coat he wore instead a grey coat
sweater Once on the short march
Baca-NaIles stumbled and almost
fell, but recovered quickly and look
ed about him as if TO see if any Of
his guards thought he was weaken
ing
Arriving at the tree the soldiers
bound their prisoner TO its trunk by
the order Of Capt Reginio. who then
stepped up to Baca-VaIles and asked
il he wished a handkerchief placed
over his eyes. The prisoner replied:
NO me importa. 80 soy CO.
barde" ct doesn't matter TO me.
I'm no coward.)
The handkerchief was left of.
As Baca-Valles stood against the
tree ne faced directly toward the
special refugee train from Parral on
which were sleeping several scores
Of American men. women and chill
dren who had fed 10 the frontier as
a result Of a massacre for which
( Baca-Valles and Rodriguez paid the
penalty with their lives.
Faces Condemned Men.
Turning from the prisoner after
he had refused 10 be blindfolded.
. Capt Reginio gave a quick order 10
a member Of the firing squad. The
soldier unslung his rife. slipped sew
eral shells into the magazine and
stepped forward facing the con-
demned man.
When within an arms reach the
soldier halted and brought his rife
10 his shoulder. The muzzle was
within six inches of the prisoners
breast and pointed directly 20 his
I heart.
"Uno. duo, tres" counted Capt
I Regime slowly At the word tres"
Z the soldier pulled the trigger and the
I Villista officer who is credited with
having ordered the killing Of more
\ than 700 men while Villas eXecu-
I toner, crumpled up without a moan.
/ Death was instantaneous.
The corpse was Immediately un-
tied and taken on a stretcher 20 the
T railway station where il was display
ed before a curious crowd during
4 the mOraing. Later IN the day il viii