Arizona republican., 1919-03-16
FEAR FIR MORMON
 SAFETY IN MEXICO

JUAREZ, Mexico. March 14.-Bishop A. L. Pierce. in charge of the Mormon affairs. stated late today he had re- ceived an unconfirmed report from a Mexican that Bishop Joseph c. Bentley. Missionaries Joseph Williams, Joseph Spencer and two others, are held pris- oners by Ramon Vega and Martin To- peg in Chihuahua, and were last seen in custody of Villa troops going toward Naimiquipa.
 This tended to confirm reports re- ceived from Pearson, Chihuahua. earlier in the day from reliable sources. tEst Bishop Bentley and his missiona ries were prisoners of Villa. Bishop Pierce said one of the rumors received here was that Bishop Bentley and the mis- sionaries had been mistreated by the Villa band and another that they had been well treated. He said the church. men were in the San Buena Ventura valley near Fl Nalle, this week. doing missionary work among the natives. at the time Martin Lopez and Ramon Vega occupied Colonia Juarez the head quarters of the Mormon stake.
 Tt is possible that Bishop Bentley and his four companions are prisoners of Villa" Bishop Pierce said tonight ''El Nalle is off the line of comr1unica tion and it may be several days before we hear definitely"
 He said Martin Lopez ard. Ramon Vega took all of the work horses with them when they left Colonia Juarcs l NTdnrcAaxr af .. days. He said conflicting reports of the raid had been received, one stating that | the Villa men entered the homes Of the | colonists and footed them. This colony was footed and partially burned by Jose Salazar in 1912.
 A train of cavalry troops in com mand of General Zuazua left here today | for Casas Grandes and will take the 1 field in pursuit of the Villa bands CD. erating in the Mormon colonies. Another federal force is at Guzman 1 so miles southwest of here. and these i two forces will be combined the cay l airy operating in the field and the ! infantry which went down the Mexic, ! Northwestern railroad yesterday, pro. tecting the communication line It i: commanded by Colonel Del Arco former garrison commander here.
 Reports of Villa raids continue tt be received at military headduarter, here. Ascension, Ojitos, Janos anc other small settlements in northwest ern Chihuahua have been occupied, bu as far as is known here, no one ha, been injured.
 Many refugees continue to arriv, here including several Chinese wh, | fQap Lo at, Lopez killed three Chinese storekeep CTS at Pearson last week, and con fiscated their stock of merchandise.
 HACHITA. x. NJ. March 15.-Su perintendent Moorhead of the Warrei ranch interests telephoned from Adam, Hueco late today that he had sent th
 S5.000 ransom money for Bunk Spencer. and nine other employees o the company, 10 the Lopez camp. 3 miles south of the border, by the Mex ican messenger.
 He does not expect Spencer or hi Mexican companions who were cap tured by the rebels to leave Alam
 Hueco before tomorrow night.
 Quiet prevailed on the border in tn vicinity of Alamo Hueco today. and n
 armed Mexicans were seen. Troop
 from the twelfth cavalry are patrollin
 the line in force.
 Colonel J. J. Hornbrook was here to ' day investigating the situation but re
 turned to Columbia tonight. . OGDEN, Utah. March 15.-Bisho Joseph C. Bentley of Colonia Juarez, C } the Mormon church, spent last Christ mas with relatives in ogden and whil here declared that he had no fear ( capture by Villa or his supporters, ex
 blaming the belief that the Mexica bandits would not molest the Mormo
 colonists.