The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1916-04-18
VILLA is DEAD
GARCIA CLAIMS
Two Reports Come from Mex
leo Containing Story.
BODY is ON WAY To BORDER

BY Captured Colonel-Bandit S
Corpse Exhumed at Francisco Boyja.
Leg Found Gangrened With Knee
Shattered by Wound.
Ell Paso, April 17.-Pancho Villas
body was taken out of it's lonely grave
at Francisco Borja near Cusihuiria-
chic, Chihuahua, and positively identi-
fed according to Mexican official ad-
vices and private messages from San
Antonio, Mex The bandit died from
gangrene, as a result of a wound In
his left knee.
News from Several Sources.
The story of the finding of the body
came from several sources. First
Carranza officials received messages
from San Antonio and MADEIRA, both
il the State of Chihuahua. Later a
private message from San Antonio,
Chihuahua, confirmed the finding of
the body and gave the details This
message said that former Villa col
onel, captured by General CayaZos, a
CarranZa commander, offered, if his
life was spared, to show where Villa
was buried. The offer was accepted
and he led a command under Colonel
Carlos Carranza, nephew OF the first
chief of the ConstitutionaGsts, to the
lonely grave of the former Mexican
cZar. The message said the body was
positively identified on being taken
up and that an examination showed
that death had resulted from saa
creme, as a result Of a gunshot wound
in the left knee. The body was belng
brought to San Antonio, to be taken
to Chihuahua City and then Juarez,
the message said.
Wants Americans to View 1t.
Andres Garcia, CarranZa consul in E
Paso, as soon as he received the mrs.
report of the capture OF Villa sent
telegram to Governor Gutierrez, OF the
State of Chihuahua, asking him TO
nave the body of Villa sent to Juarez
hat Americans night view it and sa'
tisfv themselves of the death OF The
bandit.
Bears Out Previous Report
The story of the location of the
BODY tallies with that of a week ago
regarding the death of Villa. 1t was
stated at that time that he died some
where in the vicinity of San Antonio
or Satevo and had been buried on
ranch. One of the Mexican inform
ants of General Pershing's men at the
time said he could point out the grave,
but it is not known if he was given a
chance to do so or not.
The Americans did not credit the
report of the death and continued
their chase after the men who had
been known to be with Villa, in the
hope that Villa was with them or at
least If he was he would be captured.
The Carranzistas placed more credit
In the report and Immediately took
steps to locate the body if possible.
Ry Accident General Garazos who
fought with Villa at Guerrero and
whose forces drove the V1lllstas out
of the town made prisoner OF q for
mer colonel on the staff of Villa. The
prisoner admitted that he had been
with his chief in his last days and
said he was present at the burial
For the price of his life he offered to
convey the Carranzistas to the grave
where they could exhume the body
and satisfy themselves. General Ca
vazos detailed Colonel Carranza for
the command and instructed him to
shoot the former Villista if he at
tempted to get away or his story
proved false. They were sent out from
Cusi. the in.ermer asserting that vii
las body could be found at Francisco
Boyia, thirty miles south
Says Body Is Identified.
Sunday messengers brought in the
news, according to the dispatches
from San Antonio and MADEIRA, that
the body had been taken out of its
grave and had been positively identi
fed Villa had been buried, it was
stated. as he had caused so many
others to be inferred, with his fight
ing apparel. The message from San
Antonio said Villas trousers on his
right leg had been split because of the
terrible swelling resulting from the
gangrene in the gunshot wound re
ceived at Guerrero.
State Department Gets News.
Washington, April 1.-THE state de
partment made the following an
nouncement:
"Zack Cobb, collector of customs a.
FL Paso, reports that customs authori
ties at Juarez informed him that the
dead body of Villa has been found il
place and manner not stated
''The body will be brought into Chi
huahua from Cusi by special train"