Daily Kennebec journal., 1919-11-29
Murder American
fceusiWve6 frem Paao one)

Jenkins case but Mr. Lansing d'so
laid before the Mexican envoy the
report on the killing Of Wallace
which has Just been received. Their
conference was, Of course. confden-
tial. but it il understood thta the Sec
retary conveyed to Pfesident Corran-
xa's representative q message more
forceful and direct than any YET
transmitted In any diplomatic note.
Mr. Bonillas was informed that the
department. placed no credence in the
charges on which Jenkins is held IN
Jail in Puebla in which the Mexican
government declines to intervene and
It is understood that Mr.. Lansing
further outlined to the ambassador
the Inevitable consequences Of con-
tinued murders and molestations OF
Americans. probably more pointediy
than was done in the governments
official nete Of last July.
About the same time word came
In of the death Of another American
az the result of brutal treatment Of
bandits who held him for ransom. He
was Otto Lund of Swedish birth, a
natur1A1ed American, who died of
blood poisoning after being held for
ransom for Eve months in the state
Of Mavarit. His captors chopped off
one OF his fingers with a foul weap-
ON and wrapped it within their writ
ten demand for ransom money which
they sent to his friends in Tepic
Blocdpoisoning and gangrene killed
the man while his wife, an American
woman aEd their child are reported
in want in Tepic.
The murder of Wallace, however,
assumes proportions of overshadow-
irg important. Potrero del Llano.
the ranch on which he was
murdered is six to nine miles
south of Tampico. The oil pipe lines
Of the Aguilar. Gulf Refining and
Hcasteca oil companies run through
the property. When word of his
death was received here the officials
OF all three companies were COM
fnunicated with for Identification
The Gulf Conpany's Office at Hous-
ton. Texas, responded that Wallace
probably was, W. NJ Wallace. who
was known to be in the Tampico dis
trict and on the Potrero del Llano
property. - -
II the identification be correct.
Wallace is the eighth employee Of
the Gulf Company to meet death at
the hands OF Mexicans fTi the Tam
pico district and the eighth Ameri-
can TO be Killed in Mexico since July
s2. when the United States warned
Cor ~. 1f
Americans would seriously affect the
relations between the two countries.
1t is said from the unofficial re-
cords that Wallace is the seventh
American killed by CarranZa soldiers
in the Tampico district.
Immediately on receipt of the news
of the death of Wallace. the State
department ordered investigation and
further report on the details.
Investigation and report on the
new phases of the Jenkins case, rails
ed in the Mexican note refusing to
meet this governments demands for
the consular agents immediate re-
lease, already had been ordered.
The whole effect Of the days de-
velopments was to put the Mexican
situation, already acknowledged. back
into the worst light Of probably more
than a year. The reports of fighting
in Mexico City and the REPORTED flight
of Carranza. should they be verified.
are expected to have material
bearing upon It. So far as revealed.
no news was Received directly from
Mexico City. The State and War
department and the Department of
Justice. all Of which had been receiv-
ing Information recently tending TO
forecast such a development. set
about seeking further information
and verifcation of the days reports
which came to the border.
There was just suspicion that the
trouble in the Mexican capital was
from the execution of General
Felipe Angeles at Chihuahua City.
against which many Mexicans. includ-
ing Carransa supporters. protested rig
orously.
1t has been known here for some tire
that the preliminafies of the Mexican
presidential campaign were waxing
warm with Carranza and Obregon as
the chief figures. osregon has been
touring the country and is Just about
DUE at Manzanillo. one of the Pacific
coast ports controlled by Carransa
forces. Although the report OF an OUT
break seemed to be the logical conse-
quence to an accumulation Of informa-
ton at hand. there was a disposition
tc await further news before consider.
ing It a real factor in the situation.
A change of government in Mexico.
It was pointed out. might point the way
to q solution of the present difficulties.
One the other hand, It was said a change
In government might be ACCOMPANIED
by such disturbances and spoilation of
foreigners and foreign property as %
pres mt itself as an added cause for ac-
lion.
So far the situation has been handled
almost entirely by the cabinet under
The guidance Of Secretary Lansing.
President Wilson, who hitherto has
the Mexican crises personally.
has been unable because of his ilIness
10 take activ, charge Of 1t.
In view Of the climax which now
seems to have been aided by tire Wal
lace killing to the long list Of axronts.
the best available opinion IL that the
will frame its next sfeo
with great deiiberation. probably await
ng full and verified details IRON Tam
pico. and IL 1t decides to act will AZ.
company its decision with i complete
record framed to make clear its iusf;-