Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1892-06-27
THE DISTRICT COURT.
Report Of the Territorial Grand jury
The Chavez Murder-Oondition
of the Jail-The Ortiz
Murder Trial,

In the district court this forenoon the
territorial grand jury presented it's report
and was discharged. The report is signed
by | B. Harrison, foreman, and reads as
follows:
THE grand jury duly sworn and en-
paneled and charged to inquire into crimes
and misdemeanors committed in the
county OF Santa Fe, at the May term,
1892, beg leave to report
Pursuant 10 the instructions and the
charge received from your honor, we have
been engaged in the investigation OF the
several matters brought to our attention
during our session. These investigations
have been full and searching in every
particular, and where the facts have justi-
fed such action we have returned true
bills OF indictment. While a large ma
lorlty OF the members of the grand Jury
have not been familiar with the duties of
such body, still We are of the opinion
that our labors have been conducted with
that fairness and impartiality which
should characterize the action OF such an
important body. During the session two
very serious crimes have been committed,
and alter full examination into the facts
We returned true bills in one case and
very much regret to say that although we
have examined great many witnesses
in the other, still no facts have been pre-
scented to us which would warrant the
returning OF an indictment. We believe
that the causes which have given rise to
the present situation of affairs is largely
chargeable to the laxity OF the administra-
ton of the laws by the peace officers of
this county, during a number of years
past. We believe that were criminals
detected, tried and sentenced, healthier
sentiment would prevail in our midst
We believe that crime should be ferreted
out and to that end the peace officials of
the county should spare no effort. The
carrying Of deadly weapons, the more than
apparent apathy which exists in the
breasts OF the people to give their testi-
mony in criminal cases, the preiudices
which are borne in the breasts of many,
the desire to conceal rather than to reveal,
!, are some OF the potent causes which
IS harass and prevent the administration oil
"a justice. Laboring under all of these dis
81 advantages it is more than apparent how
W difficult are the duties of those who have
been chosen to administer the laws alike
: to one and another In our investigation
as to the killing Of ex-Sheriff Francisco
Chavez, we have done everything that has
been possible TO be done under the cir.
cumstances. We had hoped with the
assistance OF the prosecuting officers tc
detect the persons who were guilty of this
most heinous OF crimes, and to that END
we have examined most carefully the tes
tmony OF every person who was likely tC
' have any knowledge with reference to the
perpetrators of this murder. From what
We have learned from the testimony adj
duced before us, there seems to be feel
, ing in the city of Santa Fe which is to be
70 deplored, and which can only be satisfied
and averted when the persons who muir
dered Francisco Chavez have been brought
to the bar of justice.
8 Your honor saw fit to instruct us with
reference to the condition of the county
jail. Our attention was called to an arti
. Gle appearing in one OF the papers pub,
ished in this city, relative to the jail and
its conduct under the present manage
ment. We desire to say that We went tc
the Jail in body and made careful anG
| complete examination of the premises
] and also made strict inquiry of the per
sons confined therein, as to the manner
! in which they were treated, and as a re
cult OF that investigation we have to say
that the prisoners confined in the count,
jail are treated as well as are treated any
prisoners in any like institution within
our knowledge. We inquired into tn,
character and class OF food served to them
and are OF the opinion that it lie good ant
wholesome, and in every respect as goo,
as that eaten by twothirds OF the peopl
who are taxed to maintain the jail. W
questioned the persons who were respon
sible for the article which appeared in th
IN newspaper and find out that the tru
N N source Of their complaint was that the
: were compelled to sleep upon the foo
}. instead of upon bedsteads. We are of th
4. opinion that the conduct OF the Jail is i
: every respect fair and impartial. We bt
"a d lieve that the present sheriff of the count
81 of Santa Fe in his management of th
Q" institution has been and is doing ever,
=" thing within his power for the unfortl
5" mates who are confined therein. How
Q" ever we desire to recommend that til
n q board OF county commissioners dispose
5" this property at as early day as possible
Q" and with the proceeds derived therefor
y y :. erect upon the property where is situa
op the county court house, a Jail building
$ keeping with the demands OF the count,
D" Such a jail could be erected for COMP
IN ratively small sum, and we believe it to /
m good policy to commence the constructio
m thereof at as early day as possible. TT
present all building is not what the coul
ty needs and what it should have.
"In conclusion, We desire to exten
al our thanks to all of the officials of tn
court, who have been of assistance to
40 in the conduct OF the business which b,
IS been brought before US. All of which
respectfully submitted"
- THE FAUsTIN ORTIZ MURDER.
The courts attention has been occupie
all day in an effort to secure a jury f
the trial OF Juan Ortiz Rodrigue
. charged with the murder OF Faustin Ort
., in March, 1890. The regular jury pan
or was exhausted on Saturday, and speci
venre was issued for forty-eight person
!. These reported this morning, and up
III 2 o'clock thirty-three of them had bee
ny questioned and dismissed, one juror ha
~, ing been found acceptable. 1t is probab
I'D that a inry will not be secured befo
Wednesday.
INTIMIDATION OF WITNESSES.
%e A colored man named BLOOMFIELD
whose home is at Galisteo, and who
4