El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-02-06
TROOPER TELLS STORY
OF MEXICAN TREACHERY

anywhere at a witness and to punish
any person who refuses to testify.
Willing to Give Data
Ordinarily a printed report would
not be thus dignified, but the AssO-
ciated Press is one OF the largest If
in the United States And it's reports
cannot be ignored. But I will say
that anytime the Associated Press de-
sires any information with regard 10
this committees Investigations It can
have II on application"
Neither Maj. Gen. Robert I. Howe,
commanding officer OF the district,
nor Col George T. Langhorne. COM
mander OF the Eighth cavalry, ap-
peared as witnesses at the Friday
morning session. Before noon. how
ever, both officers, the committee
heard, had received permission from
the war department 10 testify and
senator Fail said at noon when the
hearings adjourned until o'clock in
the afternoon that the committee
army officers subpenaed Thursday and
that they were TO appear later in the
day
other Witnesses at the hearing Fri
day were O. c Dove and P. F.
Dyches, rangers from the Big Bend
district who corroborated stories
told by Thursdays witness of depre-
cations committed by Mexicans along
the border south and west OF Maria.
Ranger Charges Laxity.
Since Col J. J. HornbroOk took
command Of the Big Bend district last
september not once has chase been
given 10 MeLicans who raided and
looted on the American side. accord
ing 10 s. H. Neil. a ranger from
Maria who testified Thursday after
noon before the senate subcommittee
lnvestigating Mexican conditions.
W
com handing the Eighth cavalry. was
in the Big Bend district, he always
chased AeNicans who came over on
the American side" said Mr.. Nefll
but Col HOrnbrook, commanding the
Fifth cavalry, has not only not given
chase, but has ordered his men not to
go after the bandits" Mr.. NefU said
ne could not explain the change OF
policy.
Border Conditions Worse.
In spite Of Col Hornbrook's alleged
inactivity as a chaser OF bandits Nj
Nsiil said he had never known border
conditions 10 be as bad as they are
now He said he was born in Texas
% years ago and had spent all OF his
me IN the state He went to the
border, IN 1873. before the Diaz regime
started, and although conditions were
bad then he said they were worse
now In fact. he said that II the
soldiers were removed there would be
but two things for Americans to do:
Go over and strive the Mexicans out
OF the country or leave themselves
The Mexicans, the witness said
were worse than the Comanches
When you meet up with Comanches"
he said. you know there are just two
things 70 be done. You must either
run or fight. But you can never tell
what to do when you meet a Mexican.
They are not civilized They. win
make you all kinds Of promises, but
they never keep them"
Mr.. Neill who has been "A ranger
States customs officer before that,
told with vivid details Of his expert
ences at the Bright ranch when IL
was raided on Christmas morning
1917. He said that he and his wife
and son and his family. which in
cluded five children, were staying at
the ranch A Christmas tree had been
set up the night before and every
body got up early the next morning
TO get good start celebrating Christ
mas
Saw Mexlcuns Coming.
1fr. NELL went TO the woodple. co
yards from the house. and got some
wood to build a fire 10 make himself
some coffee and saw nothing out OF
the ordinary. but while he was sitting
in a kitchen window drinking his
coffee he saw band OF MeNicans
coming up the road. six abreast. with
their guns unsheathed. He said he
called 20 his son to get up as they
would have TO fight Each Of the
men got a gun and the witness said
he went out and a Carranza captain,
who was ahead, followed orders to
his men to kill all OF the Americans
At this, the ranger said he shot and
killed the captain and that he didn't
boiler any more"
The fight which followed bested
the Mexicans somewhat, although
Mr.. NELL was shot in the nose. The
MeLicans sent one Of two Mexican
farm hands they had captured to
the house TO ask for a truce, saving
they would cease firing II the resi-
dents Of the house would and that
all they wanted was some saddle