Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1890-08-21
The GRAND JURY SLANDERED,
A matchmaking Scribbler Sends False
hoods to the Denver News Con-
corning the Case OF Sheriff
Frank Chayes.

The following appeared in the Denver
News OF the 18th instant:
"A COWARDLY PERSECUTION.
HOW NEW MEXICO SHERIFF WAS INDICTED
BY A PARTISAN GRAND JURY,
special to the News.
SANTA FE, N. NJ, Aug. lS.-On Thurs
day last the territorial grand jury brought
in number of indictments charging va
rious otfenses against several persons.
Among the number was an indictment
against Frank Chavez, the popular and
efficient Democratic sheriff of this county,
charging that officer with having commit
ted an assault with deadly weapon upon
Francisco Gonzales y Borrego, while the
latter was confined in the county Jail on
the charge Of killing Sylvestre Gsllegos.
The indictment was found by a partisan
grand jury in order to injure Sheriff Cha
vez, who is fearless officer, Democrat
and candidate for reelection.
Gle is the most popular official in the
county, and is now serving his third term
as sheriff. The warrant for his arrest
WAS placed in the hands OF one of his
deputies to be served. The under officer
duly served the paper, and the sheriff APP
peared in court on Friday, was arraigned
and pleaded not guilty. The court sug-
gested that owing to the intimacy OF the
sheriff office with the duties OF the court
it would be advisable to have the case
come to hearing Immediately. Where.
upon the district attorney stated that the
territory would be ready for trial Saturday
morning, and that day was fixed accord
ingly. On Saturday Mr.. Twitchell, the
Republican territorial district attorney
came into court and on his motion the In
dictment was quashed.
1T was q cowardly scheme to injure al
efficient officer because he ia Democrat
Instead of making friends for the Republi
cans, however, the reverse was the case
and this WAS the reason the district attor
ney, who himself is violent partisan
nolle pressed the case. The excitemen
has Leen intense over this attempt of
partisan grand Jury to injure faithful
Democratic official, and the result will b.
larger Democratic majority in Santa f,
county this fall than ever before"
The record tells a different story, viz
In case No. 2499, territory of New
Mexico vs.. Francisco Chavez, assault
with deadly weapon. the following entr,
appears on the court record of date Fri
day, August Is, 1890.
| Now comes said plaintiff by her dis
trict attorney and said defendant come
in his own proper person, attended b,
counsel, Gildersleeve & Preston, anC
waving the reading of said indictmen
for plea thereto he says he is not guilt,
in manner and form as is thereiI
charged, and for his trial thereof he put
himself upon the country, and plaintiff
doth the like; and on motioL of said de
PENDANT it is ordered that this caus
be and the same hereby is set down TO
trial by the incoming of court tomorrow
morning.
On the following day, Saturday tn
10th Of August, the record entry relating
to this case was as follows;
Territory of New Mexico VS.. Francisco
Chavez, assault with a deadly weapon
now comes said plaintiff by her distric
attorney; the said defendant comes in hi
own proper person, attended by counsel
Mr.. Waldo, and by agreement here be
tween said parties and by leave of the
court, the said defendant withdrew hi
plea of not guilty heretofore entered here
in and pleads guilty to assault, for plea tt
said Indictment.