Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-08-20
THE SUPREME COURT.
Serious Charges Filed Against Law
yers CatrOn and Spiess After
Tardy Sheritf-Seyeral
Decisions.

In the territorial supreme court this
morning something of sensation was
developed when District Attorney j. H.
Crist presented mass of papers, aft
davits, etc, charging T. B, Catron and
Chas. A. Spiess with violation of their
duties as attorneys and obligations as
officers of the court growing out Of their
conduct of the case of the territory
against the Borrego gang, assassins of
ex-Sheriff Frank Chavez. Accompanying
the statement made by the district at
torney, reviewing the case and reciting
the allegations charging these attorneys
with attempting to buy off and intimidate
many witnesses on behalf of the terri
tory at the trial, are eight sets of papers
marked Exhibits" running from A to Il,
and showing the sworn statements of
Isaac Novel;, Domingo Apodaca, Luis
Gonzales, Max Knodt, Mauricio Gonzales,
Rosa Gonzales Baca and B. B. Baca,
wherein these several witnesses make
oath to the effect that either Mr.. Catron
or Mr.. Spiess or both of them undertook
| by sundry and various methods to pre-
vent them from appearing and testifying
| against the convicted assassins or to in
| tiuence their utterances prior to their ap-
pearing as such witnesses. The sub ject
| is submitted to the court with a state
ment that these matters have come to
| the knowledge of the district attorney
while in the discharge of his official
duties in prosecuting the Borregos, "and
believing the acts of the said Thos. B.
Catron and the said Chas. A. Spiess, as
above set forth, were not in accord with
| their duties and obligations as officers of
this court, we're destructive of the conf
dence of the people in the integrity of the
bar, and hence were derogatory to the
due administration of justice, informant
brings them to the attention of this hon
| orable court for such action as it may
seem just and proper in the premises"
All the papers In the case were not
read in open court, but were directed to
be filed with the clerk, the court an
nouncing that it would take the matter
under consideration in due time.
DERELIcT SHERIFF.
In the case of Buntz vs.. Lucero and
the Mesilla Valley Publishing company VS..
Webb, appeals from Dona Ana county,
the court directed attachments to be
issued for the arrest of Sheriff Escarate,
of Dona Ana county. It appears that for
months the clerk has endeavored to get
from the sheriff some return in these
cases or some explanation as to why the
return was not Forthcoming as required
by law, and this order ia for compellinp
the derelict officer to show cause why he
should not be punished for contempt.
ROUTINE COURT BUSINESS.
The case of Robert Friday, under death
sentence for the murder of Zenon Baca at
Cerrillos, was argued and submitted to
the court yesterday, the main question be-
ing as to the sufficiency of the indictment
Messrs. Victory q Pope appeared for the
territory, Messrs. Catron & Spiess for the
prisoner.
In the case of Billiard vs.. Lopez the
opinion of the court was announced this
morning, denying the motion for re-
hearing. At the last term of court this
case was decided in favor of Billiard.
Marshall Field d Co. Va. M. Romero 4
Co., decree of lower court reversed and
the case remanded with directions to enter
decree cancelling and setting aside the
deed of assignment.
This forenoon the court heard argu-
ments in the suit of A. d. Coon VS.. the
Bosque Bonito Land and Cattle company.
Mr.. W. B. Childers appeared for the com
pany and Mr.. j. G. Fitch for Coon.