Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-05-09
SENSATIONAL TESTIMONY.
COwardly Conspiracy to ASsassinate
Frank Chayes Detailed on the
Witness Stand.
Juan Gallegos and Francisco Rivera
Repeat the Evidence They Gave
at Preliminary Hearing
Button Partners.

upon the stand. After momentary hest
tation, both the territory and the defense
concluded that they had no further ques-
tions to ask him. His testimony, there
and Mr.. Perez was excused, sub ect, how
ever, to recall.
JUAN GALLEGos TEsTlFIEs.
A noticeable buzz of expectancy filed
the court room when Juan Gallegos,
known as one OF the conspirators at one
time in the plan for the sudden taking off
of Francisco Chaves, at the Invitation of
the territory took the witness chair. He
began his story in a deliberate manner
aud pursued it's recital unhesitatingly to
the end. In no important particular did
it deviate from the testimony given by
him at the preliminary investigation held
before Judge Seeds. In substance it is as
follows:
81 saw Hipolito Vigil the day the legis-
lature organized in the latter part of De-
cember, 1890, or in the early part of Jan
uary, 1891, and had conversation with
him at the capitol. He asked me whether
| had weapon. I said / had none and
he went and got me a pistol. We then
entered the capitol. Then we came out
again. after everything had quieted down.
Now he says, Il believe you are great
Err friend of mine; what you want to do
now is to kill Frank Chaves. But we will
talk about that more slowly. We then
separated.
"Three days later in going in front of
Mr.. Catron's Office met Francisco Con
zaes Borrsgo. l said, whats up?' He
said, Hasn't Hirolito Vigil seen your /
said, NO He said, 'Hipolito wants to
see you Then we went over by McKen-
zies hardware store and met there Hippo
Ito. Together we went to the pagoda in
the plaza. Hipolto said to me: Com
padre, want to talk mems business with
you. We want to kill Francisco Chaves
for political reasons. We want you to do
it, because he has confidence in YOU
"Then Francisco Gonzales said: yes,
because by killing Frank Chaves there
won't be any Democratic party and we
shall reign. You remember whenI killed
Silvestre Gallegos. They have done
nothing to me. Why, because l am
CLINGING TO A STRONG ARM,
and besides being very rich man he is
very good lawyer.
"0n the 10th of January, 1892, we next
had conversation in front of Schnep-
pies window. Hipolito called me and
asked if l was ready to kill Chaves, that
the reward was ready. Then Invent home
and gave a note to Juan Sisneros, asking
him to deliver it to Frank. The note ran
thus: -Four of us have agreed to kill
you, Francisco Gonzales v Borrego, Pa
tricio Valencia, Hipolito Vigil and an
other (The witness declared that tan
other" referred to himself).
81 next had conversation at the corner
of the cid palace. There were present
Hipolito Vigil, Francisco Gonzales, An
tonic Gonzales and myself. When 1 met
them Francisco Gonzales said: Juan.
the reward is ready. AS soon as you kill
Frank Chaves Mr.. Catron will give you
$500, and, if they find out that you did it,
Mr. Catron will come to your relief. We
shall hold regular meeting and nominate
those who are to kill him and he who
won't do it will have to
SUFFER- THE CONSEQUENCES.
''Just then Mr.. Catron passed by and
went into his Office. Francisco Gonzales
left us and vent into the Office right after
him. Then Hipolito said: Lets go,
compadre', and we took up Palace avenue
past Catron's Office. Then Hipolito said:
This is the best place to kill him. Some
will go up the street and some below.
You will be in the middle, and a signal
will notify you whether Chaves is going
up or down the street.
Gas didn't want to kill that man |
wrote that note to Francisco Chaves.
Chaves gave me away about that note and
as was afraid went away to Albuquer-
que and because didn't want to be sworn
to kill Frank Chaves."
On cross-exanlination, the witness ad-
mitted that he had been convicted of get
ting SO under false pretenses, but denied
that he had ever been indicted by the
grand jury.
"You say that you we're afraid of the
button partners,' what do YOU mean by
that?"
SIT was secret society sworn to help
each other"
"Give thu names of some of the men,
bers."
The witness answered this question
successfully, including the examiner,
Mr.. Catron, among the members.
"What kind of help was this You refer
to that the society was to give to each
other?"
"such help as we gave you at the capt.
toll"
81 object to that" said the counsel.
"What do you mean by that help that you
gave to me, to Mr.. Catron?"
ave had
CONCEALED ARMS THERE
to support Mr.. Catron."
The witness was excused from the
stand about an hour later, but his testi-
mony remained unimpeached and un-
diluted Notwithstanding the exhaustive
cross-e1amination made by Mr.. Catron.
1t was noticeable, however, that Mr.. Cat
ron devoted his endeavors to show that
Gallagos had recently become invested
with new suit of clothes, rather than to
overthrowing his statements respecting
the conspiracy.
Following Gallegos came Juan Sisneros,
who identified the note above referred to,
and testified that he delivered it to Frank
Chaves as directed by Juan Gallegos.
The court then adjourned.
At $3.50 this morning court convened,
and, after legal controversy between
Counaal raanactipp tho odro ioo;bilikv 0f