San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-02-18
PHANTOM CAR
!. Of MEXICO IS
IN SPOTLIGHT
Automobile Girls" Case
Revived at Charges of
Juan Merge.
ALL FEARED GRAY CAR
General Pablo Gonzales
Denies Statement OF
Any Completely.

Echoes OF the famous "autOmODlIe
girls of Mexico City in the trying
days of revolution and reconstruction,
that phantom gray automobile that
1nysteriously appeared on a scene and
left as mysteriously disappeared leav-
ing some one dead il the street, a
bullet through his Ecart, have been
heard through Mexico the last week.
General Juan Merge in an alleged
confession published in FL Demo
,crata, February /, implicated Gen.
Pablo Gonzales, then military COM
mander of the City of Mexico, now at
Laredo. General Gonzales has issued
a statement denying in whole the
charges, demanding that thorough
investigation be made of the matter,
declaring that 1t is the work of politi-
cal enemies and that official records
already clear him of the charges.
y The famous automobile girls" is
the national mystery of Mexico
Thrilling tales are told of its exploits.
Many prominent men were killed by
the person or persons who rode in
the car which bore silently down on
its victims, and left, never to be
traced. 1t is still as much a mystery
as ever.
Merigo Lived Here.
Juan Merge is well 1nown in San
Antonio. He was a star figure in
the Reyista trial at Brownsville. He
later became an officer in the army
of Carranza and was chief of field
artillery at one time. After the fall
of CarranZa, he came to San Antonio
where he lived for several months. He
is alleged to have then headed a fill
clustering expedition across the Rio
Grande near FL Paso which failed.
When his case for violation of the
neutrality laws was called at Ell Paso
a few weeks ago he was not present
but was later arrested in Mexico and
taken to Mexico City where it is said
he is held in connection with the loot
ing OF rich families at the time of the
reconstruction. Merigo's alleged con-
feSslon duplicates General Gonzales,
who assisted Oregon in the over
throw Of Carranza.
The connection is not with the loot
ing but with the activities of the Eau
tonobile girls" General Gonzales is
sued manifesto at Laredo this week
especially directed TO the society of
the Mexican capital, a summary of
which follows:
without any prejudice and cast
ing aside all hate and rancor which
might be had advisors. / am going to
explain in brief form what was ms
attitude when l was military COVER
nor of Mexico City. ] am not going
to launch into accusations or try to
wound regulations against the calum-
lnous "versios" that are being pro-
,pagated with the intent TO injure me.
The Mexican nation and society all
VINO have witnessed my acts will alb
solve me from these false statements
and will at the same time with the
finger of scOrn point out and accuse
the slanderers who will be condemned.
ZapataS Were Busy.
About the middle of 1915 the army
corps of the Orient at nv command
took possession of the City of Mexico
and the other cities in the federal
district, running out the Zapatista
banditti. All Of the residents had
been under complete panic of the
terror caused by the constant vexa-
tions and assaults of which they had
suffered as victims in their persons
and interests, by part Of the forces TO
dhe south and of the wing of ban
ditry.
II took notice Of this situation
which was reigning. and within
short time l organized all Of the
public services.
3 Implanted authorities, which were
dependent on my military garrison i'm
mediately started m active prosecu-
lion and persecution of the malefac-
tors. Even the currency was being
counterfeited on large and small
scales, and burglaries and robberips
perpetrated in the outskirts and OUT
dying districts, the deinquents not
even leaving any clue 10 their where
ahouts and identity. The complaining
witnesses for the first few DAYS were
Iot willing to file charges and soon
afterwards complaints were made that
.Zapatistas dressed in military rorb.
Under the preteXt of hunting for arms
would cut telephone wires and enter
private residences. Most of the
houses IN which these searches were
.made. did not think of asking the mar
5ies for search warrants or authority
for the entry. but in those cases whore
the authority was demanded. they
were shown a paper with n seal. but
in no case were the parties ever able
TO decipher the office Of the seal mr.
who signd the sO-called order.
Recovered Their Jewels.
We arrested several cOunterfpitnrs
of our paper currency and they were
tried sumInarily and after their con.
-fession were executed. without taking
into consideration their social rank or
political affiliation.
81 u Immediately enrolled a largo
number of detectives who under tho
direct supervision of the poIice an.
thorities, began investigation and
searches of many of the alleged rob.
berries and bUrglaries by Zapatistas
and they found and took charge of
much jewelry and property which tbpv
recovered, all of which was inventor.
tied, and put in packages and the ac-
cused persons were turned over 70 fine
provost marshal. The paymaster gen
esal turned over TO the provost mar
shall the original packages Just as he
received them, upon proper rpceipts
Many Of the culprits were tried. some
executed and others acquitted for lack
of evidence. Even some women al
g hged rs accOmplice3 in these burglar
NJ were tried and convicted.
Took Pictures Of II.