The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-01-01
THE LEADERS AT Ell PAsO.
why Judge Howard ann Cards Hated
Each Other.
tSan Antonio Herald

tSan Antonio Herad.I
With the death OF Judge Howard we pre-
sume will end the trouble and slaughter OF
men which for the last two months has kept
the FL Paso country in a state OF feverish ex-
element Judge Charles Howard was well
known in this city, having resided here and
practieed law several years, a short time pre-
vious to his appointment by Gov. Coke as
Dist let Judge of the El Paso District. He
was scarcely more than thirty years of age
when he met his violent death, having been
only about twenty seven years OF age when
he received his judicial appointment. He
was O very bold and daring man, and reckless
In his course.
Mr. Geo. g. SimpIeman, of Austin, the
father. .n-law of Judge Howard, located
several salt lakes lying at the foot of the
obtained possession Of others that had been
located by s. A. Maverick. These lakes are
very valuable, and for @ long time the people
Of Ell Paso county fmost Of whom are Mexi-
cans) had been taking and selling salt from
them at will. After their location Judge
Howard, as the agent Of Mr. Zimpleman,
notified the people that no more salt could be
taken from the lakes except with his permis-
sion, ut the same time Offering the same price
per fanega 1--WE quote now from Judge IL. g
by the mob) for freight that they had former
ly received for sale of salt. The Mexican
population OF Eel Paso county re-
fused to freight the salt for Judge
HOWARD, ana salu thaL tney nad
been advised by Louis Cards that the lakes
belonged to them. Thus things continued
for several months Afterwards few of the
people agreed to freight salt for him, and he
had about one hundred fanegas brought in
by El Paso county freighters This exas-
perated the remaining portion Of the Mexican
population, and they again consulted Cards,
who advised them that they owned the lakes
and should go in u body and take possession
Of them. Many, especially of the people of
h.. G<.f,, Co., vi,
threatened to do this. Hearing. Of these
threats Judge Howard, who was about start
ing Tor Fort Davis, made complaint before
the county judge that certain persons
manning them were threatening to take salt
from the lakes without authority and by vio-
lence, and asked that they be put under bond
that they would not interfere with the lakes,
and also asked that the lakes be put under
the charge OF the sheriff. Two Mexicans were
arrested upon this charge, and one Of them
lakes, and was discharged, while the other
WAS placed under bond. About that time
Judge Howard started to Fort Davis, and,
anticipating violence at the hands of the Mex
leans, made it convenient to stay all mig hit
with Sheriff Kerber, of Ell Paso county, that
he might have his protection. Early next
morning the house Of the sheriff was sur
rounded by forty or fifty Mexicans, and How
ard and Mcbride were made prisoners. They
were dragged along the street, amid the jeers
and insults Of the angry mob, until they
reached the horses prepared for them, and
then carried by force to San Elizario 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 surrounded by three or four hum
dred Mexicans, raging and raving and crying
for his lfe's blood. A Mexican priest inter
posed his kind offices to protect the
unfortunate mans life, and by his strenuous
efforts prevailed upon the maddened crowd
to spare his life. They would not consent to
this until they had forced Judge ii. to sub
scribe to certain conditions, which they had
prepared in writing. For two days Judge
Howard refused to subscribe to the condi-
tions, but on the third day, finding that there
was no assistance that could be had to save
his life, and that the mob was growing more
angry and ferocious, he signed document
written In Spanish, purporting to be an
agreement between @. ii. Howard and the
people, in which Howard bound himself:
/. Not to prosecute any person who had
taken part in imprisoning him, and to always
remain in perfect peace with Ell Paso county
in general.
2. That he would leave the salt lakes free. as
they were before, and permit the people to-
take salt from them at liberty.
8. That he would leave Ell Paso county and
return.
4. That he would give bond for the faithful
compliance with the agreement.
5 That he cOnfesseS that the prosecution
which he had commenced against some OF
the people was unjust and without cause, and
that they had just cause to rise against him,