New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-18
No Confirmation Had
of Reported Find
ing of Corpse.
EVEN MEXICANS
BEGIN TODOUBT
Consul Letcher Wires
Nothing Known of Sub
ject at Chihuahua.
,r,or, - corr.,p,nien, 0, IL, rritun.l

rF,on SAT Corr.,ponient o, Tie Tribune
I'll Paso. Tex. April 17.-Contirma-
ton or denial Of the reported hnding
- the body of Francisco Villa was
lacking tonight. The telegraph wires
were blown down at noon to-day Just
below Pearson. Mexico. according 70
General Gabriel Gavira. Carranza COM
mander at Juarez.
General Gavira stated tonight 'haO
he had been unable TO learn anything
definite as 10 the reported death OF the
bandit chieftain. Of the supposed md
ing Of his body or Of the Whereabouts
OF the expedition escorting toward
cpsihuiriachic the corpse which mas
been asserted as that OF Villa.
Before interruption OF the wire ser
,.ica between Juarez and Chihuahua
Consul Letcher telegraphed from tna'
state capital that he had heard nothing
~ tho alleged finding Of the body OF
The outlaw leader.
ENen MeNlfHn-
co,.souentlv. skepticism as to the
- ~ the stories from various MeXi-
cor sources. all dovetaiing remarkably
.ho, Villas end had come on a secluded
ranch near San Francisco Bora mas
nene,rated even 10 yesterdays creou-
Ions element in Juarez. That Chihua-
hr, border city. on Sunday ostenta-
,iously but unoficially celebra'ive OF
,ba spnnosed northward funeral march
n yillaism. to-day questioned seri-
ou,lv that villa was dead.
Now tho border is wondering II the
hodr found IN the ranch, in the event
on. really was found there, might no'
bo tha. II Pablo Lopez. who was re-
ported first wounded at Columbus 'hen
dead and again as fleeing southwark
in wounded condition before Pershing
advance columns. Hence. revival OF
the theory that Villa had used the
dsa.b of the notorious butcher Of Santa
y.abel as the basis OF false report
~ his own dccease. This story was
retold to-day by an American owner OF
lave. ranch in the Guerrero district,
u.ho said he had received it from MS
ranch foreman and believed II TO be
true.
Mexican officials here and in Juarez
nointed ou. to-day that II the body had
been brought to Cusihuirischic IL
might take the better part OF day 10
transport i. from there TO chihuahua
CITY. The roadbed between the two
noints is in deplorable condition. like
that Of all other railroads in Northern
Mexico.
Officially there has been no report
from any American army othcer IN
Mexico. although United States troops
are near where the body IS SAID 70
have been found. General Pershing
has not been able 20 get any dehhite
information on the subject.
The body was 10 have reached Cusi-
huiriachic this afternoon. Mining men
here who are in touch with that poin.
Rad not been advised tonight OF its
arrival. According TO the Mexican pro-
gramme the body should reach Chihua-
hua City tomorrow afternoon.
Gavira Gets More "Details.
General Gavira talked today with
the telegraph operator at San Antonio
Chihuahua. and obtained further de-
tails Of the reported finding OF Nillas
body.
According TO the San Antonio oper-
stor on last Saturday General Cavazos
and Colonel Carlos Carranza, who were
at Cusihuirachic. received informa-
ton that Villa band was operating IN
the neighborhood. Two CarraNa or
GERS with a body OF men engaged the
Continued on page q. column