The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-06-17
Mr.. Juan LEAFS Statement.
SAN ANTONIO, Texas, June I6, 1882

|
Having been advised by friends and well.
statement of the facts in my case, in order to
remove any false impression that may have
been created in the public mind by the sup
preston of some and distortion of other facts,
and believing that it is my duty in vindication
of my character and the good name of my
family to do so, l will endeavor to do it in a
calm and dispassionate manner, SO that the
public may Judge between me and my accu-
sers, and fix the criminality, if any there be-,
where it belongs.
1t is we'll known in this community that |
have for several years past been engaged in
the sale of hides, wool and produce, and that
have to some extent been successful in the
business; and am of the opinion that it was my
success that first excited rivalry and finally en-
gendered bitter feeling of animosity against
me in the hearts of my competitors.
The first and only transaction ever had
with my accusers came about in this way ::
The senior of the firm came to me one day
and said that he had shipment of hides to
make up the carload; that as l had plenty of
hides and he could not them elsewhere he
would pay me one cent per pound over and
above the market price, to which agreed.
After looking at the hides he selected such as
nc WdnlSu ulCu ptOpOSCu
them, instead of taking them by weight, telling
to which l also agreed. He then handed me
$40 90 as an evidence of good faith, and
said he would send for the hides that day.
That afternoon he came, bringing his ''1oat"
with him, and asked me to let him weigh the
hides on my scales, which I did. After
weighing them and finding that they weighed
much less than he expected, he told his driver
to 90 somewhere else first. and afterwards
could come for the hides, and went away.
That day went to his place of business after
my money, and he told me that they had paid
out all their money that day, but t. come on
the following day, which did. He then told
me that he could not possibly takes the hides,
Is it would entail too great loss on him.
told him it was all right and went away. He
afterwards demanded of me the $40 which he
had given me as a bonus, and refused to re-
fund it, telling him he ought to be thankful
that did not compel him to stand to his bar
gain, by which he would lose much more.
After this hot woods passed between US, and
It was not until others interfered that quiet
was restored.
From that day the enmity of my accusers to-
ward me kept increasing until it eliminated
in the base charge of theft preferred against
me, charge so fraught with suffering to my
aged and infrm parents and my family, which
has cast a cloud upon my honor and integrity,
md which but for the indefatigable zeal and
unceasing attention of my counsel and the
strenuous efforts Of my family would have
ended by making me an outcast from society
and felon. This charge, as is we'll known,
was based upon the purchase of hides. The
purchase was made by me in the presence Of
l:,:~ kal q H.,
we're present at the trial, but were not called
upon to testify, because their evidence was not
bought necessary, and had not Mr.. William
Schott, who was book keeper at the time, and
through whom the purchase of the hides was
made. have died shortly after this occurrence,
he attendance of these witnesses would not
even have been required.
When my opponents entered my establish
nent they entered without authority, and in
;lictatorial and insulting manner required me to
show them my hides. | naturally refused to
do so; and believe any business man will say
did right, and would do the same under the
circumstances. In their testimony on the trial
they said that they had asked me if had any
hides for sale, and that had answered that
had none; and that no hides were in sight.
Louis Bergstrom stated that he knew the "kid
>kins" by the "white s.ring" that was around
| them, and the manner in which they were
tied" Cassiano knew the kid skins by the
general appearance" of the ''bundle" and by
| the ''pita" that they were tiled" with, while
Mr.. Fred Bader who was disinterested wit
ness, in his testimony in the Conception Tor
res case, relative to the same hides and skins,
said that the kid skins were "loose" and
scattered" over the floor, and that he loaded
| them into the wagon, and that there were sew.
eral hides on the scales on the gallery. In his
statements Mr.. Bader was corroborated by
Mr.. Joe Sheely.
Louis Bergstrom and Cassiano, in giving
| their evidence, tried to make it appear that
| they had found the hides and skins secreted,
whereas the fact is that they were found in the
room that all my hides are placed in. With
| this explanation of the facts in the case the
public may Judge between me and my accu-
| sers. The favorable termination Of the matter
with reference to myself, the reading public is
aware of.
My attorneys in the trial of the cause in the
lower court believed there was nothing in the
case to warrant conviction, and hence went
into the trial without number of witnesses
could have had. The result of the trial in the
court below was surprise to every one, and
could only have been arrived at by the jury by
discarding the evidence produced in my be-
half and accepting the distorted and made
for-the-occasion statements of the prosecutors,
one of whom | only regret is of my own
nationality.
knowing my innocence, and feeling that
| justice would eventually prevail, l was not
afraid of favorable termination when left to
the calm consideration of higher court. In