The Washington times., 1920-05-18
FIGHT DUEL WITH
GOVERNMENT GUNS
President Of Uruguay Lends
Pistols for BatlIe-Beltran
Death Battle.

Details OF the duel In which for
mer President Battle OF Uruguay
killed Dr. Washington Beitrsn. 3
prominent nationalist deputy and ed
I itor. at Montevideo last April 2. have
just reached Washington. They pre-
sent revelation OF popular accept
snee OF this method OF settling politi-
cal controversy in the southern. re-
public startling TO the American OF
I today, TO whom it's vogue at a not
! Tar distant period OF this nations
history Is not a personal memory
Three things stand out to the
American eye in the details OF the
duel as published in the Montevideo
Times:
The article written by DR.. Beltran,
! which occasioned the fatal meeting,
was not a personal attack on Senior
Battle. but a political criticism which
would seem tame In comparison with
editorials of like nature in American
partisan press
The President OF Uruguay supplied
the pistols used, one of which sent
| the lifeless body of DR.. Beltran home
TO wife soon to become the mother
OF his third child.
Editorial Causes Duel.
1 The account of the duel in The
monteVlueo Times says:
"A great sensation which has hard
Iy yet subsided has been caused by
the death OF the prominent nation
alist deputy. DR.. Washington Beltran,
who was killed in a duel with ex-
! President Battle on Friday last.
! The origin of the duel was
trenchant article in "El Pals" OF
which DR.. Beltran was joint editor.
attacking the electoral procedures
employed by Senior Battle during the
two presidencies OF the latter.
I THE duel took place on the foot
ball ground of the Club National at
the Parque Central.
THE Secretary of the Chamber OF
deputies, DR.. Domingo Neracierto.
acted as director of the duel, Drs. Lo-
|renzo Merola and Deputy Arturo Lus-
sich being present as medical men.
First shots wild.
The men being placed, DR.. Vera
'eterto gave the three signals: the first
for the men to turn and stand ready,
the second for them to aim. and the
third the signal to fire. AS the last
clap rang out both men fired stimuli
taneonsly. both shots going wide.
"Cazeaux again loaded the pistols.
and once against the men stood back
TO back. DR.. Veracierto gave the
first clap, and the men turned, the
second, and then the third, both
shots ringing out true. Battle re-
;mained standing, but Beltran dropped
his pistol, clasped both hands to his
lstomach. took three steps back.
iswayed and fell. dead.
Before the medical men could come
TO his aid he had ceased to breathe,
80 rapid had been the effect of the
bullet, which entered the right side
;of the thorax. traversed both lungs,
and grazed the heart. coming out on
tthe left side Of the back.
"The chamber held a special meet
, ing the same afternoon and voted
funeral honors to DR.. Beltran. and a
life pension of $4,000 per annum to
his widow and children
Battle Is Arrested.
"Dr. Beltran was married some six
years ago to daughter OF the late
jDr. Mullins His wife-who is short
lily expecting again to become a moth
er-survives him with two young
children.
"As soon as the results OF the duel
became public. the judge Of instruc-
ton, DR.. Gomensoro, caused Senior
Battle and DR.. Merola to appear be-
fore him. but they declined to make
any declaration. He accordingly is
sued an order for their arrest. which
was promptly executed, and at pres
ent they are lodged in the correc-
tional prison, an application for re-
lease on bail having been refused.
"The other actors in the duel, all
being Deputies, were shielded from
arrest by parliamentary privilege. but
we understand that an application is
being made to the Chamber for that
privilege to be waived.
"Under the Penal Code, Senior Battle
is liable to Imprisonment for from
two or four years, and the other par
ticipants to a fine of S400 to $500 each.
Though duelling is illegal, the penal
ties against 1t have hardly ever been
enforced, and 1t may be doubted IL
thew will be on this occasion"