The Washington herald., 1917-02-16
3 BODIES FOUND
NEAR U. S. Line;
BANDIT VICTIMS
FormerPershing Scout Discov-
ers Corpses Near Mexican
American Boundary.
ONE HORRIBLY MANGLED
Men We're Captured in Raid Near
Hachita. N. NJ. Last Monday.
All We're Married.

FL Paso. Tex. Feb. 15.-The bodies Of
three cowboys, all believed here to be
American citizens, were found one mile
sixty-five miles from Hachita, N Mex,
according to a telegram received here
tonight. The cowboys were captured by
Mexican bandits In the raid on the Corner
Ranch last Monday. The body Of one of
the men was horribly mutilated.
The victims of the latest outrage on
the American border are A. Peterson, jr.,
Burton Jenson and Hugh Accord.
All three men were married and Peter
son was the father of seven children All
wers Mormons.
Scout Brought Word.
News Of the outrage came In a message
from Lem Spillsbury,I who was one Of
the Mexican scouts with Gen. Pershing' s
expedition. He telegraphed to the father
Of Peterson. one of the slain men who
came here to plead with Gen. Pershing and
State Department Officials for permis-
sion to organize a band of cowboys to go
in search Of his son and other captured
men. -.
Spillsbury's message stated that search
ers found Jensen's body first. His bod 7
Indicated that the cowboys head had
been beaten and crushed in with rifle butts
after which his body was riddled with
bullets. Near by were found the bodies
of Peterson and Accord.
Unofficial reports to the State Depart
ment last night said that the bodies of
three American Mormon cowboys had
been found mutilated on the Mexican side
Of na al
Polk, who received the dispatches, said
that the department had no official repo-t
CT the matter.
Lem SpiIlsbury, foreman of the ranch.
seeking the men, discovered that tho
ranch house had been broken into and
found tracks leading to the border. Tho
report that the three men were missing.
probably kidnapped. was forwarded to
tie War Department yesterday.
The War Department, however, has re-
ceived oficial confirmation Of the report
that Mexican bandits bent on plunder,
horse stealing. kidnapping and other In
cidental crimes. have been raiding the
neighborhood of Hachita, N. Mex.
1t was officially reported to the Secre-
tary Of War that bandits under Gen.
Salazar, an independent marauder, are
holding the wife of Buck Spencer, ranch
man. as hostage for the return of her
husband, with sufficient money to ram
som her and other prisoners.
Demand 5000 Each.
The sum demanded Is 5000 for each
prisoner. The incursion of American ter
ritory was made on February II, accord
ing to the report of the commanding Of
fcer of United States troops at Hachita
Salazar was supposed to be at the head
Of band of about 800 bandits. The only
reason for permitting the return of Spen-
Ger was that he was sure to return, in
view of his wife's danger. He went 10
the Z. K. Warren Land and Cattle Cor =
Pany, while the bandits held his wife.
The same report confirmed the capture
and kidnapping OF the three Mormon
cowboys.
AT San Antonio yesterday, Mai. Gen.
Funston stated that in the event of a
hot trail of the marauders being turned
up, he would dispatch a force of regulars
on rescue mission. Spencer reports that
on his way back to the border from the
point where his wife and associates we're
incarcerated he met Silvestre Queyedo,
who told him that there had been a fight
between Salazar's force and some grim
goes" in which several of the Americans
had been killed.
The War Department is awaiting some
confirmation Of this engagement