San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-10-31
MASKED ALIEN.
S|MUGGLERSR ROB.
VICTIMS.
Take All Their Money and
Then Demand Their
Clothes.
CAUGHT BY FEDERALS
Dalmatian and Four Ital-
ians Taken Across Riv-
er Below Laredo.

Masked alien smuggilrs operating in
% the vicinity Of Laredo are robbins
their "clients" not only of theil
money but even of their clothes. &c
= .ording TO graphic accounts by -four
Italians and one Dalmatian, who fell
into the hands of immigration Off
rers near Laredo, REQ ntly, according
10 detailed report received at the
immigration headquarters office fol-
III San Antonio district.
The five aliens were approached
/. by Mexican smugglers in Nuevo La
: redo. according to their accounts. who
, offered to get them into the United
d States. The adventures of the aliens
: up until the time they were apprc-
h,nded by immigration Officers Null
; len. Hawkins. Henry and Franklin,
were ltcounted graphically by the
. balmatian as follows:
The four Italians. about four Mex
leans and myself got into an auto
mobile in Ntevo Laredo and rode up
, the river about five miles. Before
I seaching our destination, one of the
wheels fell off tn car and the jour
. ney was completed on foot.
Demanded Their Money.
when we arrived at the place
Khere we wcn, 10 cross the river in
The United States, we We're all shown
the way into the skiff. The skiff made
two trips and l went in the first
Dad. but waited on the side of the
bank until thr second load got over.
After We all got together on the
banks of the American side. we were
divided into two punches. and the
nexicans werc told 10 go one way
, md the Europeans -four Italians and
) myself to go the other way.
There were two men in an auto
mobile on this side of the river, but
ge could not see their faces as they
both wore masks. They spoke the
Mexican laneuaW. They demanded
ill the money we had. | paid Sl4
ior this transaction. and fortunately,
had SO hidden in my cap, which 50
brought to the Jail with me.
Took Their Clothes.
Some of the Italians were stripped
wen Of their own ciosbeS. and the
.lothrs which I had in my valise were
llso taken. / asked one of these two
Mexican men why he did not let me
go along with the Mexicans. and he
odd me to keen my mouth shut and
that some one would take the Italians
md mys II TO the railroad tracks
Ehere we would board the train and
cave the place.
I'VE walked on foot from tn, bank
" the river in d zig-zag course TO-
wards the railroad tracks and were
old to follow the tracks to a cross
ng where ~, would find a flag sta
ion: that we would board train
here and proceed TO some place by
paying 81 each railroad fare. nj which
place we were to find employment.
But, instead. we wep approached BY
an automobile containing officials,
who arrested u.s.
The fact that two of the smugglers
rho robbed the aliens wore masks in
iicate that they anticipated the cap
ture of the aliens. it is hlieved at the
district immigration headquarters Of
bee. Masks would prevent identiti-
'ation Of the salugglers il the aliens
Ell into the hands Of immigration Of
'icers.
Aliens who have been appr, hended
" immigration officers. readily give
concerning the manner i'm
7hich they crossed the river and are
OF reluctant 10 assist the immigra-
ion service in apprelSanding the
nugglers who assisted them to cross
be river, since in IT, ma iority of
lses;. the, aliens have been victimizet
" the cupidity Of those in whom they
ad entrusted their hope of entering
he United States.