Mexican Justice

An extradition treaty with Mexico is before the U. S. Senate. Last week U. S. Senator Moses arranged that action on the treaty be postponed. The reason for the postponement is only indirectly concerned with the treaty.

The reason is this: Recently Colonel Manuel Demetrio Torres, known as Chaparreras, was taken by U. S. officials in Laredo, Tex., and transferred across the Rio Grande to the Mexican authorities. He had fought with the Huertistas against Obregon and Calles. He was handed over to the Mexican Government, by order of the U. S. Department of Labor through its immigration officials, because it was alleged he was illegally resident in the U. S. Before he was handed over, the Mexican Consul at Laredo had given assurances that he would not be treated as a political prisoner. The immigration authorities also had a telegram sent by President Calles to the Mexican commander across the border at Nirova Laredo, directing that Torres should not be court-martialed but should be handed over to the civil authorities for trial as a highway and train robber.

A few days later despatches from Mexico City announced:

"During the early hours of this morning, on the military parade grounds, Manuel Demetrio Torres was shot to death in pursuance of telegraphic instructions of the Minister of War to the military authorities of Torreon, Coahuila.

"Torres was brought from the military prison where he was confined, and was told by Lieut. Col. Fredico Zenteno that he was condemned to suffer death, and would be executed at once. On taking his pedigree, Torres said, with serenity and calmness, that he was a native of Saltillo, 37 year of age, unmarried and a farmer by occupation.

"Asked if he had any final requests to make, he replied that he had none; and in respect to the ill-fortune that he was about to suffer, said: 'What you are about to do is merely my fate overtaking, me.'

"The firing squad, under Lieutenant Duarte of the First Cavalry, was formed with Torres in front. When asked if he wished to stand with his back to the squad, he answered: 'No, I am ready to die as I am.' The order to fire was then given and the victim fell heavily to the ground. The body was placed in an ambulance and removed to the hospital, preparatory to burial in the municipal territory."

So it appeared that, after all, Torres had been executed by military authorities. President Calles insisted that he had been tried, condemned and executed as a train robber. Senator Moses, however, did not like the look of the whole proceeding, especially since it was said in some quarters that the train Torres had "robbed" was a troop train carrying Calles' forces. So the extradition treaty waited.

So likewise there was delay in the U. S. Department of Labor in deporting another Mexican, General Francisco Coss, who is alleged to have overstayed his passport. General Coss was formerly Colonel Torres' superior officer, and it was feared that, in spite of assurances from the Mexican Government, Coss might also face a firing squad for "train robbery."