Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1919-05-12

While final papers for his extradition to
the United States were being signed In the
customhouse at Reynosa, Mexico, SUNDAY
at noon. Antonio Rocha, wanted IN Gamer
on county for murder, made dash Tor
liberty and was shot and instantly killed py
the guard of Mexican soldiers.
Sheriff w. Il. Vann of Brownsville ana
Agent Gray of the Mexican consulate In
Brownsville were in the Reynosa custom
house at the time of the shooting, the sher-
iff having gone there for the purpose OF re-
ceiving Rocha and another prisoner, Pedro
Paz. both of whom were wanted here Tor
the murder on January IL last OF Tor
ibio Rodriguez, at Ranchita, seventeen
miles above Brownsville.
Paz. who was standing beside Rocha at
the time the man made a dash for liberty,
said that all he knew was that he looked
around when the shot was fired and saw
Rocha lying on the ground. There was a
knife near him, he said. The soldier guard
said that Rocha stopped down quickly and
pulled a knife from his sock and made a
stab at one of the guard and then attempt
ed to run. He was shot through the back
of the head, the bullet passing out through
the mouth and blowing practically one side
of his face off.
Rocha il alleged TO have made the state
men that he would never be taken back to
the United States alive. 1t is said also
that he threatened to capsize the skiff while
he was being taken across the Rio Grande
to the American side.
Paz was taken safely across the Rio
Grande by Sheriff Vann, accompanied by
Agent Gray, and was placed in cell IN
n .xwlt
fer of the two men, at least on paper, is the
first time on record since the Mexican rev.
olution began that men wanted for murder
on the American side has been turned over
under full extradition proceedings, con-
Quoted between the governor of Texas and
the governor Of the state of Tamaulpas.
The men have been in jail in Matamoros.
but for some reason the Mexican authori-
ties preferred to turn them over at Rey-
nosa rather than at Matamoros. The men
were searched at Matamoros Sunday morn
ing before being taken TO Reynosa, under a
guard of twenty soldiers. Nothing was
found. The train reached Reynosa at Il
o'clock American time, and the two men
were marched to the Mexican customhouse
at the river, with ten soldiers on each side
of them. Sheriff Vann, who had gone up
from Brownsville on the American side, had
crossed the river at Reynosa and was in the
custcmhouse signing the final papers pre-
paratory to taking charge of the prisoners
when Rocha made his fatal dash for liberty.
The sheriff said when he heard the shots
he rushed to the door and found Rocha ly-
ing dead on the ground. The sheriff said
he saw large pocketknife lying near.
Both men had been tied with a stout rope
passing around the arms and body, and how
Rocha obtained the knife is unknown, rs he
was searched carefully at Matamoros and
was closely guarded throughout the trip.
Rocha is alleged TO have been active in
the bandit troubles on the American side In
1915 and 1916. He was an American cit
izen, and was said to have been an expert
shot through training he received at the
King and Kennedy ranch in Willacy county,
on which he had been employed for many
years previous to the bandit troubles In
1915 he crossed TO the Mexican side and re-
sided at a ranch across the river from what
is known as Ranchita, seventeen miles
above Brownsville. His operations during
the bandit troubles are said to have beer
conducted from there.
The shooting of Rodriguez on January II
is said to have been the elimination OF
family and land disputes. Rodriguez wa:
on his way home on a small horse when hs
was fired on by two men. He jumped from
his horse and made for a house. The house
was fired on by the two men and Rodriguez
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