Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1919-07-03
AMERICANSHANC
If CAPTURED, IS
ORDER BY VILLA
Bandit Leader So Bitter He
Threatened Brother With
Execution, Also.
REFUGEE TELLS 1T


co Villa ordered all Americans hang
ed when captured, following the
crossing of the American expedition
according to a foreign resident OF
northern Mexico, who reached the
border Wednesday.
He sent train to Villa Ahumanda
to capture Americans known to be
there, and, the refugee said, was Sc
bitter toward them that he threatened
to kill Hipollito Villa, his brother, be
cause of Hipolito's professed friend
ship for them, according to the refu-
gees statement.
Villa and Martin Lopez quarreled
after the retreat from Juarez, he said
and divided their forces.
This statement was made by Don
aid B. Best, British subject, who
owns large store at Villa Ahumada
with A. NJ. Tenney, an American
left Villa Ahumada June 13 for the
border, after Villa had looted my
store and home," Mr.. Best said. Il
returned to Villa Ahumada June %,
after Villa left there for San Loren
20, and was told by my native store
keeper, the municipal president, Man
uel Ortega, and a number of towns
people, that Villa sent a guard to kill
Tenney and me and later rode to my
house in person, apparently for the
same purpose. He ordered my Mexi-
can storekeeper to stop working for
me, thinking / was an American, and
threatened to kill him if he continued
in my employ. He said then he was
going to hang all the Americans he
caught and was looking for me to
make the first example of this pol
icy"
Best said Hipolito Villa was seri-
ously i'll in the Best home in Villa
Ahumada when Villa threatended him
and the leaders brother was forced to
leave in small cart for the Ojinaga
district to save his life.
Villa and his band looted the Best
store of 1000 pesos in cash and 5000
pesos worth Of goods, and also robbed
his residence, he said The Villa
rebels looted the Erupcion mine and
warehouse. carrying off everything
portable and smashing valuable assay
scales. The mine is near Villa Ahu-
mada, and owned by Americans. The
British merchant gave the first de-
tails of break between Villa and
Martin Lopez, as related by Mexi-
cans, who said they were present.
Villas men held a meeting at
Villa Ahumada, Mexican friends told
me-" Best said.
: They voted to depose Villa in fav-
or of Angeles, who then at Samala-
yuca, tearing up the railroad to pre-
vent the American troops from pur-
suing him south, Villa Ahumada of
ficials told me.
Next day General Quiroga, with
federal force arrived at Ojo Cal
lente, having come south. Villa sent
Martin Lopez to engage them south Of
villa Ahumada. Lopez was defeat
ed Villa withdrew from the town.
the natives said, reorganized his de-
moralized forces, which had been re-
duced from 1,o00 to 400 by deaths,
wounds and desertions, and sent Lop-
ez against the Yaquis a second time.
Defeated again, Villa retired to the
Santo Domingo ranch, leaving his
wounded behind. There Martin Lop-
ez denounced Villa, according to the
statements of witnesses.
Lopez pulled his pistol, covered
Villa and called him liar, Mexi-
can who was present told meg Best
said.
Lopez was apparently angered be-
cause Villa had made a speech to his
men before the attack on Juarez. tell
ing them the Americans were friends
OF himself and Angeles. that the
American Red Cross would care for
their wounded. and everything would
be fine for them after they had TAX
en- the Juarez port. Lopez announc-
ed he was through with Villa and
said ne was going to look for himself
IN the future, and would have nothing
more 10 do with Villa.
villa sent for Angeles at Samala-
yuca, but left for San Lorenzo a.
Carmen before we heard whether An
geles reported to Villas camp. Villa
also threatened the ranch buildings
at Santo Domingo. but Lopez stopped
him, Mexicans told me-"