Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-01-22
DAMNING DETAILS.
Awful Story of the Conspiracy to
Murder Frank Chavez Told
by Juan Gallegos.
Startling Testimony-Prominent Peo-
pie Named-Let no Guilty
Man Escape.

MAN Escape.
The preliminary examination of Fran
cisco Gonzales y Borrego, Antonio Con
les y Borrego, Chino Alarid and Patricio
Valencia, charged with the murder of
Francisco Chavez, was resumed before
Judge Seeds at 10 am.
Juan Gallegos was sworn and took the
witness stand. He resided in Santa Fe
In 1890 and 1891; went to Antonito, Colo,
in the spring of 1892, where he now re-
sided; knew the Borregos and Patricio
Valencia very well; was we'll acquainted
with Francisco Chavez and Hipoiito
Vigil when they were living; had CONVEX
sation with Hipolito Vigil, the Borrego
brothers and Patricio Valencia respect
ing Francisco Chavez; they told me they
wanted me to kill Francisco Chavez.
Hipolito Vigil first spoke to him on the
sub ject; this was at the capitol, in the
latter part of 1891; i've were members of
uue hlllanCo LedBuo anu Wer6
BACKING MIR. cATRoN''
Two or three days later the witness met
Hipollto Vigil, Francisco Borrego, Anto-
MO Borrego and Patricio Valencia at the
east end of the old Palace, opposite the
the Office of Mr.. Catron, in the Griffin
block. The witness was again urged to
join in the conspiracy to kill Francisco
Chavez, and was assured Mr.. Catron
would give him $500 for killing Chavez,
and if any trouble followed Catron would
defend him. Then Frank Borrego went
into Catron's Office, Antonio remained on
the corner, and Hipolito Vigil and wit
ness walked up Meadow street; just be-
fore he saw Mr.. Catron go in his office.
Vigil proceeded to unfold plan for kill
ing Chavez and said that would be a
good place to do the work; wanted wit
ness to do the work and suggested that
and they would come down on either
side. About the 10th of January witness
MET H1poL1To VIGIL
and Francisco Borrego at Schnepple's
window and again the subject of killing
Chavez came up and witness WAS again
told he would be paid $500 for doing the
work. he never talked with Mr.. Catron on
the subject nor saw any money, but be-
lieved them because thoy swore to it.
Another meeting was proposed toarrange
for the killing and witness was told that
any one giving the plot away would be
killed; witness did not want to kill Cha
vez, but was afraid of the League and
dared not refuse.
He said that Frank Borrego also as
sured him he need not be afraid, as he
(Borrego), had killed Sylvester Gal
legos, and Cstron would protect him.
About January Is he told Eustaquio
Padilla and Juan Holmes about the plot;
afterwards wrote a note to Francisco
Chavez and gave it to Juan Sisneros; they
said they
WANTED TO KILL CHAVEZ
on account of politics; that if Chavez was
dead there would be no more Democratic
party, and then they would rule. No other
reason was given and nothing was said
about anyone having grudge against
Chavez.
The note to Chavez was written in
January. Chavez gave the witness away,
telling about the letter, and he went to
Albuquerque because he was afraid of
the League; there he worked about two
months; was still afraid he might be
killed or hurt by some of them; he point
ed to Francisco and Antonio Gonzales Y
Borrego as two of those of whom he was
afraid.
Tho witness identified the letter he
wrote to Frank Chavez and it was intro
duced as evidence. The letter
WARNED CHAVEZ
of his danger; that Hipolito Vigil, the
two Borregos, Patricio Valencia and the
writer were pledged to kill him; the note
was written January l6 and witness went
to Albuquerque in February; went to An
tonito i'll May or June; was brought to
Santa Fe yesterday from Ration by the
sheriff; was not paid for coming.
The reason the witness was picked out
to kill Chavez was because Chavez and
he we're friendly and he could approach
him better than the others; did not want
to kill him, but was afraid to refuse.
On REORGANIZATION the witness swore
positively that Hipolito Vigil, Francisco
Borrego and the others told him
cATRoN WOULD PAY
him $500 If he would kill Chavez, anG
would defend him in court if he got into
any trouble about it. He believed them
because they swore to it; told Juan Sis
neros at the time that Catron would pay
the money for killing Chavez.
Redirect examination developed thu
fact that the place pointed out to thu
witness by Hipolito Vigil was about or
posite the Sena property on Palace av
enue; Hipolito said shot would be free
as sign to him; Hipolito also suggested
that it would be best to shoot Chavez
through the body as he might miss hi
head.
The witness named Hipolito Vigil, tn,
Borregos, Patricio Valencia, r. E. Twit
chell, T. B. Catron, himself and others e,
members of the League. He never heart
the killing OF Chavez talked of at regular
League meetings. IL "a.
IDENTIFIED THE LETTER.
Juan sisneros. was aeyt called. He tes
titled in substance that be resided in San
ia Fe; resided here in January, 1891
knew Juan Gallegos; identified the pape1
given to him for Frank Chavez by Gale
Cos; Gallegos then told him that thes'
were the ones who wanted to kill Franz
Chavez and that he was in it; witness
gave the note to Frank Chavez the mex
day; delivered it to Chavez near cour
house; told Leandro Sena that they wer'
going to kill Frank Chavez, but sale
| n nothing ahout the paper