New-York tribune., 1921-01-02
Madero's Real
Slayer, Caught
Kills Himself
Cardenas, Commander OF
Guard by Whom Mexican
President Was Shot, Ends
Own Life in Guatemala
In Prison Eight Years
Onetime General Fails to Ex-
plain Why He Ordered
Executive Put TO Death

GUATEMALA CITY. Dec. 13 (By
Mail THE suicide Of the former
Mexican general, Francisco Cardehas,
IN tho Central Plaza of this city on
November 81, is believed here to have
ended all doubt as to who was the real
slayer Of the Mexican President, Fran
cisco I. Madero. Cardenas has told
The Associated Press correspondent
that he commanded the guard by whom
Madero was shot. but did not explain
Why he ordered the shooting.
Madero, with the Vice President,
Pine Suarez, was shot to death on the
night Of February %, 1913, while being
conveyed under guard Of armed SOL
diers from his place Of imprisonment
in the National Palace to the peni-
tertiary in Mexico City. The usual
report was made to the authorities
and that the soldiers, in order to pre-
vent them getting away, were obliged
to shoot them.
Not long after the event Francisco
Catdenas appeared in Guatemala.
Within a short time he was arrested
and imprisoned by orders Of Estrada
Cabrera, the President then Of this
country. It Is not clear just on what
grounds Cabrera ordered the impris-
onment Of Cardenas. The government
Of Cabrera was not on particularly
-anza. who had succeeded General
Iuerta as President Of Mexico. 1t is
thought that the Guatemalan Presi-
dent was aware that Cardenas WAS
wanted by the Carranza government,
| and proposed turning him over to the
Mex'can authorities in exchange for
certain Guatemalans in Mexico who
C'ipht be conspirng against Cabrera's
government However, this may be, no
exchange was made, and Cardenas was
',ept prisoner for nearly seven years.
Offers No Explanation
During the revolution Of last April
when the dictator, Cabrera. was over
thrown, Cardenas was taken from the
penitentiary and brought into this city
under a guard Of troops. Colonel
Beltcton pointed him out to The Asso-
cIated Press correspondent as the man
who had killed Madero.
Cardenas was man Of medium
height robust in appearance. with
~ound bu!let-like head. thin back
nustache and thin black hair parted in
-inslets over his forehead Questioned
'acs riding the killing of Madero he
dismissed the subject with the simple
| 'atement that he was in command Of
ho Guard that did the killing. He
offered no explanation why he had
commanded the guard to shoot the
prisoners, but was more intent on re-
! 'ating his own misadventures stating
| hat he had been in prison nearly eight
years. more than two years Of which
had been in solitary confinement If
his part of bis statement is correct he
| must have fed from Mexico shortly
ofter the murders were committed and
when Huerta WAS still in power.
With the change Of government in
Qua temala last April. Cardenas was set
free and given an important off cial
"osition in the penitentiary, with a
rhance to make good but it is said that
he accepted money for granting GER
ain prohibited privileges to prisoners.
he lost his position in the peniten-
iarv and was accused Of paying too
much attention to the wife of polti-
al prisoner When the hnsba nd of
he woman was also released from the
Nenitentiary he was stabbed by man
Who said Nardenas had paid him to do
he stabhing Cardenas was arrested
md imprisoned, but was released on
bal
Recently a request came from the
proper authorities in Mexico reonest-
ing that he be held hv the authorities
here until papers could ne forwa ID ed
'or his cxtradition on the Madero mur-
}er CHARGE, I being explained that di
rect testimony had been obtained show.
ing him to have been the man directly
responsible for the deed.
Cardenas Escapes
Through some blundering OF the po.
lice department Cardenas was per.
mitted to escape rom the city, but was
eventually located in some woods s
few miles beyond in the district of Las
Vacas On the night Of November 28 he
was captured.
1t is stated by the lieutenant who
commanded the soldiers, that Cardenas
offered him $4,000 for himself anc
~ II Z n