Omaha daily bee., 1895-11-23
lNTERCEDING FOR STUART
His Execution by Mcxioans Stopped Pending
an Investigation,
STATE DEPARTMENT TAKES MATTER UP
Prisoners Appeal to Mr.. Paxton. His
Old Enpioycr, Vow in Secretary
OIncy's Hands-outiincs OF
the Case.

William A. Paxton received letter from
Mexico a few days ago containing an APP
peal for help from an old and trusted em-
ployc. The letter was from Mac stuart. who
for number of years was foreman for Mr..
Paxton on the Keystone ranch, near Ogal-
ALA. 1t is stated that he was under sentence
to be shot and impored his Old employer TO
interest the United States authorities in his
behalf, as his trial had been railroaded
through the Mexican courts and justice had
not been done him.
Stuart says In his communication that
several months ago he was passing through
one of the narrow streets of Hidalgo del
FARRELL when he was suddenly accostcd by
policeman. He did not pay much attention
to the officers command to stop at first,
but continued to walk forward. When he
glanced UP a second time the man was
scarcely six feet from him and was IN the
act of pulling the trigger of revolver aimed
at his head. The frearm the Mexican car
ried, however, was a clumsy affair, and be-
fore he had succeeded in exploding the
cartridge Stuart pulled his American s!x-
shooter and killed him dead on the spot.
A great hue and cry was quickly raised
and Stuart hustled away IN the center
Of an excited crowd of Mexicans. whom
Stuart says are not over friendly to the
Americans, and was thrown into Jail with
little ceremony. In short time he was
brought before one of the lower judges Of
the province Of Chihuahua. and notwithstand-
ing the fact that he insisted the shooting
had been done merely In self-defense, was
found guilty and handed over to another
court to be sentenced. After being imprisoned
for many months Stuart says he was at
length brought before the higher court, given
sham trial and sentenced to be shot the
early part of December.
Stuart goes on to relate many details in
relation to the dispensing of justice in Mexico
which would tend to show that the scales
of the blindfoded goddess are very un-
evenly balanced when the rights of an Ameri-
can are placed in jeopardy, in fact that they
do not balance at all, and on the other hand
have a strong list toward the Mexican side
of the question. On these grounds, there
FORE Stuart is anxious for a new trial In
which an impartial judge shall preside
and he wishes that he may be placed
in court where he may be allowed to plead
self-defense, which is not permissible under
the Mexican laws.
Mr.. Paxton describes Stuart as a quiet.
well disposed individual, and one in whom he
had implicit faith. When he first went to
work for him on the ranch he had but
lately arrived from the east and bore the
imprint of having come from a good family.
he was not Inclined TO DS quarrelSOine ana
was never known to be mixed up in any OF
the fights among the men, which were far
from an uncommon occurrence in the early
days. Mr.. Paxton has written to ]. Sterling
Morton acquainting him with the case. and
the letter has been turned over to Secretary
of State Olney who, it is understood, has
instructed the American consul at Chihuahua
to stop the execution of the sentence imposed
upon Stuart, pending an investigation. A
report will probably be received in short
time of the status of the case. when it will
be made known to Mr.. Paxton.