Official Murder Shocks Mexico.

New York Times 100 years ago today, March 28, 1913:
Zepeda, Governor of Federal District, Orders Enemy Shot and Burned.
GOVERNMENT ARRESTS HIM
He Is Huerta's Brother-in-Law and Has Been Influential in the Administration.
VICTIM A MADERIST LEADER
Hernandez Killed, the Drunken Zepeda Sought to Slay Governors.
Special Cable to The New York Times.
    MEXICO CITY, March 27.— Enrique Zepeda, brother-in-law of President Huerta, at 3:30 o'clock this morning, as Governor of the Federal District, ordered the summary execution ot Gabriel Hernandez, the young ex-Commander of rurales, a former Maderista, who was held under arrest for abusing his authority.
    Zepeda, who has been on a protracted debauch since he assumed the Governorship in face of popular opposition, last night began smoking cannabis indica (hasheesh) and, crazed by the weed, started out to find Hernandez. He went to the penitentiary and ordered Warden Liciaga to release Hernandez, as he wished to shoot him. The Warden told him that Hernandez was in the Belem district jail. Zepeda thereupon ordered the arrest of Liciaga. Meantime Alberto Garcia Granados, the Minister of the Interior; President Huerta, Gens. Mondragon and Blanquet and others were notified. Granados dressed hurriedly and went to the Belem jail in time to find the body of Hernandez. Petroleum had been poured upon it, and it had been half consumed by fire.
    Granados at once ordered the arrest of Zepeda, who was found some hours later in a drunken stupor, from which he could not be roused. He was carried to the National Palace, where he was confined in the room formerly occupied by ex-President Madero.
    The wardens say that Zepeda came to them acting like a crazy man, accompanied by several civilians and a force of mounted police. He ordered the warden to release Hernandez and prepare a shooting squad. When the prison authorities refused to obey. He caused them to be arrested and himself prepared the firing squad of police. While he was waiting to find the keys of the cell he stood outside and taunted Hernandez, who was crying to his fellow-prisoners: "They are going to shoot me!"
    Zepeda stuck his head through the bars, crying: "You are going to die now, you murderer!" and other insults and threats.
    He caused Hernandez to be dragged from his cell, kicking him as he was taken to the courtyard.
    Major Hernandez, who was still suffering from a wound in the head received during the fighting in the capital, when the firing squad was formed, confronted it bravery and died at the first volley.
    Zepeda then ordered petroleum poured upon the body and caused it to be burned. Then he started for the penitentiary, where he demanded that Rafael Cepeda, Antonio Hidaigo, and Alberto Fuentes D. former Governors, Respectively, of Aguascalientes, San Luis Potosi, and Tlaxcala, be handed over to him to kill. When his demands were refused he went to a house of ill repute, where he was arrested.
    The affair was discussed at a Cabinet meeting this morning, and it was decided to take drastic action by turning the case over to the Attorney General of the republic.
    Zepeda is wealthy, having made a good deal of money out of contracts to supply the army with clothes and food. He is the man who carried the news of Madero's arrest to the American Embassy. It is generally believed here that he arranged for Madero's arrest. He has had considerable influence with President Huerta.
    Not only is Zepeda a relative of the President, but for many years he has been closely associated with him in business.
    The news of the execution was suppressed during the greater part of the day. Zepeda, while drinking with friends last night, remarked that there had not been enough summary executions.
    "The administration," he said, "is not out of danger yet; we must kill more people."
    Recalling the emphasis Zepeda placed on his remarks, his friends are not so completely surprised by the tragedy.
    Prominent Mexicans said to-day that they feared the prestige of Mexico would be irreparably destroyed abroad unless summary action were taken, and that even then it would be difficult to restore it.
    The general opinion here is that Zepeda should be shot without further action, as the case was evidently one of cold-blooded murder. Society was highly indignant at his appointment, as the man's record was known, and he was recently expelled from the Mexico Country Club for various misdemeanors. His wife, the daughter of an Englishman, has been neglected for months and is generally pitied by society.
    Minister Granados said to-night that his influence would be exercised to have the full penalty of the law applied and an example made of Zepeda.
    Hernandez, at the age of 22, took arms at Pachuca in the Madero revolt. He was considered a good fighter, but rather inclined to take summary action in the way of the execution of prisoners. It was for an offense of this sort that he was a prisoner. It was reported some months ago that he was responsible for the execution of a man supposed to have been a friend of Zepeda. Hernandez rendered excellent services in the Oaxaca campaign, and later in other parts of Mexico. He was known and feared by the rebels against Madero's authority, as he always went into action at the head of his troops.
     It was believed at one time that he would take the field against Madero on account of slights which he had received but he remained loyal, fighting with a few men. When his force had been wiped out by the Diaz machine guns, he fell, shot through the head, and was believed to be dying. He was taken to the hospital and later recovered. He was generally liked by Americans and other foreigners, particularly in Pachuca.