Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-12-30
DEADLY WORK,
Jose S. Gallegos Shot and Killed by
Chief of Police Gonzales on
Saturday Night,
A Political Quarrel and the Tragedy that
Grew Out of it-H0w it
Happened.


,orner of Frisco and Bridge streets short
" after 9 O'Clock on Saturday night.
lose Sylvester Gallegos was shot through
the head dying within half an hour; Me-
Iiton Castillo had close call in the shape
of a flesh wound in the neck, and Tomas
Smith, the precinct constable, had a bullet
Craze his hand and pierce his coat sleeve.
Francisco Gonzales y Borrego was elect
ed in November, 1888. chief OF police and
county coroner. Seeing no money In
sight for his services he about two months
ago rendered his resignation to the board
of county commissioners. The board
RkFUsED TO ACCEPT IT
and, SO Gonzales says, his resignation
was returned in writing to him and forth
with destroyed On Thursday last, how
ever, the board voted to accept Gonzales,
and appointed i'll his stead
Jose Ortiz Y Baca, former deputy sheriff
and deputy I. 5. marshal. No notice
was given Gonzales by the board to turn
over his office. He, having Withdrawn
his resignation, did not now care to re-
sign, for there Was some chance Tor re-
cei\ing pay for his services, and winter
was at hand, when he could better afford
to serve the office. However, Jose ortiz
V Baca filed his bond and t,ok the oath
Of office Oh Friday and then made de-
mand upon Gonzales for the transfer OF
the office of chief ut police and coroner.
GONZALES REFUSED TO COMPLY.
He stated that his resignation was not
in the hands Vi the county board that it
had settled the question two months ago
by declining to receive his resignation,
and that he had advised with the district
attorney, Mr.. Twltchell, and with his at
torney, Mr.. Catron, and would decline to
give up his office till directed so to do by
the district court.
Gonzales continued to exercise the du-
ties of his office on Friday night, and sat
uruay Jose Ortiz y Baca claims to have
called upon his friends for advice, and
among them, he says, they advised hllil
not to have any difficulty with Gonzales,
Tor he could assume the duties OF his office
to which the county board had called him,
and Gonzales had his remedy III law II he
pleased to resort to 1t.
The men net at a dance at LOwltZkl' S
hail at 8 o'clock ON Saturday night, when
Gonzales told UrLlZ that he didn't want
him to undertake the exercise of the
duties of chief OF police. Ortlz responded
that he had been duly appointed aud filed
his bond and proposed to act Il want
you to turn over any property OF the
county you have, but ii you don't | wont
attemp ut to force you. | don't want any
trouble about it," said Ortiz. At this june
ture
JOSE SYLVESTER GALLEGos,
ex-chief of police, came up and engaged
Gonzales in conversation, saying that
Gonzales had better give up the office as
Ortiz was now the chief OF police. GoL-
zales replied by saying he would transfer
only under orders of the district court.
GallegOs then began to use very abusive
language, telling Gonzales he was no man
at all that he never paid ms debts; that
he, GaIegos, had $500 worth OF notes
which Gonzales had to pay and he wanted
the money, and finally Gallegos Invited
Gonzales to 20 outside OF the dance hall
and he would find out just
"HOw MUCH OF A MAN HE VAS
The men were standing near the door
and Gallesos caught Gonzales by the coat
and pulled him through the door to the
pavement. By this time there was great
confusion and just what transpired when
the principals got outside the door is IN
definitely related. Gonzales says tIal'
-gos gave him blow with his clenChed
fist below The left eye Immediately they
reached the pavement. Justice MARTINEZ
and Melton Castillo were in the rear OF
the hall and both ran out, the justice o.
the peace stepping between the men, WHO
we're quarreling bitterly. 1t Is elaine
that G4Ilegos had by this time struck
Gonzales second blow. The justice de
manded the preservation of order and lee
Gonzales Oft a little way. Then there was
crush and pull and a great many mel
seemed to be trying to get hold OF Con
zaIPe and make an attack on him. INT
Justice dropped his Overcoat In the melee
and as he stopped to pick 1t up there wa
another surge 10y the crowd and Gonzales
pulled away from his grasp,
DREW HIS REVOLVER AND BEGAN FIRING
Three shots were discharged. The frs
struck Gallegos over the left eye, pene
trating his brain, and he fell practicall
dead. The second shot is supposed t.
have hit Melton Castillo. 1t entered hi
throat at the lett of the chin and glance
around between the skin and the muscle
of the neck, lodging at the back. WheI
the shooting began the crowd fell back
but after the discharge of the secon
bullet Tomas Smith, the precinct cor
stable rushed in on Gonzales and wrestle
with him for the weapon. In the sculfl
third shot was discharged which Craze
the constable's thumb and went throug
his left coat sleeve. 1t was this shot tia
Gonzales thinks struck Castillo. Ih
constable was given the weapon b
Gonzales under promise that he Woul
protect him, and the crowd largely turne
its attention to
THE TWO INJURED MEN,
while the police and Justice MARITIME
took Gonzales in charge and hurried hiI
off to iail. Some drunken providers talke
of lynching, but little attention was pal
to it. The sheriff, however, placed a
extra guard on duty at the jail in the pc