River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-05-25
Lawlessness in New Mexico

1t must be acknowledged, unfortu-
nate though it be, that lswlessness is
on the increase in New Mexico. What
are the good citizens of the Territory
going to do about itl--NeV Merican.
The remedy lies with the good peo-
pie, if they will only take the matter
in hand. Three causes have conspiTed
to produce the regretable state of the
case. They are: Clanship among the
native people, evasion of jury duty on
the part of American people, and the
placing of unfaithful officials in i'm
portant positions.
There is very little politics, proper,
among the native people of New Next
CO; but in clanship they surpass even
tho ancient Highland Scotch. There
is this difference, the Scotch chieftain
was head of the clan by birth, and the
clansmen were related by blood. The
New Mexico chieftain is such by selec-
ton, and his followers come together
by choice, the same family, sometimes,
being divided in allegiance. The
members of these clans will do any
thing, from arson to murder, for one
duObilCl lliC iCduCls VIZ tnE
other hand, the leader is expected to
do everything needful for the mem
bers of the party or clan. His home
and his purse are at their disposal.
Ii they get into trouble, he must
stand by them, right or wrong. lie
must shield them from punishment ~
the law as well as from imposition by
the opposing party. This is tbs rea-
son for the attendance in court, of the
leaders of the party, when airy mem
Der thereof is charged with legal Of
fense-an attendance TO VIII CHI Chief
Justice O'Brien so recent y and SO
ably called attention. The leader is
there to aid the offende., by his pres
ence, his influence, his autl .ority, his
counsel and his money.
Here comes in the second evil.
Americans, by every excuse under
heaven, get relieved from the jury
duty. Their places must be filled
The leader exerts himself to get his
clansmen appointed instead. They are
appointed. The accused is cleared.
and the course of justice becomes
worse than farce. The Americans
who should have been on the jury, are
clearly responsible for the evil in these
instances. No wonder that crimes go
on increasing in number, for any man
feels secure in its commission, if only
he belongs to clan sufficiently pow
erful to protect him.
Neglect of duty by the officials
whose position requires the prosecu-
ton of criminals, is an additional
source of the evil. A man is killed,
almost In the heart of the city. While
yet alive, he is hung by his heels TO a
stick, like bullock suspended in a
butcher-shop, and in this condition
dragged to his death. The perpetra-
tors of the crime are never brought to
Justice. A man is hung to the bridge,
ana found there, in the very heart of
town, on the next morning. Not an
arrest is made. And so it goes.
Theft, arson, personal violence, en-
bezZlement, murder, are committed,
but the offenders are neither arrested
nor indicted. Others, who get indict-
ed by chance, are released on straw
bonds; others walk away from Jail;
others are cleared by juries Of their
| friends; others receive from such jur.
| les sentences incommensurate with
| their crimes. Finally, the chief ex-
ecutive steps in and pardons the GRIM
| inal, after a partial infliction of an in
adequate sentence, secured at cost of
thousands of dollars to the Territory
Is it any wonder that crime is ram
pant! And is the case any worse in
san Miguel county than elsewhere in
the Territory! The remedy lies in
having good grand juries to indict,
good sheriffs to arrest, good attorneys
to prosecute, good petit juries to try
good judges to sentence, and good gov
errors to refuse interference with the
serving of penalties.-Las Vegas (N
NJ Daily Optic.