Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1893-05-05

of ill-fame, to which he and his guard
had repaired. After being at large for a
number of weeks, the most of the time
presumably in this immediate neighbor-
hood, he was re-captured by the railroad
authorities, but without aid or assistance
from the officials of this county.
H. P. Hoppin, guilty of confessed for
gerry to the amount of several hundred
dollars, escaped from Jail while the guards
were at supper, and he has been heard of
no more in these parts.
But the most notorious and damaging
case is that of Pablo Herrera. Found
guilty of murder in the third degree, he
was permitted to leave the Jail on Decem-
Der Z, 1892, while awaiting sentence by
the court. Since that time he has re-
NAMED at large, free and unmolested. 1t
can not be said of him, however, that he
has been heard of no more in these parts;
for common reports locate him but
short distance from town, where he can
easily be seen by his friends or those
having business with him.
1t was IN testimony before this grand
jury that on or about the 23d or II day of
March, of the present year, Pablo Herrera
and his brother, Nicanor Herrera, WIRE
seen in public, at religious assemblage,
held at the placita of Salitra, where a
number of other persons were present. 1t
was also in testimony before US that on
the evening of March 90 or 2l, or of some
day about that time, Pablo Herrera was
seen on the streets of tho town of East
Las Vegas, seated in a buggy, and con-
versing with more parties than one,
while he was accompanied by his brother,
Nicanor Herrera, the latter being on
horseback and armed with Winchester.
Granting that the sheriff knew nothing
of these contemplated escapes till after
they had been consummated, they yet
show the employment of deputies and
the places in which they have been placed;
and willis superior can not always be
held guilty of the crimes of his employees,
yet when those employees are of his own
selection, he must be held responsible for
their incompetency and fragrant viola
tions of duty. 1t is the opinion of this
grand jury that the present sheriff and
his predecessor in office, are to be CEN
sured for the character of number OF
those whom they have employed as dep
uties, and in other subordinate posi-
tions.
1t is barely possible that neither the
present sheriff nor his predecessor, under
the latter of whom the escape of Pablo
Herrera was permitted, has been aware of
his continued presence in this city and Its
neighburhood; but in view of the general
publicity of the matter, such ignorance
would be but little less culpable than
actual connivance. With proper care
Pablo Herrera had never escaped; with
proper effort, he would long since have
been retaken. The fact of his being at
large, in the immediate neighborhood of
the seat of justice for the county and a
dereliction of duty on the part of the
sheriff, the county's highest official.
The facility with which criminals have
escaped from custody, and the utter in
efficiency of the officers in their capture,
both before and after Indictment, defeat
the ends of justice and encourage crime
o. every character. This grand jury feels
that it can not too strongly express its
condemnation of the matters mentioned
in this part of its report.