The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-04-22

to blame, and if your distressed correspondent
will trust US, we will save him from his foes
protect him from the woman who want to steal
his trowsers, for we do pity any body in Distress
and this correspondent Of ours who is not in
DISTRESS need expect no aid or comfort from us
in her premeditated cruelty Saturday Visiter.
From the Nw Orlean Picayune, april H.
The soc0rro Affair.
ANOTHER AND DIFFERENT STATEMENT.
In this paper, on the 26th and 20th ult I'VE pub
Iished accounts Of truly tragcal affair in the
hanging Of certain individuals for acts Of violence
and bloodshed at Socorro, in FL Paso county,
Texas. We received those accounts from source
altogether reliable, and it is true that the acts Of
lawleEsness and murder, as reported, were COM
mited; but we have conversed with gentlemen
who were in Socorro at the time, whose version
Of the whole affair and circumstances connected
with it, give it somewhat different phase; and
being DESTROYS that the matter should appear in
fair and impartial light before the public, we shall
here give the statement subsequently received by
US.
We are informed that the Islands of armed ruff
fans" as they were styled in our previous
counts were, many Of them, the teamsters and
other subordinate employees ofthe BoundaryCom-
mission, who had been discharged at Socorro, by
the quartermaster, Mr.. James Myer, three thou
sand miles from their homes, without money,
provisions, or employment.
1t is admitted that many acts Of violence and
outrage were committed, as complained Of; but it
is told us that these things done by frontier
desperadoes, who had been long time in the
country and in no way connected with the com
mission On the night of the 18th Of January,
the man named Alexander Young, who never had
been connected with attached to the commits
sion, murdered, without cause of prOvocation, an
old and inoffensive man, named Wood, at fam
dango.
This man, Young, it may be we'll enough to
state, was well known to two OF the editors Of
this paper during the war in Mexico. He was
considered as a desperate, dangerous, sand untrust-
worthy character; sort Of hanger-on about the
camps Of our army, pretending at times TO act as
servant or guide; but always looked upon by those
who knew him designing, unprncipled fell
low, and daring plunderer. He no doubt met
with his deserts when he was hung
In regard to this case, we now informed
that there was no indignation felt manifested by
those persons who afterwards took SO active and
interested part in the capture, trial, and execu-
ton of the men who were hung; but that, on the
contrary, Young, during the whole of the next
day after the killing Of the old man Wood, was
at large in the streets of Socorro, and frequently
in company with his subsequent executioners
Respecting the assassination Of the unfortunate
Edward C. Clark, we are told that, notwithstnnd-
ing the murder of the night before-that Of Wood
CLARK gave fandango at a house, rented by
him for the purpose, at which these 'despera-
does Young incuded-were admitted. During
the night some disturbance and noise arose at the
monte tables in adjoining apartments, which
Clark, as was his duty, endeavored to suppress:
and in attempting to preserve order, he was wan
,only attacked by Young with his bowie knife,
from which he received some eleven wounds, sub
sequenty causing his death. When Young made
this unprovoked assault on Clark, general row
took place.
We are further informed that the account of the
matreatment Of the whole party Of men and wo-
men on this occasion-placing sentineIs at the
DOORS firing pistols at the candles, and otherwise
terrifying the women, &c.--all took its origin in
the enlightened vision" of our informant, "PhiIo
Justice" Besides the murder Of Clark, Charles
Gates also received wound from pistol shot in
attempting to rescue Clark. u,
On the Goth January, we are also further in
formed, there was great excitement among the
members of the commission stationed at Socorro
An express was sent off TO San Elezario for as
sistance from the United States troops at that
place In the mean time, certain mer bers of the
commission at Socorro met and held consuta-
ton, in which they unanimously agreed that this
band of EARNED ruffans" should at once be ar
rested and hung. They set to work Immediately,
when Marcus Butler and William Craig were
found at their quarters and arrested without re-
sistance. A Mr. Bartoe, the acting Mexican al
calde, mot the chief justice,) was called upon to
organize a court; but he not understanding the
English language, this was effected by an individ-
uaI attached to the commission, who in the yari-
Gus capacities Of judge, interpreter clerk and wit
ness, summoned a jury composed Of six Ameri-
cans and six Mexicans-the six Americans being
Of the number Of the commissioners who were
present that morning at the consultation, and who
had expressed opinions. The "court" assembled,
armed with rifles, six shooters and double barrel
Al
al John Wade, witness, was called to the bar,
sworn and examined; but not being able to answer
satisfactorily, he was told that he had "sworp
falsely, and must take his seat with the prisoners |"
The trial progressed, when the testimony against
Butler not being sufficient to convict him. one Of
the Jurors was qualified a. witness, and testified
that "Bntler had told him, on the way up to FL
Paso, that he, Butler, had hung two Mexicans
near San Antonio for stealing horses" The trial
not closed until next day, the 3Ist January,
when, after the testpony was concluded the Jury
retired to make up verdict. Being absent, how
ever, longer than deemed necessary, one Of
the "court" entered the room where the Jurors
were celebrating, and in few moments returned
with the jury, and announced that 'snine Of the
jury ad found all three Of the prisoners guilty,
while the three other members dissented: but that
majority must rule" Immediately on the rem
dering Of this verdict (but before which the ropes
were sent for and prepared.) the prisoners were
marched out, surrounded by an armed force, and
hung; Notwithstanding their proteststions Of nno-
cence and their solemn appeals for a just trial
McNevin WINS arrested on the same evening Of
the execution; put into the "stocks," and con
fined in the same room where the dead bodies
were placed all night. Next morning he was
tried by the same jury, who, finding nothing to
| connect him, in the remotest degree, with the
transaction, sentenced him TO take an oath to leave
the county Of FL Paso within one hour, under the
penalty Of being shot; and it was proclaimed that
any person who should see him after that time
should be al liberty to execute the sentence.
| Young was arrested about ten days afterwards;
taken 10 Socorro, and tried and hung the same
evening
I'VE have here given, a. briefly ss possible,
| COMMITTING several remarks on the course Of
those individuals who took it into their hands to
arrest and punish these menu another, or counter
version Of the terrible tragedies OF So orro. We
have nothing more to say. The details are with
the public.
| vXTANTED-A situation lin a Seminary or
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