Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-05-10
CHAYES MURDER TRIAL.
francisco Rivera Subjected to a Rigid
Cross-ExaminatiOn, But Does
Not Weaken.
Interesting Disclosures Respecting Eff
forts to 1ntimidaue the Witness
Affidavit Makers-Other Wit
nesses Examined.

The trial of Francisco Gonzales Bor-
rego, Antonio Gonzales Borrego, Lau-
reano Alarid and Patricio Valencia,
charged with the murder of Francisco
Chaves on the night of May 20, 1892, was
resumed at 1870 yesterday afternoon,
Francisco Rivera being still on the wit
ness stand.
Mr.. Catron exhausted the art of cross
examination in his set to with the wit
ness 1t would not be stating the exact
truth to say that the witness passed
through the ordeal unscathed, for in one
instance he acknowledged that, in the pre-
llmlnary examination before Judge Seeds,
he omitted the mention of certain facts
and Incidents. These omitted facts,
however, were always material to the
prosecution and their absence was rather
beneficial to the defense than to the ter
ritory. Mr.. Catron's victorious cross
examination seemed to lead out triumph
antly facts of immense importance to the
people, but detrimental in degree to his
clients, which had escaped the vigilance
of the prosecution. Beginning with the
most trivial incidents, Mr.. Catron led the
witness up to the famous affidavit made
in the law office on the corner, prelimi-
nary threats attacking his character, es-
pecially as affected by police court exper-
fences and the ability to afford accommo-
dation for glass or two of beer.
HOW AND WHERE WITNESS WAS 1NTIMIDATED
"Did you not state to Eusebio Escudero
on the 18th of April, going from Con-
ways saloon to Escudaro's house, that
you regretted what you had done with
reference to the Gonzales boys and the
other defendants?'
81 have never said anything about that
m after"
Didn't Charlie Harris ask you why that
weighed on you, and why you had done
what you had done, and did you not
answer that you had done it because Gun
bingham, the sheriff, had promised you
money and to get you free from charge
of assault on Maxine Martinez and that
he had threatened you with a pistol to
make you make your statementp".
II have never said such thing to
Charlie Harris
Didn't you state that your evidence in
this case and in your affidavit was false |
and that you had been obliged to make
it,"
II have never said so, nor was forced. |
At your (Catron's) Office l made an affi-
davit, but it was forced"
Mr.. Catron upon this said: "I ask to
strike that OUT
''Look at the signature to that paper
and say if you recognize it,"
With impressive solemnity Mr.. Catron,
slowly, as if parading for effect, unrolled
a lengthy typewriter document and pre-
scented it under the oculars of the witness.
eyes; l signed that" said Rivera.
"You made that paper, did your"
"Yes, made it under intimidation and
if hadn't signed it they possible would
have killed me right there in your Office"
PERSONS PRESENT IN oATRoN's OFFICE.
"There were several persons there, I
was stating the affidavit and this man.
Bob, was setting it on the typewriter, and,
when they got through making it they went
into the front room and there my name
sake, Francisco, read to me three or four
ines. Afterwards we went into the room
where Frank LASER was. Young Charlie
Jonklin then read it to me and I swore
% it and signed it, but under intimida-
ion. There we're present Charlie Spless
Francisco Gonzales y Borrego, Mr.. Con-
Kiln, Mr.. Gortner, Mr.. Catron and think
Mr.. Morrison"
as it not true that directed Francisco
Gonzales to leave the room while you were
making the statement"
II think not. Francisco was reading a
New MEXICAN in the same ROOM"
"Didn't tell you to tell the truth and
you would be protected?"
"You didn't say anything about pro-
ection."
James Anderson next took the stand.
n May, 1892, he resided about thirty
'ards west of San Miguel church. On the
light before the killing of Frank Chaves, 8
ust as he aud Abram Adams came out of
he formers house, Francisco Gonzales
3orrego and short, stout man suddenly
confronted them and ordered them to
lold up; Borrego had a rife in his hands
md cooked it; discovering that they had {
made mistake Borrego said: "You are ,
lot the man We are after, go on" Borrego
md his companion then went westward c
oward the bridge; witness and Adams {
vent on down town. .
Mr.. Catron objected to the admission i
# some Of this evidence and was sus- =
aimed by the court. 1t thus happened 6
hat at the opening of court this morning
ar. w. H. Pope, in behalf of the terri
DRY, made an argument, citing numer-
us authorities, in support of his con
ention that the evidence was admissible
8 showing the defendants murderous ,
onditiop of mind on the night before {
he homicide Of which he has accused--as
howing his disposition to kill somebody. :,
lfter brief rejoinder by Mr.. Catron, the ,
curt took the matter under ADJUSTMENT.
ADAMS CALLED. |
Abram Adams then took the stand and {
ully corroborated the testimony of An l
erson as to the assault on Anderson and {
himself by Francisco Gonzales y Borrego l
nd another on the night before Fran
isco Chaves was killed. He said that
'orrego had rife in his hand and he !
Adams) heard him cock it. |f
Frederick Grace, j. B. Sloan, Nelson {
lewis and Ike Novel; also testified this {
&
Adjourned until 1:3O p. m.