The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-16
'WAsHrNGroN, Oct. 2O-9:5O A. M.

" WASHINGTON, Oct. 2O-9:50 A. NJ.
:" TO the Hon. William A. Vincent. Santa Fe:
I have permission to give, your suspension
by the President is absolute Your successor will be
appointed within day or two.
81 "A. III. GARLAND, Attorney general
"'sANrA FE, N. NJ, Oct. 20.
''To Grover Cleveland. Washington D. G.:
"'Attorney-ge Garland informs my
pension is absolute, and earnestly protest against
such summary action without even hearing, where
by my reputation is ruined forever, and appeal TO
your sense of manhood and justice for hearing, in
order to show that have been upright judge.
can reach Washington in four days and refute any
charges against Will you not suspend further
action until my arrival? Business cannot suffer az
there courts for ten weeks. Please answer to-
day, VIM A. VINCENT
"'WAsHINGToN. D. c., Oct. 20.
" Hon. VIM. A. Vincent, Santa Fe:
The dispatch of the Attorney general ap-
proved by me, and the will be adhered to- be-
cause. upon the conceded facts convinced that
the change is demanded. GROVER CLEVELAND
"'SANTA FE, n NJ, Oct. 81.
ITO Grover Cleveland, President. Washington:
1.-THE full facts not before you. 1 have sent
them to the Attorney general by mail to-day. l am
not fighting for the Office. but my good name Please
"'wM, A. VINCENT
''Did ask for more than was fairl Do my
dispatches read as though had anything to con-
ceal? The same night received your telegram
started for this city, and since my arrival have
examined all papers In relation to my case, AT
the executive m mansion. the office of the Attor
ney general and the Department of the Interior,
including the General Land Office The sole
charge against me is that preferred by MIR. Fish
back, of Indiana, namely, the appointment Of
Stephen W. Dorsey AS one of five commissioners
to select jurors for Colfax county, and that
made under the impression that he was to select
jurors for the United States Court. All other
papers on file are testimonials and Endorsements
OF my character as man, my fairness and abil-
.ity as a judge, and general approval -EjJf-
course while the bench. No man
could desire stronger Endorsements
than have in the papers on file many, and
perhaps the most important of which, were filed
since my suspension. You have assured me that
honest as man; that l am not
honest judge. Attorney general Garland
and Secretary Lamar have assured me of this in
even stronger terms. Since it is not charged
that am dishonest or incompetent you must
know that great wrong and injustice has been
done me You have not known and could not know
the reasons which irduced me to appoint Mr.. Dor
sey. 1t would only have been fair, and it was due
me, to have waited until my explanation was
made, as 1 only asked delay of four days be-
fore you appointed my successor. Mr. Dorsey
was appointed jury commissioner for the fol.
lowing reasons: There have been. for many
years, number of turbulent spirits in
Colfax county, who have continually fomented
trouble. Last spring the sheriff. in attempting
to make arrest was shot and so badly
wounded that he is still confined to his bed.
Shortly after this occurrence one of the guilty
parties was arrested and placed in the Jail at
Springer the county seat of Colfax county. A
number of his associates attempted to rel ease
him from the Jail, and in riot that followed
three were killed. Remarkable as it may
SEEM q large number of the prominent and IL
fuential citizens sustained the parties who had
made the attack upon the JAIL and it was neces-
sary to call in the United States regular troops
from Fort Union to que the riot and preserve
the peace. This trouble renewed old feuds,
created some years ago, when, account of
similar troubles it was necessary to annex Col.
fax county TO Taos county, for judicial PURPOSES,
and the feeling between all classes of people
was more bitter than l can describe or you car
imagine. In addition to this, there is 81
continual war in New Mexico between
the sheep and cattle men in re-
gard to range and water rights
When our court convened in ColfaX county, last
September there were 168 criminal cases on the
docket. and during that time over 100 more in
dictments were found-many, if not most Of
them growing out Of the trouble to which l
have referred. Where there had been so much
feeling it was of course. difficult to obtain fair
jury and / realized that the task of selecting
Jury commissioners was delicate one. AS YOU
doubtless know. the New Mexico statutes pro
vide that the commissioners to select jurors shall
consist of the district judge, the probate judge Of
the county, and three commissioners appointed
by the district judge, the latter having the right
to reject any one proposed by any commissioner.
| have always had Republican on the commits
sion to prevent the possibility of having poit-
ical jury, and divided the commissioners be-
tween the Mexicans and the Americans so that
race feeling might be avoided The probate
judge Mexican and Republican.
had never met him. but it was rep
resented to me that his sympathies
were inclined towards the sheepowners
Juan Garlic the other Mexican the commits
sion, was selected because he WAS Democrat. a
Mexican and had been identified with the min
ing interests. A. G. Burnham had impressed me
favorably account of his intelligence, and was
selected because he was Democrat, and one of
the few who bad no sympathy with any con-
tending factions. Ex-senator Dorsey had taken
no part III the troubles referred to; was the
leading Republican of the county and probably
the largest individual cattle He had
been active in his efforts to harmonic the con-
hicts between sheep and cattle men, and was IN
reality the representative cattleman and peace
maker in the county. in addition 10 being man
of wealth, and, in consequence. interested IN
the good order Of the county. considered all
of these matters very carefully. and 1t seemed to
me- after consideration, that ii would be wise
and discreet thing TO appoint him. l did not do
SO. however, until after consultation with Col
William Breeden, the Attorney general of the
Territory who had charge OF the criminal
cases. Mr.. Frank Springer, prominent
lawyer of the Territory. and Col Richard w.
Webb, the clerk Of my court. They all agreed
that his appointment was the best that could be
made, and determined upon it for the reason
that we could not think of another resident of
the county Republican in politics. so free from.
local complications, or whose judgment would be
so valuable in the selection of jurors to try the
many criminal cases on the docket. The same
day desired to appoint Mr.. Dorsey he happened
TO be in the court room l called him and ad-
ministered the oath, and the commissioners Sc
lected The jury for the next term This did not