New-York tribune., 1920-01-05
Cordova Ayers Carranxa
Has Gone to All Lengths
TO Obtain a Verdict
Against Consular Agent
Intrigue and Lying
Practiced, He Says
Bandit, Seen in Capital,
Openly Defying Cap
ture by His Enemies
By Wilbur Forrest

Dy wilbur i OTrcSt
Copyright 1920. New York Tribune Incl
SAN ANTONIO, Jan. 4.-The
Mexican authorities supporting the
prosecution of William O. Jenkins.
American Consular Agent at Puebla,
Mexico, have made advances to
Federico Cordova, the rebel chief
tain who kidnapped jenkins and
held him for bail, offering Cordova
100000 pesos ($10O,000) if Cordova
would come in, accept immunity and
testify that Jenkins plotted with
him in the famous kidnapping.
This declaration came to me from
Cordova himself in a personal inter-
view less than week ago. I ar
rived at San Antonio to-day. by
way of Laredo, after forty days in
the Mexican interior, studying con-
ditions. Through good luck / was
able to meet and talk for more than
an hour with the bandit chief, who
DISCLOSED to what lengths the Puebla
Criminal Court, backed by Governor
Cabrera of that state, and now also
backed by the Carranza federal gov
ernnaent, is going in its effort to
prove that Jenkins kidnapped himself
and was in collusion with Cordova's
rebel band.
Attacks Carronxo
Cordova told me with clenched
fists and teeth barred in rage that he
hopes the Mexican government will
continue to persecute Jenkins be-
cause every day draws them into
deeper controversy with the Ameri-
can government.
II don't see that jenkins will con-
tinue to suffer-" the rebel chief said,
"but the further they go in the case
the more their bad faith and their
bad principles will be demon
strated."
There are words in the Spanish
vocabulary so blasphemous and
awful that they will not bear trans
lation into English, and these words
were used by Cordova when be
spoke of what he termed the in
famous intriguing and lying now
being employed by both the Cover
nor of Puebla and the Carranza
government itself to save their faces
and to try to show that they can
offer guarantees of safety to persons
or property, either foreign or MeXi
can.
Seen in Mexico City
Ny interview with Cordova took
place in Mexico City, within ten min
utes of the heart OF the business sec
ton. After making study Of the
jenkins case. it was clear TO me that
the only method Of clearing up certain
points was 10 see the rebel chie..tain
himself.
With this end in view l travelled
before Christmas, hoping to get i'll
touch with the bandit at his camp in
the hills, almost within rife shot OF
the second largest city of the republic
With guide whom ! could trust,
left Puebla on street car until
arrived at certain spot near the
Sierra Madre foothills. Here it was
necessary to purchase mule, on which
made the rest of the trip up the
mountainside in less than an hour.
The trip to Cordova's camp was with
out incident, and after our arrival we
discovered that the rebel chief was
spending Christmas holidays in the
Mexican capital, defying the Car
ranzista troops who were trying to
catch him.
Doesn't Fear Captrse
am pledged not to describe either
the camp or the persons therein, but
am privileged to say that | com
mented on the rebel leaders nerve il
defying the Carranza troops in their
own stronghold | learned that Cor
dova possesses such utter contempt fog
his enemies that he goes where he
pleases, when ne pieases, rides or rail
ways they say they are protecting, and
has no faith in their ability to catch
him.
Learning the address of Cordova's
rendezvous in the capital, returned
and waited news at my hotel as to when
the interview could be held. The in
terview was fixed by competent in
terpreter, known to Cordova, for the
night of December %. was told tn
go to the Edificio Mutua, or Mutual