Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-01-22
YOUNG AMERICAN
RANCHER is SHOT
[Continucd From First Page.l

stolen last Monday from Mrs. Murphy,
a neighbor, at Ysleta. when Duran,
with his brother FREDERICK, opened fire
from the roof of their house.
General Gabriel Gavira, command
ant at Juarez, from headquarters,
gave out statement, which he said
covered the circumstances of the fight
as they were related to him by Ber-
nardo Duran and his brother. who
participated in the shooting and by a
squad of Carranza soldiers, who were
near the scene of the fray and who
arrested the MeXicans General Gil
vara declared that Duran claimed
self-defense. The general said that if
found guilty. the Durans would re-
ceive prompt punishment.
Shot i'm Back
Akers was shot in the back while
riding horse that also carried his
companion. Douglas Lawrence Law
renee reached Ysleta last night, sew
eral hours after the shooting and re-
ported that the Duran brothers, one of
whom is said to have served "a term
In the State penitentiary of New Mexi-
co, had been running American cattle
across the border for the last few
weeks. They were said to have been
mutilated in various ways, such as
cutting off their ears TO prevent iden-
tification.
Akers' body was brought to Juarez
early to-day for Identification by al
squad of police sent out by General
Givara.
Lawrence said they were trying to
get away from the Duran house when
they were fired on and that Duran fol-
lowed them on a horse for several
miles before Akers fell. Lawrence said
he dropped off the horse and hid in
the brush. Duran. who was found
leading the horse on which the Amer
leans had tried to escape, declared he
did not know the men were Americans
until he examined the body of Akers.
Mrs. Akers, the widow. was notified
of the death of her husband by Law
renee.
FL Paso Excited
Activities began to-day in FL Paso
among those interested in preventing
a repetition of the riotous demonstra-
tion that followed the massacre of for
eigners at Santa Ysabel January 10.
Civilian and military authorities were
early on the alert, and plans were
laid to impress the people with the ne
cessity of remaining calm.
After examining the secret service
officials and two prisoners, General
GiVara at Juarez to-day gave out the
following statement:
Three days ago two Americans ap-
peared at the office of the mayor and
requested the aid of a police officer
TO look for six or seven cows that had
been stolen from them. One officer of
the secret service was furnished.
About 3 o'clock Friday afternoon
they went toward the place named San
Lorenzo where they learned some
cows were hidden.
The Americans went to the house
and knocked, one of the Durans an
swering. He asked what they wanted
They told him they wanted to see the
cows Duran requested them to show
their authority.
Shoot From Roof
The Mexican officer said he did
not have an order for search. but
showed his star. Duran then said he
would see what his brother thought
of it., but in few moments the two
Durans appeared on the roof and be-
gan shooting at the visitors. The two
Americans and the Mexican officer re-
turned the fire, at the same time back
ing away in order to get to their
horses to flee. The Duran brothers
started in pursuit, FREDERICK Duran
after the Mexican officer and Bernardo
after the two Americans one Amer
lean reached his horse, but the Mexi-
can officer could not get to his mount.
The Mexican officer was overtaken
and relieved of his arms and badge.
Duran eXacted a pledge not to report
the matter and was taking the officer
back to the house when a detachment
of soldiers, detailed on duty in the
Ineighborhood heard the shooting and
started to investigate. The sergeant
in command apprehended FREDERICK
Duran and the Mexican officer. Duran
said he had just killed an American in
Iself-defense. He said he had pursued
the two Americans about three miles
when he saw one of them fall. The
other American jumped off his horse
and disappeared.
The sergeant brought to general
headquarters in Juarez the whole
partN'