The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-12
Report 1t Was Bandit Leader
Merely as a Ruse.
Pablo Lopez, Wounded at Co.
lumbus, Meets His Finish.
MEX CATTLEMAN REVEALS PLOT
Got Story From Villistas Band
at His Ranch.
Villa Not Even Wounded
Brigands Loot Villages.

Ell Paso, April 1.-THE story o. the
death of Villa was branded a hoax by
a Mexican cattleman who arrived here
today and said his ranch near Bachi-
niba recently was visited by ba11 of
Villistas.
This man said Villa was neither dead
nor wounded but that Pablo Lopez,
the bandits notorious lieutenant and
executioner in chief, had died, and
that Villa had deliberately used his
death as the basis of the story of his
own finish. The cattleman told the
following story:
81 was in Guerrero at the time
Villa came and afterwards when the
American soldiers arrived believed
it was safe for me to return to my
ranch.
20 ViIlistas Have Barbecue.
Last Thursday a band of 20 Viii
listas rode up to the ranch house.
They took a little grain that l had
and killed one of my cows and had a
great feast. They had several bottles
of liquor that they had secured at
Guerrero and Minaca and got pretty
drunk.
"They ridiculed the American SOL
diers and boosted about the way Villa
guides to the American officers with
stories of definite places where he
was hiding. Then they talked about
Lopez and said he was dying and said
that as soon as he was dead the Grin
goes would be told it was Villa and
then they would all go home.
Outrage Women; Loot Towns.
"They did not say anything about
the whereabouts of Villa but I I'M
derstood from their talk that he was
far to the south and that they were
under orders to meet him somewhere
near Parral.'
The Mexican who told this story IS
well known to several Americans and
is considered reliable. Villas ride
south has been disastrous one for the
villages through which he passed, &C
cording to numerous reports here. His
men have looted at will and have been
ruthless in their destruction of Irop-
erty. Several report relate instances
of women being outraged and of Mex
| leans who were shot because OF their
supposed friendliness to Americans.
The most reliable information now
puts Villa in northern Durango, try
ing to arrange for a concentration Tor
the Villistas who have been operating
under Canuto Reyes.
Increase Field Ordnance.
Columbus, April Interpretations
to increase the ordnance department
at the expeditionary base here were
| being made today The men are ex-
pected from the government arsenal
| dI IhOCk 1Sld1lds Liz " e~A~
present force which is under the su-
| peryision of Lieut.. Clarence S. Dan
| ielson of Lead, S. D., who has issued
pieces to the troops in the field Gince
| the beginning of the campaign.
American troops are south OF Par
raj, some of them believed to be over
the Durango state line, riding hard on
Villas trail. The phantom Car
ranzista column reported for days to
be waiting south of Parral with a
widespread Gordon ready to head off
Villa and force him into decisive
| fight, has not yet materialiZed in re-
ports to headquarters. If this force
is in the three cornered game behind
the almost inaccessible Mexican coun-
try, Villas force is not yet out of inn
mediate danger, it was believed, in
view of assurances from Carranzista
! commanders.
Carranzistas Friendly.
Funston was highly optimistic for a
quick, successful termination of the
chase. His messages of the past week
| have repeatedly emphasized the
| friendliness and cooperation of Car
ranzista commanders. In addition, he
| has received encouraging reports on
the physical welfare of the expedition.
Both men and horses are in splendid
condition, according to advices to
| headquarters. Funston today gave I'M
! stinted praise to Colonel Dodd for
nushing his pursuit so perSiStently.