Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-01-23
MARTIN AGuIRRE ON TRIAL.
An Unusual Outcome of "a Court


An Unusual Outcome of "a Court
Case.
Yesterday morning the following In.
teresting proceedings were held before
Judge Cheney. The outcome Of the
case is very gratifying to the friends of
Deputy Sheriff Martin Aguirre. He de-
serves the "sentence" he got, aud the
bar Of Los Angelo has done honor TO
itself by just appreciation Of the heroic
services Of valued officer.
In the Superior Court OF the County of
Los Angeles, State Of California.
Hon. WIN. A. CHENEY. Judge.
In re Martin Aguirre, on order to show
cause.
The Court-Mr. Aguirre, why have
you not been with US for the last four or
tive daysf
Mr.. Aguirre-I have been sick, sir.
The Court will appoint General
Williams TO prosecute you, Mr.. Aguirre.
Have you the indictment against Martin
Aguirref
The Clerk-No, sir; it is in the Clerks
office.
Mr.. Williams--I can proceed without
the indictment.
The Court--It is in the drawer there.
MIR. Williams--May it please your
Honor, feel that IL is beyond my power
to refuse the request which your Honor
has made; as an officer Of this Court
feel it my duty to obey It's orders; duty,
TO my mind, comprehends more than
any other word in the English Ian.
gnage. Duty to our Creator, to
our country, to our family, to our
friends and to ourselves. As / under
stand the accusation made against Mr..
Aguirre, il Is that he has been derelict
in his duty ms an officer OF this court,
and he is upon trial upon that accusa-
ton. II / understand his defense il is
that in obedience to the command of a
higher tribunal, presided over by the
Creator of the Universe, and upon
whose right hand sits the Associate
Justice, the great Redeemer of man
that in obedience to that demand and to
demand from that august tribunal, he
has violated his duty to this court.
When the foodgates of Heaven were
opened and torrents swept down the
valley of the San Fernando, engulfing
the lives and the property of the people
when lives were in danger-when the
lives Of women aud children were in
danger--in obedience to that high court
and his own conscience, disreg irding his
duty here. as a brave and chivalrous
man he rushed to the rescue OF the un-
fortunate, risking his own life that he
might save the lives of others. | am
told one OF the most tender and affecting
scenes occurred upon that occasion, in
which MIR. Aguirre was the principal
actor, that has ever occurred within tie
boundaries Of this county, and perhaps
like scene may never occur again--a
scene worthy OF the pen of Shake-
speare, Campbell, or a Byron. and
worthy the brush OF a Michael Angelo.
When this brave officer, descendant of
the Spanish Cavaliers--a brave and
chivalrous race-wgs upon the banks of
that raging stream he discovered ten
der child in the act of drowning-a
little girl. He plunged into the
stream to its rescue. He seized
that darling infant, a little girl
six years of age, who threw her tender
arms about his neck, and in this strug.
gle with the torrent her little arms ere
released from her embrace and she sank
to the bottom of that raging torrent,
which almost cost this heroic young gen.
tleman his life; but by Providence he
was saved to be here to answer to this
accusation.
The Los Angeles Bar have contrib
uted to fund for the purpose, and have
purchased valuable present to be pre-
sented to this distinguished and brave
I,. Il Il
everywhere composed of brave and chiv-
alrous men. do not think that any
profession in the world embraces SO
many heroes as the bar-men who are
capable of apprecinting heroic conduct.
They have seen proper to present this
token of regard and appreciation of his
chivalrous conduct to this young gentle-
man. And they have inscribed upon it:
''Los Angeles Bar TO Martin Aguire. for
bravery in the flood OF 1885," | under
stand that this watch has a reversible
face. The Bar do not wish ii to be un-
derstood. Your Honor, that the recipi-
ent of this token has reversibe face;
no brave and generous man ever possess
es two faces. This token, if it expresses
anything it is the fact that its face is for
ever open to the sunlight of heaven,
and 1t is never to be obseured or re-
versed except in shame for the ruins and
misfortunes that may befal race.
therefore, Your Honor, and at the re-
quest of Your Honor and as a represents
alive of the Bar take pleasure in present.
ing this token of the Bars respect to
this distinguished young man, Mr..
Aguirre. And hope that in after life,
when you read the inscription upon the
case of this precious present, that it may
stimulate you to other acts of heroism in
the defense of the suffering, the weak
and the poor.
Your Honor, move that the accused
be discharged and that an order of this
Court be made to that effect.
Mr.. Aguirre - Gentlemen, l thank
you. You have taken me by surprise.
| am no speaker, and therefore you will
excuse me.
The Court-As there is no serious ac-
cusation against Mr.. Aguirre he is ex-
cused for his non.attendance upon this
Court. Proceed with the business of
the morning.