The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1928-07-19
new MEXICAN PRES.
CRUELTY MURDERED
AlvarO Oregon Assassinated
While Attending Party Ar
ranged in His Honor
DESPERATE CAPTURED
President Gales, Grief Strick-
en-, Calls Out Military
Organizations

Mexico City, July 17-Presi-
dent-elect Alvaro Oregon Of Mex
leo, called Lucky" Obregon be-
cause he had so often escaped
death on the battlefield or by as
assassination, died violently TODAY.
Like so many Of those who have
been president or have headed gov
ernments of Mexico, he was the vic
tim OF an assassin. He was shot
down as hessat at banquet given
him by his political supporters at
the little town Of San Angel, near
Mexico City, at 2:2O p. m. today.
Police said tonight that the assas-
sination was only one of a series
planned, by which a number of the
Leading statesmen of Mexico were
to have been removed.
The one-armed warrior-rr.sldent
with six bullet wounds in his body
died in few moman7s, IN the
greatest agony, without speaking a
WorG.
His assassin, known as Juan Es-
capulario, was captured, alnost
torn apart by angered friends of
the slain general and taken to Jail,
where he confessed his crime.
Tonight many of those VINO we've
known to have been opposed to
General Obregon had fled Mexico
City before the fury of his fliends
and supporters, who were kept IN
bounds only by the stern vigilance
of police and soldiers who pairoitd
the streets of the capital and the
roads of the surrounding country.
Mexico City was in fever of ea-
citement, but there were no dis
orders.
The real identity of the assassin
was not known, to the public at
least, tonight. 1t is pointed out
that the name "Escapulario' is one
often given in contempt or deris-
ion. And in this case it is probab-
ly not family name at all.
General Obregon many times
narrowly escaped assassination,
once at the hands of a common So
ldier in the field, and only last No
vember when bomb was thrown
at his automobile. He escaped the
last time with a few cuts on his
face. Several times since the
presidential campaign of 1923 op-
pened his headquarters were bomb
ed.
The shooting today came most
unexpectedly. General Obregon
was seated at the head of the BAN
quet table with Ricardo Topete at
his right, and Aaron Saenz, COVER
nor of Mueva Leon, at his left.
While he chatted with his hosts a
band played Mexican music, and
"a cartoonist drew sketches of the
notables.
Suddenly the cartoonist rose and
approached General Saenz, asking
permission to show his cartoons to
the guest of honor. He turned to
Obregon, pretended to show him
the cartoons, and then, with gun
which he had concealed under the
papers fired directly into the pres
iient's body.
President Gales, who was in
Mexico City at the moment of the
tragedy, was advised Immediately
and fastened to San Angel. There
he visited the restaurant where
the shooting took place, then the
Jail where the slayer was held and,
after giving orders for an immed-
late investigation, drove to the OBJ
RECON residence.
The stern face of the president
relaxed as he gazed at the body of
his dead associate, and he frankly
wept. As he left he gave brief
statement to newspaper men in
which he said: 81 have suffered
such a shock that l am completely
stunned. The death of General
Obregon is Of transcendental inn
portance to the country, as he re-
presented all the hopes and ambi-
tions of the Mexican people. In
my estimation the country has lost
its greatest representative.
United States Ambassador
Dwight w. Morrow was shocked,
and fastened to the foreign office
to present his condolences.
81 am deeply distressed" he
said to newspapermen.
Other diplomatic representatives
in Mexico City presented their
condolences at the foreign office,
and scores of messages were re-
ceived during the evening.
Umberto Obregon, son of the
general, was at home when the as
sassination took place, and was the
first to rush to the automobile
when the body was brought to the
home. He was Frustrated by grief.
Messages Immediately were sent
to relatives in Sonora and also to
the generals daughter, Refugio,
wife of Colonel Rafael Ponce de
Leon, at Guadalajara. All were
expected to leave Immediately for
Mexico City.