Slayer of Villa

An agent of the Mexican Government arrested at Monterey, State of Nuevo Leon, one Jesus Salas, member of the State Legislature of Durango. Upon arrest Salas confessed that he had organized the group and planned and executed the killing of Francisco Villa, (TIME, July 30.)

The group--recruited from the small town of El Oro, state of Durango--had sworn to avenge losses inflicted on their families by Villa when he captured El Oro. They rented a building in Parras, from which they watched and waited for Villa for months. Once his life was saved by some school children who were in the line of fire, but on July 16 the chance came and Villa was killed.

The confession of Salas is considered particularly fortunate in political circles, as the crime was freely spoken of in connection with "one of the leading candidates for the Presidency."

The State Legislature of Durango suspended Salas' privilege of immunity from arrest.