The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1878-01-19
THE LEADERS AT Ell PASO.
Judge Howard and the Mob,
San Antonio Herald.

Sbu AHloHlo 1ASldNs
With the death Of Judge Howard
we presume will end the trouble and
slaughter of men which for the last
two months has kept the Ell Paso
country in a state of feverish excite
ment. Judge Charles Howard was
we'll known in this city, having resi-
ded here and practiced law several
years, a short time previous to his
appointment by Gov. Coke, AZ Dis
trict Judge of the Ell Paso District.
He was scarcely more than thirty
years of age when he met his violent
death, having been only abont twen-
ty.seven years Of ag. when he re-.
ceived bis judicial appointment. He
was \ very bold and daring man, and
reckless in his course.
Mr.. Geo. B. Simpleman, Of Austin,
the father-in-law of Judge Howard,
located several salt lakes lying at
the foot of the Guadalupe mountains,
in FL Paso county, and obtained pos
session Of others that had been loca
ted by S. A. Maverick. These lakes
are very valuable, and for q long
time the people Of Ell Paso county
(most of whom ale Mexicans) had
been taking and selling salt from them
at will. After their location Judge
Howard, as the agent Of Mr.. Simple
man, notified the people that no more
salt could be taken from the lakes ex-
cept with his permission, at the same
time offering the same price per fame
ga I'VE qnote now from Judge HIS
statement made Immediately after his
release by the mrb) for freight that
they had formerly received for sale
of salt. The Mexican population of
FL Paso county refused to freight the
salt for Judge Howard, and said that
they bad been advised by Louis Car
dis that the lakes belonged to them.
Thus things continued for several
months. Afterwards n few of the
people agreed to freight salt for him,
and he had about one hundred fame
gas brought in BY FL Paso county
freighters. This exaspcrated the re-
naming portion Of tho Mexican popu-
)ation, and they again consulted Car
: dis, who advised them that they
owned the lakes and should 90 in a
body and take possession of them. !
Many, especially of the people of the
towns of Socorro and San Elizario.
threatened to do this. Hearing of
these threats Judge Howard, who
was about starting for Fort Davis,
made complaint before the county
judge that certain persons (naming
them) were threatening to take salt !
from tho lakes without authority and
by violence, and asked that they be !
put under bond that they would not
interfere with the lakes, and also ask.
ed that the lakes be put under the
charge of the sheriff. Two MexIcans
were arrested upon this charge, and
one of them denied any lntentionsof
interfering with the lakes, and was
discharged, while the other was plac-
ed under bond. About that time
Judge Howard started to Fort Davis.
and, anticipating violence at the
hands of the Mexicans, made it CON-
venient to stay all night with Sheriff
Kerber, of Ell Paso county, that he
might have his protection. Early
next morning the house of the sheriff
was surrounded by forty or fifty Mex
icane, and Howard and Mcbride were
made prisoners. They were dragged
along the street, amid the jeers and
insults of the angry mob, until thew
reached the horses prepared for them,
and then carried by force to San Ell
carlo. On reaching this place, Judge
Howard was taken to the house of a
Mexican, and kept in house three
days and nights, at all times sur
rounded by three or four hundred
Mexicans, raging and raving and
crying for his life's blood. A Mexican
priest interposed his kind offices to
protect the unfortunate mans life.
and BY his strenuous efforts prevailed
upon the maddened crowd to snare
his life. They would not consent to
this until they had forced Judge H.
to subscribe to certain conditions.
which they had prepared in writing.
FOR two days Jud &c Howard refused
to subscribe to the conditions, bat on ,,
the third day, finding that there was
no assistance that could be had to
save bis life, and that the mob was
growing more angry and ferocious,
lie signed a document written in ,
Spanish, purporting to be an agree. +
ment between c. II. Howard and the !
people, in which Howard bound ,
himself:
l. Not to prosecute any person who
''ad taken part in imprisonipg him,
and to always remain in perfect peace s
with FL Paso county in general. f
z. That he would leave tho salt r
lakes free, as they were before. and a
permit the people to take salt from Il
them at liberty. t.
.. That he would leave Ell Paso i
county and not return. t
4: That he would give bond for the .
aithfal compliance with the agree.
hent.
S. That he cofesses that the prose. c
ution which he had commenced II
gainst some OF the people was IN. Il
ust and without cause, and that they !
'ad just cause to raise against him, u
nd that he voluntarily signed tue G.
greement. d
Judge Howard left the county, but IL
isregardiug his promise, never to re-. k
urn, as it was exacted of him under
uress, he went back to Ell Paso . r
hort time afterwards and encounter. a
d the Hon. Lewis Cards on the n,
treet, and in fight with pistols. in
hot and killed bis antagonist. The IL