Arizona republican., 1916-01-24
DEATH AT D/ lBREAK. OF DURAN BROTHERS
 CATTLE THIEVE s
Republican A. p. Leased Wire1

Federico Duran, the Mexican cattle thieves condemned to die by the Car ranza authorities for the killing of Bert Akers at San Lorenzo, few miles below the international boundary Fri day were executed at daylight today in the cemetery at Juarez. The body of Akers was inferred here this after noon.
 The bodies of the Mexicans were buried immediately, but that of Der nardo aho confessed to having fired the shots that killed Akers, was eX- humed to satisfy a doubt concerning the identity of the slayer.
 Douglas Downs, another American who was with Akers seeking stolen cows. and who escaped the bullets of the MeXicans. declared last night after seeing Bernardo Duran that the pris- Oner was not the man. Downs was at the JuareZ cemetery when the face of the executed man was exposed this afternoon and then admitted that he previously had been mistaken. Amer ican officials were with Downs, and their certification that the slayer had been duly executed served tonight to calm a feeling at Ysleta, where Akers and Downs lived. which the authorities believed might result in trouble.
 Three Mexicans previously arrested in connection with cattle stealing at YsIeta, were removed to jail in Fl Paso for protection.
 The Duran brothers died cursing Americans Bernardo appealed for mercy on behalf of his brother Fed rico.
 It is unjust to kill two of US for one American" he said. Tt is giving two eyes for one tooth. I am willing to die, because | killed the Gringo. but my brother ought to be allowed to live"
 The bullets of the firing squad killed Fedrico. bu- Bernardo was still con- scious after he fell. and the officer commanding the firing squad gave him thc mercy shot" through the head. The execution was attended by about fifty Americans, of whom a number were women.
 The first automobile carrying spec tators reached the cemetery shortly after three a. m. It was greeted bv a lone sentry and a chorus of dog barks. The sentry growled that "the prison CTS had been shot and buried
 The machine raced back to the cuar- tel general where a drowsy corporal. reused from slumber on the floor de- clared that the Durans were to be shot at five o'clock bv the provost guard. Bugles were sounding reveille, how ever. and the dawn was dimming the moon before the prisoners. bound and ready, appeared to take their place be- fore the adobe wall where hundreds have fallen since civil war began in Mexico nearly six years ago. As the prisoners faced the rifles of the firing squad. with eyes unhand- aged. Bernardo shouted: Watch and sec how MeXicans die.
 If I had q rifle" he added, some of you would go with us There were nc Mexicans present except the soldiers and officers in charge. .,-' Bernardo. the elder Ot the MeXicans
 was 2i years old. and F'edrico was p
 The latter gave a tin type picture of
 himself to a soldier to be sent 70 his parents at Santa Rita, New Mexico | Bernardo gave his hat as a present to ! a policeman who embraced both pris- oners as thev left the cuartel for the
 execution ground.
 Just inside the cemetery gate the | party halted for a last word with the | bandits
 | We want to hurry up and have Il over" said Bernardo in a grOwl. an 1 swering the question of an American "There is nothing to say except that killed the American and am willing tC die. We thought the Americans were trying to rob us and that they were 1 armed The peace officer with then l had no warrent to search our place But Hurry up and have it over with. 1 Captain Alfredo ortiz, commanding
 the firing squad. offered Bernardo 2
 handage for his eyes. He refused. 'l want t. see he growled. | T want to die as my brother dies 1 said F'edriCo. who braced himself 1 against his brother and said:
 We are bad men. we kill the Amer 1 ican: we should die
 Captain Ortiz shook hands with thu prisoners and embraced them. Ther he stepped back and gave the orders
 to aim and fire.
 The Durans sank to the ground. l From the ground came moan: 1 "Oh senOr"
 | The captain stepped to the bodies
 one shot through the head and Der nardo ceased moaning
 A shot also was fired into the heaC
 of Fedrico and the American specta
 tors hurried back to this side of th' border.