Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-11-27
ANGELES SHOT BY \
FIRING SQUAD At
CHIHUAHUA CITY
Mexican Revolutionary Leader
Charged With Rebellion, Put
to Death; CIemenCy Pleas
Fail to Save Him.


sociated Press General Felipe An-
geles, Mexican Revolutionary leader
and enemy OF the Carranza govern
ment, declared patriot 10y his follow
eus and friends, was executed as
traitor to the Mexican government by
a firing squad at Chihuahua City,
Mexico, at 6.35 a. m today However,
he had never recognized the present
government as rightfully representing
Mexico.
The specific charge against Angeles
was rebellion. He was found guilty
by four Carranza generals sitting as
court martial at chihuahua City at
l0;45 o'clock last night after session
that had lasted almost continually.
night and day, for approximately
thirty-nine hours,
Angeles throughout the world was
known as a military genius. He was
the reputed friend of Americans and
during his trial lauded this country
and its citizens. He was the man who
brought the French 75-milllmeter gun
to the perfection that gave 1t fame as
the worlds most efficient piece Of ar
tilery This gun was one OF the 81 eat
est factors against Germany in tho
world war, For his work for France
he was made chevalier OF the French
Legion of Honor.
Angeles came out of Mexico in 1916
and bought dairy farm near El Paso.
Later he went to work for the French
government inspecting munitions.
IpuIpp pf villa MpNpmpnt
Five days after the world war ended
with the signing of the armistce, An
geles returned to Mexico as the intel
lectual leader of the villa movem ent.
1t was said Villa promised 0dtrageS
against foreigners and natives would
be stopped ii Angeles Joined him.
Villa proclaimed Angeles PROVISIONAL
president OF Mexico.
Angeles had been quoted as saying
he believed a day of accounting be-
tween the United States and Mexico
had been postponed by the great war
and that he wished to save his people
from this by calling the people TO
repentance" and welding them into q,
single mass for the uplift of all.
When he went across the line to join
villa he said:
Il am going back to lift my coun-
try out Of the depths OF outlawless-
ness to which she has fallen or else TO
die for her"
Captured November Is
General Angeles was captured with
four followers November l S. lacking a
day Of being "A year from the time he
entered Mexico with high resolve. He
had been hiding in a cave after leav-
ing Villas main body of troops The
two, it was reported, had disagreed
over Angeles reported opposition TO
the plan for an attack on Juarez in
June which led to American troops
crossing the Rio Grande and driving
off the rebels. When American troops
crossed over, 1t has since been report
ed crcditably, the CArranza garrison
had but one thousand rounds Of am
muntion and could have withstood the
invaders but little longer.
Angeles, when discovered, lost five
killed among his handful of followers.
but at first escaped the Carranza neN,
He was overtaken, however, and SUBJ
dued. But four men were left to him
when he finally was captured. Two
were executed summarily.
The other two went TO trial with
Angeles one, Major Nestor Encso de
Arce, was sentenced also to death, but
his sentence was commuted by the
Carranza generals to twenty years inn
The other soldier Antonio TriIlo. a
boy but II years old, must serve six
years and eight months.
Trial Held in Thcater.
The trial was held in "Teatro de-
los Heroes (Theater of the Heroes)
In Chihuahua before a throng that
filled the theater to capacity and left
hundreds Of friends and curious OUT
SIDE. Hundreds of women were in the
audience and a cOterie of society lead
els as well as others often Interrupted
the court TO plead clemenly for
Angeles.
The pleas were unavailing, as were
similar pleas TO Mexican court ana to
-ne present president of the republic
delegation of the most prominent
citizens OF Parral. Mexico, went to
Chihuahua TO plead for Angeles on
different occasion he had saved their
ives when endangered by Villa or his
followers. General Alvaro Oregon,
former minister of war for CarranZas
and now candidate for president OF
Mexico, also owes his life to the inter-
,ession of Angeles with Villa, it was
said.
When the news reached FL Paso
,ution at Chihuahua City Ell Pasonans
recalled the arrest and conviction in
United States court here some months
ago of Colonel Dederico Corvantes.
former chief of staff to Angeles, and
other Angeles adherents on the charge
IF setting on foot military expedition
n this country. Cervantes and those
convicted with him now are serving
at Leavenworth When mill
ary intelligence officers of the United
States government arrested them q
quantity of equipment which they in
ended to take to Angeles was seized.
Iervantes and his associates were ar
'ested in the vicinity of Socorro, Tex.
Why Angeles Joined Villa.
II was testified at this trial that An
relies had gone to Join Francisco Villa
With view of inducing him to pus
n end to his outrages and conduct the
evolutionary fight against the Car
ANA government on higher plane.
Those acquainted in this city with
he Angeles family recalled Wednes-
lay the American atmosphere about
he Angeles home here. General An
eles' library was well stocked with =
obstructive American Literature.
Those of the Angeles children who
'ere here, and attended school in Ell
'aso. Played baseball and other Amer
ran games Mrs Angeles, during the
ctivities os her husband across the
Messages from the general and mani
esteG great interest in his Welfare
nd that of his cause.