Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1893-06-27
DISTRICT COURT.
Mcdrano and Romero Acquitted This
Aftelnoon--Thc Grand Jury's
Report.

After this report closed yesterday after
noon the cross-eIamination Of Desi
derio Ortega continued. Mr.. Catron
involved him in several contradictions;
and at the conclusion of his testimony
moved that the court instruct the jury to
acquit his clients, Romero and Medrano,
of the murder of Ortega's wife, the tes-
timony showing that not only was Or
tega's testimony self contradictory but
that he being q party to the crime it
should also be corroborated which was
not done. The court took the point
under advisement and adjourned.
This morning Judge Seeds in the case
of Hitchcock vs.. The Santa Fe Electric
company ruled that the master was en-
titled to $35 fees and the same were
taxed in the case.
q. s. Attorney Fiske reported that
there was no further business for the U. 8.
court.
Mr.. Gildersleeve moved that 1923 and
2159, W. D. Barron Va. VIM. Il. Mander-
field, in which rule, returnable yester-
day, to show cause why the case should
not be dismissed, and not answered,
should be dismissed for want of rrosecu-
ton. 1t was SO ordered. W. b. Sloan
gave notice that he would move to have
the order set aside on the ground that he
had recently come into the case on behalf
of Mr.. Barron and had no notice Of the
rule. Il
In $500, John Symington ct al. VS.. E. b.
Seward, on account Of rents collected and
not paid over, Gen. Bartlett took judy
ment for $3.50 by default, but allowed
time for the garnisheeR, Messrs. Catrou
and Hesch, to answer.
Judge Newcomb for tho territory in
the case of Roper, under sentence for
murder in Dona Ana county, moved that
the exceptions prayed by the defendant
to be entered on the record, but which
we're not made at tho trial, be denied,
which was ordered
Mr.. Geo. w. Knaebel, representing
Isabel B. de Sena, took Judgment by de-
fault on note against Bernardino B.
Baca and the estate of Frank Chavez
amounting to $l4s.10.
Mr.. Catron was granted leave to inter-
plend in the case of Martinez Va. Mar
tinez.
The bail of Perfecto Gonzales, under
indictment for assault to murder Fran
cisco Garcia, was on motion of ii. l..
Ortiz, reduced from $4,000 to $500.
The court gave notice that the COM
mitteo appointed to examine D. r. Todd
and W. j. Eaton, consisting of Messrs.
Bartlett, Fiske and Knaebel, might pro-
coed at D. M. to-day.
Judge Seeds then announced that in the
Ortega murder case he would allow the
testimony to 60 to the jury with caution
as to it's worthlessness. II would be i'm
proper under this practice to grant Mr..
Catron's motion to instruct positively for
acquittal, but he intimated If the jury
convicted he would be compelled to sst
the verdict aside. After this Mr.. Crist
argued the case before the jary to the
full limit of his time.
On the court re-assembling at 3 p. IN.
verdict of not guilty was rendered.
During this trial tho territorial grand
jury reported they had laboredg diligently
and Investigated fifty violations of the
criminal statutes, and had returned
twenty true bills including FIVE for muir.
der in which ten men were indicted. A
number of cases failed of Indictment be-
cause of lack of time, particularly those
alleging official violation of the law. The
law and order conditions of the county
are reported bad, and the jury regretted
its inability to investigate the Faustin
Ortiz and Frank Chaves murders, and the
burning Of the capitol. !.
eve were unable, for lack of time, to
investigate the books and accounts of the
sheriff and collector of this county. In
view of former delinquencies in this Office
we regret this, as we believe that frequent
and careful examinations Of such books
and accounts by proper authorities would
contribute largely to careful and honest
handling of the public funds
The condition Of the jail is reported
filthy; but the structure is so poor and
worn that much of this is unavoidable.
There were seven mattresses and nine
prisoners. The food of the prisoners is
good, and they found no fault with their
treatment. The place is unfit for incar-
ceration, but its management can not
be bettered because of the building. A
new Jail is earnestly recommended. The
court and it's officers were formally,
thanked. and after few complimentary
remarks by the court the jury was dis
charged.
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