The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-01-02
MEXICO HIDES MURDER
STORY TOLD BEFORE
SENATE HEARING
Tragic Tale Related of Locating
Skull of Slain American
Aviatorl

facts concerning the murder OF
American aviators. Lieutenants Cecil
Connolly and Frederick Warehouse
whose bodies were found buried in
the sand on the Bay de Los Angeles.
Lower California. according to testi-
mony at hearing here.
The testimony was given by Joe
Allen Richards of Chicago, the
American who discovered the bodies
September u last.
The hearing was conducted by
Major Dan NJ. Jackson of Ell Paso,
secretary of the senate subcommittee
Investigating Mexican affairs. The
subcommittee will formally open its
hearings on The border next month at
San Antonio None of the committee
members was present today.
Was Arrested for Revelation.
Richards testified to finding the
bodies when he landed from a Next
can steamer To get water. He said
the captain of the steamer warned
him not to make public his discovery
and that later he was arrested at
Santa Rosalie on September &c, be-
cause he had not kept his discovery
to himself.
According TO Richards testimony
Connolly was stabbed to death and
Waterhouse evidently died from a
broken skull caused by impact from a
heavy iron bar found near the bodies.
Richards accompanied the expedition
on the United States destroyer Ward
which recovered the bodies.
According to his testimony TODAY,
Richards was arrested by the Next
can authorities at Santa Resale when
he arrived there September>S5 for his
action in reporting the discovery OF
the bodies 20 the master of the
American steamer, Providencia,
which was in the harbor OF Santa
Rosalie at the time La said ne was
kept in cement cell for more than a
day. Before he was put in the cell.
Richards said, he was stripped OF all
clothing
He Pulls Skull From Sand.
Richards testified at hearing con-
Quoted by Major Dan NJ Jackson of
Ell Paso, secretary of the senate sub
committee. None OF the senate men,
bers Of the committee was present.
Richards said he first discovered an
offensive cdor while walking the
reach waiting the Mexican crew of
the beat on which ne was travelling to
return from spring with their water
casks. He saw mound, and digging
with shell, uncovered a skull. He
continued his exploration and came
upon a leather boot Pulling at the
boot, he uncovered the entire body
and, continuing work, brought the
other body to light.
Richards accompanied the expedi-
ton that went to Lower California
aboard the United States destroyer
Ward from San Diego to recover the
todies' and dlrpiaLe and said tpsti-
mony given to army and navy officer
aboard the Ward by American resi-
dents of the country and by the crew
OF the Mexican steamer Esperantl
was to the effect that the Americans
were murdered. s~
The Airplane Equipment.
Equipment OF then airplare was
found aboard the Esperanto when
that boat was oYerhauled and made
fast to the Ward, according to Rich
ards. The airplane was found -wenty
miles from the bodies.
The Esperanto was seized when 3
Mexican ashore told American Of
flcers this boat had brought the avia-
tors to the bay for water from their
airplane
Wild animals had attacked the
bodies of the aviators, according to
Richards. who were buried only un-
der six inches of sand when he found
them. Flesh from the upper Fart OF
their bodies had been eaten away. he
said.
In the rough grave Richards said he
found bar of iron two feet long. The
skull of Warehouse had been crush
ed, he said, and Connolly's body and
clothing indicated he had been stab
bed.
Richards related warnings he al
legged were made by the Mexican
captain of the boat on which he
travelled down the Gulf of California
against reporting discovery or the
bodies.
Richards told of the notes to their
families left by the aviators and
markings on the airplane wings which
indicated they had been there seven
teen DAYS, and had been forced to
drink water from their radiator, all
the time steadily losing strength and
hope of rescue