Arizona republican., 1919-12-29
ME EX|CAN VERSION
 0N SLAY|NG IF WALLACE DENIED.
Report of American Oil Company on Death of Elm
 ploye Denies Claims of Carranza-Says Deceased
 Was Shot from Behind
IRepublican A. p. Leased wirel

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2S.-Claims of the Mexican government, as recently presented to the American embassy in Mexico City. that the killing near Tam pico late in November of James Wal lace, an American citizen, resulted from his failure to heed the warning of a Mexican sentry, are denied in an account of the incident which reached Washington today from Aguila com pany, of which Wallace was an em- ploye.
 The killing of Wallace caused the state department to make an urgent inquiry of the Mexican government as to the circumstances. The Mexican for eign office, in its reply, charged that Wallace, while intoxicated, passed a sentry stationed at what was charac- terized as a dangerous spot and fail ing to halt, was shot and killed
 The Aguila company's report, which was presented at a meeting in Tampico of oil company managers and which is the first detailed account of the Amer jeans death to reach Washington says.
 Give Details of Killing
 ''On the morning of November 26, James Wallace, employed by us as foreman on our eastern reservoirs at Potrero del Llano, was riding from the office down to the tank farm a. dis tance Of about 250 meters. On the road was on outpost Of four govern ment soldiers with a machine gun. As far as we have been able to ascertain Walace's horse reared while passing this outpost and kicked the machine gun, whereupon one of the soldiers shot him, killing him instantly None Of our men actually saw what hap pened. Saxne of them had been talking to Wallace a minute or two before and hearing the shot, they ran out of the office and found Wallace lying of the ground dead.
 The soldiers gave the explanation that Wallace insisted on passing be- tween the machine gun and a sentry; that his horse refused to go for which reason one of the soldiers beat it sev- eral times with the butt of his rifle and that Wallace then threw his horse over on the sentries. nearly upsetting the machine gun. They also claim Wallace hit the soldier with an axe handle he was carrying and further more make the statement that Wallace was intoxicated. These statements are not substantiated by facts. Apart from the circumstances that we have never known Wallace to be intoxicated dur ing the ten months he was employed by us and that it is. in any case. very unlikely a man would be under the in- 1 fluence of liquor when going to his work at o'clock in the morning. we Snow positively that Wallace was ab- l sober as several of our men | were talking with him few minutes | before he was killed.
 Says Wallace Shot From Behind
 As regards Wallace having assault | sd the soldier with an axe handle. the ack of foundation for this statement | s proved by the fact that the axe l handle which he was carrying down to | he tank farm was still found strapped Q the saddle when the horse Wallace lad been riding was brought back to | he corral. Furthermore, it is extreme y unlikely, to say the least, that a | nan armed only with a stick should | lttack four soldiers with rifles and a machine gun. Another circumstance which proves the soldier who killed Wallace did not act in self defense is hat the nature of the wound accord ng to medical evidence. shows beyond sny possibility of doubt that Wallace ras shot from behind.''