Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-01-07
MADERo KILLING CLEARED
Suicide of General Cardenas Brings
Facts to Light.

SuIcisIc OF 8cncTal SaIOeldS ~ h'9S
Facts to Light.
The suicide OF the former Mexican
general, Francisco Cardenas, in the
Central Plaza of Guatemala City,
Guatemala, on November ~, is be-
| licyed here to have ended all doubt rs
TO WHO was the real slayer OF the
Mexican president, Francisco !. Ma
dero. Cardcnas had told the Asso-
ciated 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 Suarcz, was shot to death on the
night Of February %, 1913. while be-
ing conveyed under a guard Of armed
soldiers from his place Of imprison-
| mcnt in the National Palace to the
penitcntiary in Mexico City. The US
ual report was rendered to the author
itics that the prisoners had tried TO
make their escape and that the SOL
diers, in order to prevent them from
getting away, were obliged to shoot
them.
Not long after the event, Francisco
Cardenas appeared in Guatemala
Within a short time he was arrested
and imprisoned by orders OF Estrada
Cabrera, the president then of this
country. 1t was not clear just on
what grounds Cabrera ordered the
imprisonment of Cardenas. The gov
crnmcnt Of Cabrera was not on par
ticularly friendly relations with that
of Carranza who had succeeded Gen.
FFuelta as president Of Mexico. 1t Is
thought that the Guatemalan presi-
dent was aware that Cardcnas' was
wanted by the CarranZa government,
and purposed turning him over to tn"
Mexican authorities in exchange Tor
certain Guatemalans in Mexico who
i might be conspiring again Cabrcra's
government. However, this may be,
no exchange was made and Cardenas
was kept a prisoner for nearly seven
years.
During' the revolution of last April
when the dictator, Cabrera, was over
thrown, Cardenas was taken from the
pcnitentiary and brought into this
city under guard Of troops. Col.
Bclteton pointed him out TO he ASso-
ciated Press correspondent as the
man who had killed. Madero.
Commanded. Guard
Cardcnas was q man of medium
height, robust in appearance, with
round. bullct-likc head, thin black
mustache and thin black hair parted
! in ringlcts over his forehead. Ques-
toned as to the killing Of Madero he
dismissed the subject with the simple
statement he was in command OF the
guard that did the killing.
He offered no explanation why he
had commanded the guard to shoot
the prisoners, but was more intent on
relating his own misadvcnturcs. stat
ing that he had been in prison nearly
eight years, more than two years oil
which had been in solitary contine-
mcnt. If this part Of his statement
is correct. he must have fled from
Mexico shortly after the murders
we're committed and when Hucrta
was still in power.
With the change of government in
Guatemala last April, Cardcnas was
set free and given IN important olll-
cial position in the pcnitentiary, with
| n chance to make good but it is said
that he accepted money for granting
certain prohibited privileges to pris-
oncrs. He lost his position in the
penitentiary and was accused OF pay
| ing too much attention to the wife Of
political prisoner. When the hus-
band of the woman was also released
| from the penitentiary, he was stabbed
by a man who said Cardenas had
raid him to do the stabbing. Car
dcnas was arrested and imprisoned.
but was released on bail.
Capture on Frontier.
Recently. n request came from the
| proper authorities in Mexico request
| ing that he be held by the authorities
here until papers could be forwarded
| for his cxtradition on the Madero
murder charge. it being explained
| that direct testimony had bcen obtain
cd showing him TO have been the man
directly responsible for the deed
Through some laundering Of the police
department. Cardenas was permitted
to make his escape from the city. but
was eventually located in some woods
a few miles beyond in the district of
Las Vacas On tho night of Nov. 26
he was captured.
It was stated by the lieutenant who
commanded the soldiers that Cardenas
offered him $4,000 for himself and
81 900 for each of his soldiers to he
! set rs liberty The offer being re-
fused Cardenas asked permission TO
rest, whereupon he wrote in a men,
orandum book which he carried few
lines addressed to the woman with
whom he had been living, giving her
his money and jewels and requesting
! her tu bury his body in event of his
death.