Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-03-16
VILLA BANDITS ASK RANSOM
 FOR AMERICAN
Mormon Missionaries Car
 ried Off With Troops.
CAVALRY TROOPS ARE
 ORDERED TO BORDER
Activities Around ElNalle and Pear sons Are Regarded as
 Serious.

Juarez, March 15.-Bishop A. L. Pierce, in charge of the Mormon af- fairs, announced today he had re- ceived an unconfrmed report from q Mexican that Bishop Joseph c. Bent ley, Missionaries Joseph Williams, Joseph Spencer and two others, one of whom was believed to be Pleasant Williams have been made prisoners by Francisco Villa and Fe!ips An gels, at Fl Valle. Chihauhus. and were last seen in custody Of Villa troops going toward Namiquipa.
 This tended to confirm reports re- ceived from Pearson, Chihuahua, ear Her in the day from reliable sources that Bishop Bentley and his mission aries were Villa prisoners. Bishop Pierce said one of the rumors re- ceived here was that Bishop Bentley and the missionaries had been mis- treated by the Villa band and anoth- CT that they had been we'll treated. He said the churchmen were in the San Buena Ventura valley near Fl Valle this week doing missionary work among the natives at the time Martin Lopez and Ramon Vega oc- cupied Colonia Juarez, the head quarters of the Mormon state. Take Ranchers Clothes
 Juarez, March 15.-When Martin Lopez's Villa command occupied Pearson, Chihuahua, they seized horses belonging to the Babicora ranch owned by Mrs Phoebe Hearst, of Berkely, Cal, B. s. Fox, manager of the ranch escaped from the Villa men after being robbed of his cloth- ing and shoes, reaching the home ranch wrapped in blanket A train of 200 cavalry troops in command of General Zuesa. was pre- pairing to elave here at noon today for Casas Grandes to take the field ir pursuit of Lopez's command.
 Troops Patrol Border.
 Fl Paso, Tex, March 15.--Col. J. J. Hornbrook, former commander of the Fl Paso district, left here to- day for Hachita. N. M.. to investi- gate Villa activities south of the bor- der. Major General De Rosey c. Cabell, commander of the southern department ordered Colonel Horn- brook to take command ofthe Hachita sub- district during the time Villas men were immediately south of the Gadsden Purchase. Twelve cavalry troops are patrolling the border south of Hachita.
 Martin Lopez and Ramon Vega were reported in Ascension and Jonas, 65 to 75 miles respectively south of Hachita. American and Mexican ranchers and other refugees were crossing the border at Hachita and Columbus late yesterday and last night.
 Bunk" Spencer, the negro ranch foreman at the Ojitos ranch was be- ing held for $5,OO0 ransom by Lo- peg an dthe American ranch foreman left the border late last night with the ransom money. A number of Mexicans were also being held. The ransom was demanded of the Warren brothers, of Three Oaks, Mich., who own the Ojitos ranch.
 Hold Many for Ransom.
 Ten ranch employees and their fam lilies at the Ojitos ranch are being Bunk" Spencer and his wife, ac- cording to long distance telephone . message received from Columbus Columbus this afternoon. Manager Moorehead left the border for Ojitos to deliver the $5,000 ransom money ortnhis morning the telephone mes- , sage stated.
 Two mexicans employed at the ] Palmoas Land and Cattle company's ranch in Mexico, which is owned by the Villa band and reached the border Lon Angeles interests escape l. from the Villa band and reached the border today.