The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1916-01-26
MEX|CANS KILL
KENTUCKY MAN
While He Was Doing a
Friendly Errand.
A VICTIM OE CATTLE THIEVES
Had Crossed the Border I'm.
armed To Locate a Wild.
owls Stolen Cattle.
BODY RECOVERED FOR BURIAL

Ell Paso, Jan. 22.-Bernardo and
Federico Duran, Mexican cattle
thieves, have confessed to the kill
ing of Bert Akers, a Kentuckian,
yesterday at San Lorenzo, Chihua-
hua, just below the boundary line,
and will be executed tomorrow
morning, according TO an announce
ment made tonight by Andreas
Garcia, Mexican Consul here.
The Durans confessed their
crime. were sentenced to death to-
day and firing squad will execute
the penalty" said Mr.. Garcia.
Akers was shot and killed by the
MeXicans yesterday near San Loren
20, chihuahua, few miles south
of the border, whittier he had gone
with Douglas Downs, another Amer
lean, and Juan Barrros. a Mexican
detective, to recover some stolen cat
tie. Downs escaped and brought
news of Akers' death to the border.
Bert L. Aker's body was brought
to this side of the river this after
noon for burial He came here re-
Gently from Horse Cave. KY, and
purchased one of the finest dairy and
alfalfa farms in the lower Rio
Grande Valley. He had stocked it
with blooded cattle and had recently
built farmhouse on it for himself
and family. He was a neighbor of
Gen. Felipe Angeles, the famous
Villa General of artillery, who also
has a big dairy in the Rio Grande
Valley.
Akers was killed While doing a
gratuitous service for a widow, Mrs.
M. Murphy. who lived adjoining his
place. Her milch COWS had been
stolen and Akers offered to go across
and locate them. Unarmed, he went
to the Mexican side after noon with
Downs and was shot down as he APP
preached the home of the Duran
gang of bandits. Downs escaped by
hiding in the brush.
Father Gets Message.
Horse Cave, Ky, Jan. 22.-Bert
Akers. who was slain on the Mexican
border yesterday, was son of p. b.
Akers, a prominent farmer near this
place. Young Akers went to MeXi-
co seven years ago from his home
here and is 2S years of age. His
father received a telegram of the
killing this afternoon and immedi-
ately wired for full particulars. The
Akers are we'll known throughout
this section of the State. Bert Ak
ers was young man who had a rep
utation of being quiet and industri-
Gus. The news of his tragic death
has caused much feeling throughout
Hart and Barren counties.
Murder Avenged.
FL Paso. Tex, Jan. 23.-Bernardo
and Federico Duran, the Mexican
cattle thieves condemned to die by
the Carranza authorities for the kill
ing of Bert Akers, Kentuckian, at
San Lorenzo, few miles below the
international boundary, Friday. were
executed at daylight in the cemetery
at Juarez. The body of Akers was
inferred here late to-day.
The Duran brothers died cursing
Americans. Bernardo appealed for
mercy on behalf of his brother, Fee
derico.
1T is unjust to kill two of us for
one American" he said. 1T is CIV
ing two eyes for one tooth. | am
willing to die, because l killed the
Gringo. but my brother ought to be
allowed to live"
The bullets of the firing squad
killed Federico. but Bernardo was
still conscious after he fell and the
officers commanding the firing squad
gave him the ''mercy shot" through