The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-02-25
THE WEEK.
I'm the United States and the
Old Worll,
STRANGE SCENE IN COURT
Cowboys on Trial for Shooting Mex
lean ucrdcrs,

ASlu itcFucrs.
Great excitement exists among the people
on and about the cattle range of the Kansas
& New Mexico Cattle Company in northwest.
ern Mexico and southwestern Colorado be-
cause of the killing and wounding of Mexi-
can sheep herders by cowboys in the employ
of the cattle company. Gov, Ross, it is said,
has received reports, backed by afiilavits,
detailing the Cutrages committed by the cow
boys, and has offered rewards for the perpe.
traitors ranging from 800 to 500,
A prominent Mexican of Rio, Arriba
county, n, NJ, makes affidavit that he was
one Of a posse summoned by Constable Marti-
nez TO aid in the execution OF n writ issued by
justice of the peace for the arrest of several
cowboys who had wounded two sheep herders
on the public domain in Callcgo canon, six
uiles from the cattle company's water tanks
This deponent AYERS that the constable and
posse went to the tanks to arrest the four men
supposed to have done the shooting, and upon
arrival there the cowboys opened fire on
them, killing Ricardo Jacqucz and woundmg
one Alleiandro. The posse fed without MAX
ing any arrests. The mon who did the shoot
ing were employees of the company commonly
known as the English Cattle Company, and
managed by the Carlisle brothers.
When Governor Ross offered the reward of
five hundred dollars for the murderers of
hl'arUO J0cuueZ anu one nunuTeu collars LOT
each OF the men concerned in the shooting
E, Carlisle, president Of the cattle com leny,
wired the governor from Durango that the
shooting was in selfdefenSe and justifiable,
and the men who did it had been acquitted in
Justices court. >'rha governor replied to Mr.
Carlisle affirming that he had be-
fore him transcript of the proceedings in
the Justices court, and, after summing up the
case said, that the testimony of Mr.. Carlisle's
own employees showed conclusively that they
were the agressors. He adds:
"Other facts in this matter have come to
my knowledge from hearSay, but from what
| deem reliable sources, of a most extraordi-
nary character; that your men took into the
court room their arms and equipments (mean-
ing their pistols and ammunition in their belts
and their Winchesters in their handsl that a
cooked Winchester was held upon one of the
Mexican witnesses while testifying; that tho
Mexicans actually gave their testimony under
dureSs and in danger of their lives; and that
the court itself was under duress; and yet
You call this an honorable acquittal of men
who virtually confessed themselves guilty of
an unprovoked act of law. Allow me to say, in
conclusion, that as I now believe from
the most reliable information received
this whole transaction is an outrageous affair.
Crimes bearing a strong resemblance to high
way robbery and murder have been COM
mitted by men in your employ, and for your
benefit, and in your name. You sent these
mon with your cattle herds upoa quarter of
the public domain that has been occupied ex-
clusively by these Mexican sheep herders for
a generation or more, to which you had no
shadow Of priority Of right or title, not even,
if l am correctly informed, the common
right Of American citizenship Through the
action of your employees you are an invader,
by force of arms, Of the soil of
New Mexico, and violator of its law
This character Of ar~"r't uoon the
sheep herders aud her,'Crs of tie terri
tory in the interest OF the C ui,.t t'y, or,
at least, by persons engaged in that industry,
has become altogether too frequont. Our
laws are ri id and ample for the protection
of both those great in III tries. 1t is my sworn
duty to sea that these Ia VS. are faithfully ex-
ccuted. That uty l shall seek to perform by
every instruinanla.ity that the law itself
places in my hands for that purpose,
+. G. Ross"
It is said that the Carlisle brothers are un
naturalized Englishmen, and that it is not
unlikely that they will place the matter before
the British ministry