MEXICO

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 11 August 1924, Page 9

MEXICO

EXTRA EDITION.

MURDER. OF MRS. EVANS. NOT A POLITICAL CRIME. BT CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPT EIGHT Received Aug. 11, 9.25 a.m. MEXICO CITY, Aug. 9. Piesident Obregon told newspaper men tliat the most unfortunate assassination of Mrs. Rosalie Evans had been shown Conclusively to have been the work of ordinary " criminals, and that the efforts of political enemies to turn the incident against both the agrarian parties and the Administration had been unavailing. It is stated that the agrarians completely controlled the Huejofzino district, Puebela State, where the Evans crime was committed, through the recent revolution without 3' single complaint of excesses. It is asserted that it is merely a coincidence that Mrs Evans happened to be the victim of highwaymen in the agrarian controlled district, as was also the incident resulting in the departure from Mexico of the British Charge d’Affaires, Mr. Cummins. He said the accusation that General Montes, agrarian leader, a candidate for the Federal Congress was implicated in the case was unfounded. —Reuter. •4 SIMILAR CRIME RECALLED. new ZEALAND RANCHER SHOT. (by TELEGRAPH PRESS^ASSOCIATION.) CHRISTCHURCH, Aug. 6. The murder of Mrs Evans in Mexico recalls a tragedy of a similar nature of which a 'member of a well-known Otago and Southland family was the victim about 30 years ago. Mr David McKellar, of Brooksdale (Tapanui), and other well-known runs, and one of the original runholders of the province in the early sixties, left New Zealand in the nineties to make his home in Mexico, purchasing an extensive ranch there. This he fenced in, much to the annoyance of the inhabitants, who lest little time in pulling' the fence down. It was promptly re-erected, and just as promptly pulled down again, with an intimation affixed to it that if it were again re-erected the rancher’s life would be the forfeit.

As Mr McKellar was not one of the stuff to be intimidated by the “greasers’” threats, the gap was again put light. sequel occurred very quickly, the New Zealander being found shot dead some days later. •His widow and family subsequently made occasional visits to New Zealand, renewing early friendships. Mrs McIvellar died several years ago. It was never known that the Mexican Government made any recompense to the family or brought the offenders to book.