The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-07-19
PRESIDENT-ELECT
SHOT FOR CHRIST
SAYS CHURCHMAN
Counter Revolutionary
Agent, Belief

MEAICO CITY, July lS.--Jose
Juan Gonzales, the religious fanatic
who killed General Alvaro Obregon.
president-elect of Mexico, yester-
day, is believed to be an agent of
the counter-reyolutionary clerical
group that has been conducting a
bitter campaign against the Gales
government.
The assassin, who is now being
questioned, originally gave his
name as Juan Escapulario. Later
it was learned that his real name
is Gonzales and the pseudonym Es-
capulario assumed because of its re-
ligious significance. The escapu-
lario is a piece of stiffened cloth
bearing an image of the virgin
Mary. Gonzales is believed to have
been connected with the attempt on
the part of the clerical faction 10
assassinate Obregon by bombing his
car last winter.
MEXICO CITY, July IS (UP).-
President-elect Alvaro Oregon.
third Mexican leader to be assas-
sinated within Is years, met his
death as he sat surrounded by
friends discussing his prospective
return to titular as well as actual
leadership of the country.
With Senator Valdez Hamirez,
former Foreign Minister Aaron
Saenz, Colonel Juan James and other
supporters, Obregon motored out to
La Bombilla restaurant, in the
wealthy Sanangel suburb, for a con-
ference.
Approaches Table
The cafe orchestra was playing.
Surrounding tables were crowded.
As Obregon and his followers sat at
the table young man approached.
He asked whether he could not draw
caricatures of members of the party.
They consented.
The young man drew a picture of
Col. Ricardo Topete, one of Obre-
CONS aides.
"Can show this picture to Cen
eral Obregon?" he asked.
Empties Pistol
He approached the president-elect
and from under cover of the pic
ture emptied a small seven-shot
automatic pistol into Obregon's
back.
Obregon slid down in his chair
and fell to the floor. Few at ad-
joining tables realized what had
happened at first.
Col. Topete, whose picture had
been drawn, grabbed the assassin.
Other members of the party joined
him. They were about to kill the
assassin when Gen. Roberto Cruz,
chief of police, halted them.
Taken to Home
wait" he shouted. "Let us see
who is behind this
Obregon; dying, was lifted up
and carried to his motorcar, which
began racing to Obregon's town
house in the city.
Obregon died as he was being
carried into the house. He had said
no word since he was shot.
From the house Obregon's body
was carried to the National Palace,
to lie in state.
The assassin was taken to police
headquarters, his pistol still in his
hand.
Wanted Christ to Reign
81 have done what l came to do
he said. He was reported later to
have said
81 killed Obregon because
wanted Christ, the King, to reign
completely. not partially"
Only the day before, Obregon, in
statement of policy, had reaf-
firmed his position that the govern
ment must be supreme and that the
Catholic Church must obey the laws
which caused complete split be-
tween church and state.
RUNE, July Is (UP).-Almost at
the moment Of the assassination
yesterday of Gen. Alvaro Obregon
by a suspected religious fanatic,
convention Of Italian Catholic girls
was praying "for the day when per-
secutions Of Catholics in Mexico
would cease"
There were several addresses at
the convention regarding alleged ILL
treatment of Catholics in Mexico.
Presidential Tangle Looms
MEXICO CITY, July 1s (UP).-
The permanent congressional COM
mittee, that conducts Legislative
business when congress is not in
session, was to meet today to dis
cuss the puzzling problem of the
succession to the presidency as the