Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-03-18
"BLUEs AND REDS.

where people can live without houses ana
reap without sowing.
''BLUEs AND REDS"
In the county of Hidaleo there are two
parties, as in our county we have the
"Boots and Sandals" and the warfare
between these two factions and the history
of their exploits and troubles would make
volumes, as the same has lasted since the
election of 1884, and really back OF thai
time; since that time, however, We y serl
GUS consequences have followed the cleo
tions twice to my knowledge, when the
county Offices have been in what might DC
termed
"A STATE OF SIEGE
AID several killings and many indictments
have resulted from these feuos, and to this
schism in the parties both Fl. 7. McCabt
and Max Stein owe their election to the
County Judgship; but we will not attempt
in this letter to show all these troubles and
political fights. McCabe was appointed
County Judge as a compromise candidate,
having lately come into the county apo
was not identified with either the "Reds'
or the "Blues But it was not long tc
remain thus-the two parties were sc
bitter be could not remain on the fence
He could not stand the pressure, and it il
claimed joined the side of he devil auc
become corrupt in office. An affidavit was
made charging him with
CORRUPTION IN OFFICE,
and conspiracy, and upon trial by Judge
Russell was removed from office and Maz
Stein appointed in his stead. McCabe was
indicted and fled into Mexico, just across
the river, where he remained until last
month, when he was arrested in the
city of Brownsville. McCabe stayed in
Reynosa, Mexican town just opposite
Hidalgo, the county seat of Hidalgo county,
Texas. Both towns are on the Rio Grande
river. The Mexican town of the Southern
banks of the "Great River" is we'll known
in this sectien of the country on account OF
its ''fiestas" (fairs). These festivities. as
I have heretofore described in letter to
your paper, draw large crowds Of the most
Observation-Disclosures, some
and some excessively common
place and dirty; Texas merchants, ranch
men, cowboys, Indians and women Of all
shades, from African stock to the purest
white. For years these t'festas" in
Reynosa have been full of excitement and
interest, but the one laEt August has be-
come the most famous, when a Texas
County Judge was shot to death by the
wife of his political opponent, and whose
husband had been removed from the same
office. This fair murderer was rot only
fair to look upon, but attractive, and
drew men towards her, and es-
pecially after they heard her story. It has
been charged that Mrs. McCabe was never
married to McCabe, but woman plying
her vocation on the streets of San Antonio,
picked up by McCabe on his way to Hi
dalgo county from Medina City; but this
is denied by both the lady and McCabe
and she ought to have tie benefit of the
doubt. The
KILLING OF MAX STEIN,
,he presiding County Judge of Hiladgo
county, Texas, August 18th, 1890, at this
fiesta was genuine border tragedy. 1t
asted but moment, but ended in the
,eath OF respected and well-to- do citizen
If Texas, and the imprisonment, trial, and
conviction for assassination of an implusive
md beautiful woman of only eighteen sum.
ners. Mrs. McCabe murdered Max Stein
n cold blood, aud claims she was justif
Ible; but under the law her claims only go
% show malice and she must give soma
easou other that her feeling towards Max
Stein because her husband was displaced
~ said Stein, and if her following asser-
ions were true, as to the insults, which
lis friends claim are the grossest of lies, no
nan of Max Stems character ard standing
would approach lady as she claims he did
without some Encouragement from, her.
But wish to be fair and l will give
MRS. MccABE's STORY
# the killing of Max Stein. II used to
,ross from the Mexican to the American
ide, "(meaning from the town Of Reynosa
o the town of Hidalgo on the Rio Grande
3iver) and Judge Max Stein stopped me
and offered me the grossost in
ults. On one occasion during a visit to
he American side on business for my sick
husband" (then a fugitive from Jastice)"
his man Stein, grabbed me, and attempted
o forcibly detain me, and violate my per-
on. On the night of August Itch, 1890,
attended ball with friend of my hus.
,and's during the fiesta at Reynosa. l went
rom the ball to my home about eleven o.
,lock, ahd on my way was met by Stein,
Who made indecent proposals to me and
gain assaulted me. l ran home and pro-
,nred pistol. In about an hour l again
vent back to the ball." Far better to
lave staid with her sick husband than TO
rave been prowling around Mexican fiesta
It 12 o'clock at night aloue.) "As l was
,rossing the plaza, (''public square,")
'Stein advanced towards me from the op-
9osite side. Knowing his purpose, warn
I'd him not to molest me, but he came with
;he Intention of graphing me, and fearing
bodily harm,
IPULLED MY PISTOL
rom un6er my shawl and fired, the bail
striking HIM in the left side and piercing
mis- body. He fell to the ground.
She admits the killing. She says above
in the letter, 81 shot him dead" Seems to
glory iu the idea of taking follow beings
ife-that which can not be restored. Stein
is dead-bis mouth is closed, but his excel
lent character speaks. HIS many friends,
and, in fact, all who knew him, believe.
and, in fact: know he never insuited this
Or any other woman. He was g. gentle
man, an honest, good man. I don't be
lieve her story. The court that convicted
her did not believe her story, and she don't
believe it herself, unless she has tcld il so
many times that she has convinced her own
mind Of it. she was
ARRESTED AT ONCE
and placed in jail at Reynosa, and shortly
taken down the river to Mata-
moras, just opposite Brownsville, Tex, and
across the Rio Grande into Mexico. Here
Mrs. McCabe got Mexican lawyer, named
Ortero Martinez, to attend to her case, and
because he did not succeed in Gearing her
or the trial, she says, "he was bought off
by the other eide.' She says she wanted
to discharge Martinez. but ''he would not
give up, bit held on to the case and could
not get another one to attend to it," She
says she was three months in the main
jail, and sick all the time. She was remov-
ed up. stairs of the Matsmoras prison. she
says, by obtaining two physicians certif-
Gates, something no common convict could
obtain; but she says her husband paid $50
month board in prison. This the writer
doubts, as he does the fact of her not being
present when she was tried, and she says
everything was done through an inter.
prefer. This is true in all such cases, and
is proper apd right; in fact, is the only way
with prisoner who can not speak Spanish
in Spanish country. She says she was
rot present when
THEY CONVICTED HER.
This is the fact in Texas and even il
Virginia-the jury is alone when they de