The Cordova daily times., 1916-03-31
VILLA BOTH LOVED AND HATED

Francisco Villa though bandit admitted brave and is both feared by his enemies and loved by his followers Many believe his ambition to be president of Mexico In any this Columbus raid end to his reign in MeX co having finally aroused the American troops.
 Villa born fighter, and is said to be absolutely fear less vice would tolerate drunkenness and than his firing squad has enforced his demands in this direction leaving the dead against wall ample The to the poor, and whilst bandit levied tributes upon the rich ranchcrs and distributed it amongst the pcons and therefore lacked friends He seems be of many moods and impulses both generous and cruel It is apparent that he holds life very lightly bis and hcsiated to lead his troops In the hottest actions.
 Sctchng what interesting about Villa rather than what perhaps is the most veacous there IS the romantic story of how he turned bandit. Born in 1868, in the little mining town Ncves in the state of Durango he remained there until the death of his father Then protector of his mother and sister inc became cowboy in western Chihuahua From their parents who were pconS ot northern Mexico som" accounts say very good fam), the children had inherited Spanish and Indian blood and traits The story is that when a regiment of Porro Daz soldiers visited the town, d captain aighted Villa sister. There oopmc without marriage The most meoir"m"tic accounts say that Villa gopcd after the copcrs caught them and ranged their marriage. Then he told his newly acquired brother in law sign his death certificate dig his own grave and lie beside it. Villa shot the bridegroom and rolled him into the President DaZ hearing of his officers deah price Villas head Whatever the exact truth something of this sort occurred
 Villa escaped to the mountains and became a bandit His real name been Dorctco Ogo but bandit he became Francisco and "PancIo" Villa. He gathered to- gethcr number of desperate of the northern mountain countrv and within few months his the terror of the region He Robin Hood ncanate. He and his band subssted by robbery and page the Chihuahua mountains
 According to the generous estimates of Villas life at this his ouawry rather i'll the form of guerilla than actual brigdagc for the purpose of satisfying his revenge upon the dictator Daz At the outbreak of the Madero revolt against Daz 9lO Villa unasked, cast ls lot with the Maero forces and rendered such valuable aid that Madero forced recognize the peon commander When Madero General Huerto into the north to combat with Orezcos rebelOn Villa and Huerta to clash They were much alike Each conempuous to the other. Huera had Villa arrested condemned death by military court for nsubordnaon but Maderos debt to Villa saved him from this penalty. He taken to Mexico City prison er readily escaped and pushed his north agan seeking refuge across the Texas border.
 Villa rise power dates from the day-a little less than two years agowhen he started the Rio Grande with two companions six 'bomowed' horses $7 in money and supply of beans coffee and sugar Less than year later head of we-equpped army of nearly 10000 men, whom he had personally gathered together largely in his own home region, chest of several million dollars which he had accumulated by the seizure of rich estates and full equipment weapons including artillery, practically all of ties continued be those of raider but they emneny successful From uare the north Torreon in the south he had control of more than half of Mexico.
 And there doubt abroad that this military genius, credited with ambition become president of MeXco could even read write Villa himself is said to have owned that learned write his while in prison in Mexico City It was said could read slowly but that ordinary newspaper paragraph about all he could master at one time
 His development however, is such that his friends today maintain Villas greatness in be measured by
 what five years ago. year ago. On the other hand antVla estimates declare that is only the co hesve power of which has held Villas great army ceher He openly the haer of Spanars which politically is a strong issue with his peon followers
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