Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-04-01
Tomas Martinez FOully Murdered and
His Body Burned by Brutes in
Human Shape.
Clever Work of Sheriff Cunningham
Prosecution of Criminals Now As
sured-A Faithful Dog as
Witness-The Murderers
Found Guilty

first degree against Jesus Vialpando and
Feliciano Chavez. The case occupied
Judge Laughlin's court four days, night
sessions being held all through the trial.
Great credit is due to the officers through
whose instrumentality these brutes in the
guise of human beings were speedily
captured and summary brought to trial
and convicted. The defense was very
ably conducted by Attorneys Pope and
Spiess who were appointed by the court,
and although these gentlemen do not re-
ceive one dollar for their labors, it can
be said to their honor and to the honor
of the profession, that the defense was as
carefully, ably and diligently conducted
as though the defendants had been
millionaires. There was no escape for
the perpetrators of the horrible deed,
however, with the prosecution in the
hands of such conscientious, painstak
ing officer as Prosecuting Attorney j. H.
Crist.
During the course of the trial there
were developed many dramatic scenes
and incidents; in fact the whole case was
highly dramatic throughout.
STORY OF THE CRIME.
Jesus Vialpando, Feliciano Chavez,
Zenobio Trujillo and Emilio Encinias
LETT the vicinity of Las Vegas, few days
prior to January 20 of the present year,
on trip to San Pedro, Santa Fe county
They did not seem to have any particular
object in making the trip but they picked
up, or appropriated, some horses on the
way and traded few of them of in San
Pedro for clothing, etc. On the 18th of
January they started from San Pedro on
their return, and on reaching an aban-
doned corral near Ojo de la Baca, in
southeastern Santa Fe county, about noon
on the Goth, they met couple of men trav-
cling with burrss and asked them for
some meat which they received. They
then built large fire in the corral, it
being a cold, snowy day. Two of the
party then went to where there was a
bunch of cattle close by and drove five
or six of them into the corral. They
killed one of the animals and cut some
meat from hind quarter and pro-
ceeded to roast it on the fire. These
cattle belonged to Lorenzo Martinez, the
father of the man who was subsequently
murdered. While they were roasting the
meat deceased came along on horseback,
travelling from Canon Blanco to his home
at Ojo de la Baca. When he came to the
corral he turned in, probably to warm at
the fire. When he came into the corral
he saluted the party of four who were as
sembled around the fire, engaged in roast
ing meat, who asked him to dismount
and join them.
The story of what followed in the cor
raj was told by two of the party, Zenobio
Trujillo and Amelio Enclnias, who are
under indictment as accessories after the
fact. They testified that when Tomas
Martinez, the murdered man, was ap-
preaching the corral Jesus Vialpando
said, "there is fine horse coming, that
will be nice chicken for u.s." that after
Tomas Martinez dismounted in the cor
raj they asked him if he had any coffee
and he replied that he had and went to
his saddle bags and procured what coffee
he had and gave it to them. They then
made some coffee and drank it, after
which, the deceased was standing with
his back to the fire having his hands be-
hind him for the purpose evidently of
warming them. On sign from Vialpando,
Chavez jumped behind and threw his arms
around Martinez breast thus pinioning his
arms. vialpando then drew revolver and
ordered Martinez to throw up his hands
and at the same time commanded Tru-
lilo and Encinias to take the pistol
which Martinez had strapped around his
waist away from him. This was done
and Vialpando then ordered Trujillo and
Encinias to take their horses and start
ahead on their journey, saying that he
and Chavez would overtake them pretty
soon. Trujillo and Encinias left the cor
raj and started on the road to Las Vegas,
ana when about half mile distant they
heard three or four gun shots. When
about two and half miles away Vial
pando and Chavez overlook them, Chavez
riding the horse, with the saddle and
bride, which deceased had short time
previous rode into the corral. Encinias,
who ia only boy of II or Is years, said
to vialpando, "What did you do with the
man that came into the corral on the horse
Chavezis now riding - to which vialpando
replied, "We killed him, you cabron
do you want me to kill you, too? I'll dc
it if you ever say anything about this
They then proceeded on their way toward
Las Vegas, resching place called Rio dc
la Vaca about 8 or 10 o'clock that night
where they stopped at friend's house
until nightfall Of the next day, when they
again resumed their journey. During
that night they reached a point where
they separated, Trujillo taking the Mors
road, the other three going to their sew
eral homes.
THE PROPERTY DIVIDED.
Before separating, however, they di
vided the property of the deceased, Vial
pando taking the saddle and bride
Chavez the horse, Enoinias the pistol ant
belt, and Trujillo taking one of the othel
horses of the party. The overcoat ani
blankets had been lost on the road, 81
neither of the murderers or accessories
derived any benefit from that part of thu
murdered mans property.
THE sLAYERs CONFESS.