The Columbus courier. [volume] (Columbus, Luna County, N.M.) 1911-1920, 1920-02-20

t"fic"'y famo'n Tor An Time.
A uixicen-year-old boy. who a
the age OF twelve and olla-lalf
years was one OF Villas hand and
participated In ihe raid upon Co.
uInbus on March o. 1910 snys l|ie
Dcmlne Graphic. appeared a.
witness before the Fall sub-com-
miltcc of The senate, and save on
account Of The part he took In ihc
raid upon The border city.
The appearance Of this Mexican
boy created sensation IN tho
county courtroom, where The sen
ofc subcommittee hearings are be-
ms conducted, and he came in on
his cruichcs with an empty trous.
crs' lcg pinned about the les which
was cut on Just above the knee
The remainder Of the les had been
shot away by villlsla soldier dur
ing the fight at Columbus
Dlspuiing the denlals made ~
Villas friends that The bandit CHIEF
took part IN the Columbus raid.
this boy, Jesus paix. said that Villa
led his command IN person and re-
manned IN the outskirts Of The town
while the attack was made. Hc
stated. also. that the santa Ysabcl
massacre. in which seventeen Of
the Americans were killed. was
perpciratcd by a delachmenl under
Pedro Lopez, which later Joined the
main villa band al Sanio Geroni-
mo.
shot by his Own Band.
u heard the men talking about
II when they joined u.s. young pair
said. he stated that he was shot
and captured while seeking his "a
lher, ilr had hccn lofl outside ihr
town. I've said. when the men dis-
mounted and crcpt In " make The
attack. aud had been directed by
his father 10 remain with the
horses Toward morning he was
told that his father had been killed,
and he went into the town 10 search
for him while the villiaslas were
re;reating There. he said, he was
fired upon by members of The band
who. he supposed. did not recognize
him. Me claimed 10 have returned
the llre and had shot one Of Villas
men. Later he was himself shot by
the rctrenlinR bandits a. he rode
past burning building.
This boy accounted for his pres
encc with Villa by saying that while
/ a.. fu4hnts atIaa lutsrsuan 80 = ranch
the Carrancistas killed his three
brothers for their money and had
threatened 30 Nil his father.
Roy Malses Escape.
They trusted me a little too
much and | escaped one day" he
said. Il went back 10 my home al
Los Quinlas Carolinas. he con-
linuod, "and got q bottle OF coffee
and some torlillas and jumped on
n horse and left. IN three days !
found my father IN Sanlo Gcronimo
and there we started a new life
with villa"
Repeated warnings that Mcxicans
had planned TO raid Columbus re-
ceived so little crcdcnce by the
commanding officer there that
when the attack was made no un-
usual precautions 10 prevent a sur
prise had been taken. witnesses
testified Lee Riggs. n deputy Gus
toms collector, said he had been the
interpreter when Colonel II. }. Slo-
cum. commanding the army post,
sent into Mexico a Mexican scout
10 secure information concerning
The movements Of Villas troops,
and be reported ON the night before
the raid thai a body OF the Mcxi-
cans was then marching ON Co
lumbus.
w. y. Murphy, telegraph opcr-
alor, testified that a message of
/ warning from the American mil-
ilary headquarters al Dougibs also
had been sent TO Colonel slocum,
and other witnesses declared The
knowledge that the raiders were =
few miles south Of Columbus was
common.
Correspondent Had Tip"
Murphy told The committee That
q. H. Scese. an Associated Press
CORE spondcnt was 50 nearly con-
vinced raid would be attempted
that he appeared Ia Columbus two
or three days before n did occur
and made arrangements 10 have
sent there an extra telegraph op-
orator To assist In The transmission
Of the story he expected TO write
The aceounls Of tho raid ns given
hy The different witnesses agreed ~
lhe statements that when the Mex
leans did appear they met no oppo-
sition until much Of Their Wiling
Il Continued on Pago Q, ID ooIumn.)