Evening star., 1919-12-29
MEX|CO'S WALLACE
CLAIMS ARE DENIED
Dead Mans Employer Puts
Blame for Shooting on
Group of Soldiers.

Representation by the Mexican
government. as recently presented to
the American embassy in Mexico City.
that the killing near Tampico late
in November of James Wallace. an
American citizen, resulted from his
failure to heed the warning of a
Mexican sentry. are denied in an ac-
count of the incident which has
reached Washington from the Aguila
Company. of which Wallace was an
eDp!oye.
The killing of Wallace caused the
State Department to make an urgent
inquiry of the Mexican government
as to the circumstances. The Mex
lean foreign office in its reply charg-
ed that Wallace while intoxicated
passed d sentry stationed at what
was characterized as dangerous
spot" and, failing to haltI was shot
and killed.
tory .oId by Company.
The Aguila Company's report. W hich
is the first detailed account-of the
Americans death to reach Nasnins-
ton. says: ,
November Mr. James Wallace. en-
p,oyed by us as foreman on our reser-
yoirs at Potrero del Llano, was rlding
from the office down to the tank farn.
a distance about go meters. On the
road was an outpost of four govern
men; soldiers with a machine gun AS
far as we have been able to ascertain
WaI!ace's horse reared while passing
this outpost. and kicked the machine
gun whereupon one of the soldiers
shot Wallace. killing him instantly.
Ec-,e of our men actually saw what
hapuened Some of them had been
talking TO Wallace minute or two
before and hearing the shot they ran
out of the Office and found Wallace
lyinc on the ground dead
1.-THE soldiers gave the explanation
ti.at Wallace insisted on passing be-
tween the machine gun and Sentiy,
that his horse refused TO go forward,
for which reason one OF the soldiers
heat it several times with the butt OF
his rife. and that Wallace then threw
his horse over on the soldiers, nearly
upsettins the machine gun. They also
claim Wallace hit the soldier with an
axe-handle he was carrying. and 1ur-
the. more make the statement that
Wailace was intoxicated
These statements are not substanti-
ated by facts, apart from the circum-
stances that we have never known Wal
lace to be intoxicated during the ten
months he was employed by us, and
that it is in any case very unlikely a
man would be under the influence of
liauor when going to his work at
lively that Wallace was absolutely So
ber as several of cur men were talking
with him a few minutes before he was
killed.
Shot From Behind.
.'As regards Wallace having assault6
the soldier with an aXe-handle, the lack
OF foundation for this statement is
proved by the fact that the axe-handle
which he was carrying down to the tank
farm was still found strapped to the
saddle when the horse Wallace had been
riding was brought back to the corral
Furthermore, it is extremely unlikely,
to say the least, that man armed with
only a stick should attack four soldiers
with rifles and machine gun.
Another circumstance which proves
the soldier who killed Wallace did not
act in self defense is that the nature
of the wound, according to medical evil
denee. shows beyond any possibility of
doubt that Wallace was shot from be-
hind
The Mexican embassy here has is
sued the following statement:
The Mexican embassy has been
officially authorized to deny the news
recently published by the American
press that President Carranza had
sent autograph letters to the Presi-
dent of Chile, through a Mr.. Melendez,
mentioned as Mexican minister in
Chile. The falsity of reports to that
effect is proved by the fact that the
name of the Mexican minister to
chile is Mr.. Fernando Cuen. and not
1ar. Melendez. as given in the news
dispa atches.
president CarranZa has not sent
any autograph letters nor any other
documents relative to the Jenkins
case"