The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-12-26
L0OKSLIKE MEN
WERE MURDERED
Witnesses Before Senate Com
mittee Tell Of Finding
Bodies of Aviators
ON MEXICAN BEACH
Witness Who Reported Find
Arrested by Mexican
Authorities.

El Paso. Tex, Dec. 26.-(A. Po-l
f.ieuts. Cecil Connolly and Frederick
Waterhouse, American aviators VINO
lost their lives after being forced to
descend in Lower California, Mexico,
were murdered, according to tesu-
mony before the senate subcommittee
investigating Mexican affairs, given
here today by Joe Allen Richards.
Richards, an American, discovered
the bodies Sept. II last on the beach
on the Baya de Los Angeles when ne
went ashore from a little Mexican
steamer to aid in replenishing the
water supply of the boat.
According to his testimony today,
Richards was arrested by the Mexi-
can authorities at Santa Rosalia
when he arrived there Sept. 20 Tor
his action In reporting the discovery
of the bodies to the master OF the
American steamer Providencia, Which
was in the harbor of Santa Rosalia
at the time. He said he was kept In
| n cell for more than a day. Before
| he was put in the cell, Richards salo,
| he was stripped of all clothing.
Richards testified at hearing con :
| Quoted by Maj. Dan M. Jackson, of
| El Paso, secretary of the senate SUD-
committee. None of the senate MEM
bers of the committee was present.
Richards said he first discovered
an offensive odor while walking the
beach waiting for the Mexican crew
of the boat on which he was travel
ing to return from spring with theil
water casks. He saw mound and
digging with shell. uncovered
skull. He continued his exploration
and came upon a leather boot. Pull
ing at the boot he uncovered the en-
tire body, and continued worl
brought the other body to light.
Richards accompanied the expedi
tion that. went to Lower Californi
, aboard the destroyer Ward from Sal
n Diego to recover the bodies and air
plane, and said testimony given t
army and navy officers aboard tn
Ward by Mexican residents of tn
country and by the crew of the Mex
lean steamer Esperanto was to tn
effect that the Americans were mur
dered. Equipment Of the airplan
was found aboard the Esperant
. when that boat was overhauled an
! | made fast to the Ward, according I
r Richrds. The airplane was foun
i twenty miles from the bodies.
4 The Esperanto was seized when
1
GERS this boat had brought the avia
I tors to the bay for water for the
. airplane.
Wild animals had attacked II
g bodies of the aviators, according
e Richards, who were buried only und
: six inches of sand when he four
e them. Flesh from the upper part
q their bodies had been eaten away,
,, said.
y In sthe rough grave Richards sa
'e he found bar of iron two feet Ion
d The skull of Waterhouse had be-
l. crushed he said and Connollys DO,
N and clothing indicated he had be-
= stabbed.
et Richards related warnings no q
"a legged were made by the Mexican ca
~ tain of the boat on which he travel
down the Gulf of California again
reporting discovery of the bodies.
Richards told of the notes to tn,
families left by the aviators a
n markings on the airplane wings whi
+ indicated they had been there seve
teen days and had been forced
1e drink water from their radiator,
" the time steadily losing strength a
y hope of rescue.