El Paso, Texas:
A pawn shop in this Texas border city is selling the right index finger of Pancho Villa, one of the leading figures of the 1910-17 Mexican Revolution, for more than $9,000.
"Years ago someone offered us this finger, and though we don't know if it's the real thing or not, we thought it was interesting and decided to preserve it here in our shop," said David Delgadillo, manager de Dave's Pawn Shop in El Paso.
The body of the man born Jose Doroteo Arango Arambula was decapitated three months after his death, but it is not known with any certainty whether one of his fingers was also cut off, according to Texas historian Fred Morales.
Though no one has proved the authenticity of the famed finger, many curiosity-seekers have come to the pawn shop to have a look at it.
"I think it's a very attractive piece, but I don't believe it's Pancho Villa's finger, because if it were, it would be displayed at a history museum and not for sale here," Margarita Galvan said.
For others, however, whether the finger belonged to Villa or not is unimportant, since what really matters is that the man that many consider a hero is still remembered and admired.
"This finger means keeping the memory alive of our national idol, the man who fought for the Mexican people and who defended the poorest among us until the last moment of his life," said Federico Hernandez, a resident of Chihuahua, Mexico.
Delgadillo said that some years ago a man came to the pawn shop offering Pancho Villa's head, because according to him, he had it at home in Mexico.
"I told him that if he managed to cross the border with that skull, we would happily bargain with him," he said, adding that the supposed seller never returned.
"I don't think it's real, but it's fun to see that big crowd of people at the window. This place has almost become an El Paso tourist attraction," said Carlos Mario Colmenedo, one of the many who have come to Dave's Pawn Shop out of sheer curiosity.
Colmenedo said the price seemed to him extremely exaggerated, and that he would never spend so much on a finger, even if it really were Pancho Villa's.
"Years ago someone offered us this finger, and though we don't know if it's the real thing or not, we thought it was interesting and decided to preserve it here in our shop," said David Delgadillo, manager de Dave's Pawn Shop in El Paso.
The body of the man born Jose Doroteo Arango Arambula was decapitated three months after his death, but it is not known with any certainty whether one of his fingers was also cut off, according to Texas historian Fred Morales.
Though no one has proved the authenticity of the famed finger, many curiosity-seekers have come to the pawn shop to have a look at it.
"I think it's a very attractive piece, but I don't believe it's Pancho Villa's finger, because if it were, it would be displayed at a history museum and not for sale here," Margarita Galvan said.
For others, however, whether the finger belonged to Villa or not is unimportant, since what really matters is that the man that many consider a hero is still remembered and admired.
"This finger means keeping the memory alive of our national idol, the man who fought for the Mexican people and who defended the poorest among us until the last moment of his life," said Federico Hernandez, a resident of Chihuahua, Mexico.
Delgadillo said that some years ago a man came to the pawn shop offering Pancho Villa's head, because according to him, he had it at home in Mexico.
"I told him that if he managed to cross the border with that skull, we would happily bargain with him," he said, adding that the supposed seller never returned.
"I don't think it's real, but it's fun to see that big crowd of people at the window. This place has almost become an El Paso tourist attraction," said Carlos Mario Colmenedo, one of the many who have come to Dave's Pawn Shop out of sheer curiosity.
Colmenedo said the price seemed to him extremely exaggerated, and that he would never spend so much on a finger, even if it really were Pancho Villa's.
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