Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-05-25
MAESTAS THE MURDERER.
Swung Into Eternity at Las Vegas
To-day in the Name OF
Justice.
His Neck Broken and Dead in Five
Minutes-Record of Crime in
San Miguel County.

Special to the New Mexican.
Las Vegas, N. NJ, May 25.-At 1:2O
this afternoon Herman Maestas, in the
presence of 200 people, expiated on the
gallows his crime of numbering Pedro
Romero at Los Alamos two months ago.
Led by Sheriff Cunningham, of Santa Fe,
the murderer walked firmly and with a
smiling face to the gallows. He made no
public statement or confession from the
scaffold. After prayers by the priest to
which he answered in clear voice the
rope was drawn around his neck, the
black cap placed over his head and Macs
tas was launched into eternity. His neck
was broken by the fall; ;llfe was pronounced
extinct in five minutes. His body was
turned over to his aged father for inter
ment.
GANG OF OUT. .THRoATs.
Herman Maestas was an active member
of an infamous secret society, organized
TO rob and murder, which has infested
San Miguel and Mora counties for over
two years. There were originally twenty
five members of the organization, and
among them we're several policemen OF
old Las Vegas, through whom they were
kept posted of every move the law officers
made, and thus it happens that the gang
80 long enjoyed immunity from prosecu.
tion. Their crimes consisted of stealing
stock, robbing country stores and post
offices, intimidating voters at the polls to
keep their members in Office, fence cut
ting, barn burning and murder. Eight
or ten murders are said to be directly
traceable to this society, not particularly
for robbery, but also because of personal
spite that some influential member may
have had against the citizen.
To the work of the present Democratic
administration is due the collapse of the
society and punishment of its members
The officials now in power have pursued
the scoundrels with such relentless energy
as to free San Miguel county of its wors
enemies, and wipe out the stain upon itt
otherwise fair name. 1t is regretable
however, that the two ring-leaders Of the
gang, Vicente Silva and Jose Chavez J
Chavez, are still at liberty, but the Off
cials express determination not to le
the case rest until these two outlaws pa,
the penalty of their crimes.
There are now in the penitentiary fo
completely in murders and robberie
committed by the gang: Librado Polanco
Remigio Sandoval, Martin Gonzales !
Blea, Dionicio Sisneros, Eugenio Alarid
an ex- pollceman, and Julian Trujillo, al
sentsnced for life; Procarpio Rael, tel
years; Marcos Barela, seven years; Nesto
Herrera, seven years; Pedro Baca, tiv
years; Nicacio Rael, five years; Zeno
Macs, four years; Jose Tiburcio Montoye
three years.
BRUTAL MURDERS.
Although Maestas is the only membe
of the gang to hang yet the crimes of tn
others were almost as revolving, bu
there were mitigating circumstances tina
prom pied the court and jury to lighter
their sentences. 1t is safe to say, how
ever, that if Silva 10 ever found he will b
furnished a rope adornment for his neck
The two most shocking murders of tn
gang we're the angling of Macs and tn
stabbing to death of youth name
Gabriel Sandoval. The desire to be re
venged for personal wrongs prompte
the murder of Macs. He was a membe
of the gang, but is said to have give
away one of their secrets. He was trie
in Silva's saloon, taken out and hange
to bridge in the center of the tow
about 2 o'clock in the morning.
Sandoval was Silva's brother-lnla,
and was accused of being criminally ir
innate with his own sister, who wa
Silva's wife. 1t was merely trumpe
up charge, but Silva issued the edict tha
Sandova must die and the innccen
youth was conseq uently killed.
Sandoyal was led to the slaughter b
Julian Trujillo, who was policeman 9
the time. Silva was concealed behind
bush and as Sandoval and Trujillo passe
him jumped out and stabbed Sandoval
death.
WHY he WAS HANGED.
Maestas was one of the most despicabl
scoundrels of the entire gang. His mu
der of Pedro Romero was e1tremel
brutal. Romero was a sheep herder an
was accused by Maestas of being too il
innate with his wife. About three month
ago Romero was tending to his shee
near Los Alamos in company with a sma
boy, when he saw Maestas and con
panion, whose name the hanged crimin
refused to divulge, coming toward hin
The herder knew the murderous intel
tions of the two mon and informed h
youthful companion that they were con
ing to kill him.
Maestas and his accomplice wasted 4
time when they came up to Romero, b'
Immediately shot, Maestas firing the fir
shot. Romero fell and he was shot agai
while lying on his back.
The two murderers held short col
sultation and decided to kill the boy, b,
for some unaccountable reason they pc
mitted him to 20 free and his testimor
J caused Maestas' convection.