Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-05-20
CHAVEZ MURDER TRIAL.
This is the Twenty-Eighth Day Since
the Hearing of the Celebrated
Case Began.
Continuation Of the Alibi Testimony
Defendants on the Stand-Con-
fused and Confusing Evil
dence - Valencia in
Deep Water.

This is the twenty eighth day since be-
ginning the trial of Francisco Gonzales y
Borrego, Antouio Gonzales y Borrego,
Laureano Alarid and Patricio Valencia,
charged with the murder of Francisco
Chavez, on Sunday night, May 30, 1899,
and present Indications are that a conclu-
sion will not be reached before Saturday
and possibly not that soon.
WANTED TO MAKE CORRECTION.
At the incoming of court on Saturday
morning Mr.. Catron arose. He said:
"The witness, who was on the stand yes
terday, asked me to state to the court
that he wishes to make a correction in his
testimony. do not wish him recalled. He
himself asks the opportunity to make
the correction"
The witness referred to, Antonio s
Salazar, on resumlng the stand sta "A
that he was mistaken in saying that it sHs
which he described, -four aid coffee buy
ing, blowing off his hat, settlement with
the negro, jackson, followed by his going
home and the hearing of pistol shots
there took place. Indeed, Saturday
night he did make purchases at Cart
wright's, but the rest of the business had
reference to Sunday night.
Mr.. Catron then called Antonio Con
zales Borrego, one of the defendants, to
the stand. He detailed the usual story
about May 23rd, 2Sth and Goth, 1892. On
the first day mentioned he was in the
mountains wood gathering. On tle
other days he was at the house of his
compadre, Seferino, playing cards with
Francisco, Chino and Seferino. About
half past or 5 O'Clock on the morning
of the 3Oth of May he first heard of the
death of Frank Chavez. His uncle,
Benito, met them at the Brewery when
they were returning with load of stone
and gave him the news.
On the preliminary examination this
witness declared that it was between II
and - o'clock when he received informa-
tion of the ASSASSINATION Of the sheriff.
NO INTEREST IN DEATH OF CHAVEZ.
Continuing his story, he said that he
was hauling rock to the house that his
uncle, David, was constructing within a
the dead body of the murdered man lay.
He asked his uncle no questions as to
where, when or how the murder occurred.
He had no interest in it. The sudden
taking off of so prominent citizen as
was Frank Chavez had no particular i'm
portance in his eyes. He passed by the
house where the dead man was laid out
but did not 60 into see, asked no ques-
tions about his death and felt no con-
cern. 1t was not his business, he said.
He did not know whether anybody was
helping his uncle build. On the prelim-
mary examination he named two men as
assisting in the construction of the house
referred to and as having seen them
there on the 30th day of May, 1892. His
contradictions of the testimony given by
him at tho preliminary examination we're
frequent.
The manner of the witness on the stand,
while cool, was not good. The frequent
questions which he avoided by the an
swer, ~ do not remember" or 81 can not
say" served to give the marks of weak
ness to his evidence.
Next came Patricio Valencia. He
proved rapid, audible and somewhat
sensational witness. He related the his
tory Of May 23rd and May Goth, 1892, as
affecting himself in accord with the re.
citals made touching the same days by
previous witnesses. He was planting on
the 23rd. He was sugar buying on the
29th.
He HAD BEEN APPROACHED.
When Mr.. Catron asked him if he had
been approached by anybody with refer
ence to the case on trial, all ears were
bent upon the answer.
"Yes," it came.
"Who?"
"Mr. Cunningham"
"What was it.?"
"He said that should testify against
these boys and not be afraid for the rea-
son that these boys would never get out
of there and he would take me out of Jail
and he would help me with money.
But didn't want to do that against these
boys. also had conversation with Mr..
when Laureano Alnrid was
present. This was at the penitentiary.
The sheriff called me up to where Chino
was and told Chino before me that he
would have to say that he killed the late
Chavez and that he would furnish the
money to hold court and that he and |
would go free and that the governor
would pardon us and he would bring the
governor down to see US. told him l |
didn't want to see the governor and that |
l could not swear against these boys"
Cross-examination by the district at
torney explained the anirnus for Vale'
cla's stating so positively that an
tempt had been made to gather him in /,
a witness for the state.
"Now, Mr.. Valencia, you have said that
on the 9TH Of February, 1894, Mr.. Gun
ningham sent for your"
~ said that he opened the cell for
me-"
DIDN'T REMEMBER.
"Did you not tell Csyetano Garcia, the
jailor, that you wanted to see Mr.. Gun
81 don't remember"
"Do you deny that you told Cayetano
Garcia that you wanted to see Mr.. Cum
~ don't remember, say"
"Do you deny that it was at your re-
quest that Cunningham came to see
your"
81 don't remember, 1 say"
"Look at this, Mr.. Valencia, Showing
n little bag) and say if you ever saw It
before.'
"No."
SACK OF sTRYoHNINE.
The little bag referred to, an empty