The L'Anse sentinel., 1923-09-28
Women in Various Parts of Mex
leo to Claim Estate Worth
Millions.

Torreon, Mexico.-Just how many
wives did Francisco villa have2
The question, for years subject
for speculation as one Mrs. villa after
another was heard of, suddenly ceased
to be academic when the former BAN
dit leader was killed on his ranch In
Durango recently
From an outlaw with no estate save
the price on his head. villa had be-
come large Iandholder, and his legal
wife and children presumably can
claim large Inheritance.
Several alleged wives have already
emerged from obscurity, and Inquiries
In Chihuahua, Durango and along the
Mexican border Indicate that several
more probably will do so. He Is
generally credited there with ten OF
them.
Separated on NuptiaI Day.
A few days after the bandit chiefs
death a correspondent visited Mrs.
Luz Corral villa at Chihuahua City.
Mrs. Luz villa is of type rare among
Mexicans, blue-eyed, golden-haired,
magnifcently built woman, with polse
and personality. She is about thirty
six years old, and well educated. After
her marriage she added to her edu-
cation the accomplishments Of paint
ing and the piano.
She was married to General" villa,
as she always calls him, In 1908, In
the Catholic church at San Andres,
Mexico, she told the correspondent
They then went to Chihuahua to be
married by the court, but before the
ceremony could be performed villa
was captured and taken to Mexico
City. Upon his return to Chihuahua
several months later they were mar
ried by the court.
villa built a beautiful quinta for
her on Tenth street In chihuahua, of
which the furnishings alone cost co.
600 pesos or more, she said, and law
ished gorgeous jewelry and luxuries
upon her. She claims he always spoke
Of her to his friends as his "only
love-"
In 1916, during the trouble over the
shooting of Americans, villa sent
Dona Luz to the United States for
safety, where she remained until 1920.
villa and Dona Luz had no chill
dren, she says, but during most Of the
time she was In the United States she
took care of and educated three of
his children, whose mothers were un-
known to her.
In 1920 she returned to Mexico. and
lived with villa at Canutillo, his I'm
mense ranch. A few days after she
arrived there, she declares, villa
brought another wife, Esther Cradone.
into the house.
Sent Mistress to Another Town.
Wominally, however. the large. fair
Ddna Luz triumphed. She told villa
she would leave him II he did not
send Esther away, and he yielded.
But he sent her only as far as Chi.
huahua.
The correspondent saw her there a
few days ago, at Avenue Penitenciaria
No. S17. Every time villa came to Chi
huahua he visited me- she declared
"and every month ! received money
from him."
With Esther gone, peace returned
to the ranch at Canutillo; but not for
,ong. One day letter came ad
dressed to villa In woman's hand
Dona Luz opened It. It read: "The law
yer that you sent was here to see
my father. but my father Is against
our marriage because he believes you
are already married. II you can prove
the contrary, speak with my uncle
who lives In Parrel." 1t was signed
"Austaberta Renteria."
Dona Luz knew the girl. she says
Austaberta had once told her that
villa had tortured her father py burn
ing his feet OF. villa never got that
letter. Dona Luz admits frankly.
y New Favorite Gusts Wife.
But neither her influence nor the
suppression Of the letter which had
l. ~c.x.n t,to hor honAo cctII Iaax. xfft.,