San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-02-18

the prohibition candidate for the
presidency of the United States in the
1924 election.
clry and other property and identify
them and prove ownership and over
two hundred citizens of Mexico City
appeared in the halls of the Supreme
Court and proved their claims to their
property, in which many names OF
prominent citizens of Mexico City
were mentioned who personally and
through their attorney made claim
and recovered jewelry and other prop
erty.
The press reporters were present
and witnessed the fair and impartial
manner in which the return of prop
erty was made and even the picture
show man was there with his camera
and took scenes showing the principal
matrOnS of our capital examining and
making claims to their property.
Property was returned upon posi-
tive proofs of ownership, receipts
signed in triplicate, one of them be-
ing attached to the record, and the
other turned over to the owner.
The automobile girls matter was
dormant in the offices of the judge
who had charge of the matter when
the presidential election came. The
two principal parties championed
Gen. Alvaro Oregon and myself for
the presidency. The Obregonista
party was losing ground in the pub
lie estimation, and my party was win
ming in popular approval. My enemies
became alarmed at my growing popu.
larity, and they had to invent some
thing to try and injure me and my
reputation and began to murmur in
soto vOce, and then began to men,
ton the phantom matter of the 'au-
tOmObile girls first alleging that |
had had innocent persons executed,
afterwards that had been benevolent
with others, and that / had not acted
with energy in cases of some military
men. Many political canards were is.
sued along these lines from the camp
of my opponent, and the automobile
girls served as means for my enc
mics to calumny me.
A Political Attaca.
"This as it appeared, was only a
phantom, there being no one to give it
form and substance. Juan Merigo,
for reasons that | do not know, was
in some way mixed up in this matter.
This gentleman. to capture the SYM
patty or friendship of other persons in
the Obregonista command or insti-
gated by some personal spite, has
loaned himself to serve as a match to
the furnace of political hate. in which
he promises to make sensational revel-
atoms connecting prominent persons
with this same matter.
MY political enemies could expect
nothing else, but thing of this kind
to use as an instrument for their per-
verse designs.
when l was in a prison at Mon
terey with a death sentence over my
head during the De la Huerta regime,
there was an attempt made to connect
my name with this matter, but for
three years afterwards the investi-
CATION has rested on the desk of the
judge TO try and find responsibilities
against me-but it is never too late
for political enemies.
General Merino, who was expa-
triated. celebrated several conferences
with Obregonista officials, arranged a
pardon for his crimes, returned to-
Mexico City where he was arrested.
Justifiably or injustifiably arrested l
know not neither do l care, but inter
viewed by a reporter of n paper, he,
1t is claimed, gave an interview cal
umnylng me in such a way as TO make
II appear that l am responsible for
the acts OF the automobile gris.'
Asks for Investigation.
Il demand that the judge in charge
of the investigation proceed i'm a fair
and impartial manner to investigate
and make judicial findings and deter
limitations, 50 that all may have the
right 10 defend themselves legally and
but l detest that names
of persons be mentioned by slandprers
and false charges and accusations
cast to the wind by irresponsible par
ties.
Juan Merge ought to be examined
before competent court.
and if his testimony is worthy of
faith and is properly corrOborated.
and not cOntradicted by the testi-
monies previously rendered in snid
matter and process, it will be the prop
er time for the prosecuting attorney
to file the charges and the judge TO
make the findings legal.
81 have said enough. believe the
public opinion will be with me, from
having to take issues with two persons
who state they overheard talk of other
persons now dead, all of which is hear
say testimony in any court of justice.
Wants Case Sifted.
AS i have no other means Of com
municating with the public except
through the same press that may have
published the srandalous reports on
the testimony Of Juan Mprigo. and
expect that as a matter Of elemental
justice. | ask the indulgence of news
papermen TO publish this statement.
"The society of the Mexican CAPT
tai can best answer whether l gave
complete guarantees and protection
when l was in command Of their city,
and request all of the victims Of the
automobile girls to appear in court
and state whether or not I impaired
Justice and efficacy in investigating
their complaints.
Il am ready 70 defend my good
name from the villaneous attacks Of
nv personal and uoIiticaI annrnins