COLD-BLOODED MURDER

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 258, 22 March 1913, Page 2 (Supplement)

COLD-BLOODED MURDER

HOW MADERO'S BROTHER 131 ED. Mexico City, February 23. A sordid story is told by an eye-wit-ness of the killing of Don Gustavo Madero, tlie late President's brother.

"He did not attempt to escape,'' says this gentleman. "T was walking in one. of tlie large courtyards of tlie Arsenal with a friend when T notieed a group of men on the other side. 'There is Gustavo Ma dero now.' remarked my companion. Gustavo was wearing a light suit,, and lie was hare-headed. T could see his face plainly in the moonlight. In one hand he lipid his hat. and in the other a handkerchief, with which he mopped his forehead. We stopped for a moment to see what was going to happen. 'Perhaps they are releasing him,' I said. 'lt looks like it.' answered my friend. Then we saw Madero replace his hat on his head, wave his hand to the other men. and start to walk towards the portal of the gates leading to the street. When he was 15 or 20 feet awav lie turned half round to say something to them. "It seemed as though what followed must have boon pre-arranged. There was no audible word of command. We watched him walk onward towards the porta! with a (inn and easy tread. lie was half-way there when T noticed the others raise their rides, and the shooting began. First only one or two fired. Then more joined in and kep up the fusillade. T jumped hack into a doorway, hilt T could see perfectly well what was happening. None of the first bullets struck the poor fellow, for he turned his head towards the levelled rillcs and then ran. P>nt he had only taken or three steps before he staggered and fell on his hands and knees. He tried to crawl in his agony, and then, struggling up (o his feet, collapsed and fell again before the rain of bullets. He went down on his face with the hand holding the handkerchief doubled under him. Some soldiers came and turned the body over so that the face looked upward in the moonlight. His clothing was soaked in blood. Afterwards the assassins carried the body to the other side of the courtyard, and 1 heard one of them remark, 'lie tried to escape.' That statement was false. T saw it all. He was murdered in cold blood. The sight sickened me. and I came awav."