CATHOLIC MARTYR

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 262, 5 November 1928, Page 7

CATHOLIC MARTYR

SLAYER OF OBREGON.

Mexican Would Give His Life

In Religious Cause.

PERSECUTION ALLEGED.

(United Service.)

(Received 0.30 a.m.)

MEXICO CITY, November 4.

The trial has begun of Jose Toral, who killed the President-elect of Mexico, General Obregon, on July 17 last.

When he was asked to plead Toral said his idea was to sacrifice his own life and Obregon's, which would bring the religious question to a climax, and no other bloodshed would occur.

I acted for the good of all Roman Catholics," he said. "I thought of leaving my wife and my children, who would be fatherless, but on the other hand I thought also of the innumerable widows and orphans left throughout the countrv through conditions which my act might change. Those who live by the sword shall die by the sword."

Toral insisted fervently that he was referring to Obregon. "There existed a great persecution of the Roman Catholic Church in Mexico. If the general indifference continued the cause of religion would be lost in Mexico, and to bring things to a head I decided to shoot Obregon."

Accused alleged that after his arrest the police had hanged him by the thumbs, stretched him on a rack, and tortured him in other ways in an effort to force him to confess that others had been implicated in the assassination. The police denied these allegations.