Southwest-sentinel. [volume] (Silver City, N.M.) 1883-189?, 1895-09-24

pay, and Davis, being wild with
liquor, walked up to Fox and de-
l%iberately shot him. Davis inn
mediately fed and was captured
with difficulty later on. His case
came on for trial at the May term
Of court in 1891, but upon motion
it was continued till the Novem-
Der term of the same yesr. At the
November term his attorney made
application for a change Of venue
to Dona Ana county, which was
granted He was tried at the fol-
lowing term Of the Dona Ana
county court and sentenced to sew
en- years in the penitentiary.
The SOUTHWEST SENTINEL in
it's issue Of Dec. 30, 1890, headed
its account Of the murder like
this: "a Cowardly, Cold looded
Murder. One of the most cold
blooded murders that has taken
place in Grant County for some
time was committed last Friday
evening in Pinos Altos" Daniel
Mcclellan, who was present at
the time Of the murder, and whose
evidence would surely have hung
Davis, died before the case came
to trial. We have printed these
facts to show the extent of DAVIS
crime, and also to prove that every
thing connected with the case OPP
Grated to his interest. First his
case was continued, then a change
of venue was given and before the
csse came on for trial the main
prosecuting witness died. His
sentence was light, only seven
years, and now since the Governor
simply committed it to five years
and three months" it means that
Davis will soon be a free man.
Since the above article was put in type
a mass meeting was held and the fol
lowing preamble and resolutions were
adopted.
WHEREAS, The Governor OF the Tern
tory Of New Mexico has cOmmuted the
sentence of William Davis, convicted Of
the murder Of Hugh Fox from a term o.
seven years to five years and three
months.
WHEREAS, No petition was ever circu
lated among or signed by the people o.
this vicinity, or by any person in thil
precinct so far as can be learned aftel
diligent inquiry, and
WHEREAS, The murder Of which Will
liam Davis was convicted was without
any justiiable circumstances but was
Willful and brutal murder and
WHEREAS, The conviction of William
Davis for a less degree than murder il
the first degree was brought about by
circumstances arising long after ths
murder and not from the facts existing
ut the time Of the murder. Therefore
be it
Resolved, That the action Of w. T
Thornton, Governor Of the Territory o.
New Mexico in committing the sentence
Of William DAVIS from seven years tC
five years and three months meets with
the absolute and unqualified disapprova
Of the people of Precinct Number 2
Grant County, Territory Of New Mexico
in mass meeting assembled, be it
Resolved, That the ~pardoning of viii
liam Davis or the committing Of his sen.
tence under the circumstance attending
the murder and the exceedingly light
sentence which he received can only
tend to bring the criminal procedure Of
the Territory Of New Mexico into dis
repute, to be an incentive to the commits
sion of crime, rather than the means Of
depressing crime and in fact that the ex.
e%cutive clemency used In his case wat
uncalled for by any of the facts or CIR
cumstances and against the best inter
ests Of justice. Be 1t
Resolved, That a copy of these resolu
tions be sent to the SOUTHWEST SEETI
MEL, Enterprise, Eagle, Albuquerque
Democrat, Santa Fe New Mexican, news
papers, and a copy be sent to Governor
Thornton.
Signed: Gro d LINCOLN,
A HERsBEaGER,
DIR L b RoBINsoN,
Committee on RESOLUTIONS
We the undersigned citizens Of Pinol
Altos, N NJ, approve OF the above resoiu
tiODs. Signed:
CD Derbysbire, NJ Mclean, John T Oglesby
John w Head, William Mansfield, J II Robin
son, q Eaaton, ) w Meek, Juan q Lascurana
VIM Christman, Joseph ArOnheIm, + J David
son, George Norton, Frank q Bell, Chas Ste
phens, Jos Williams, ThOs Webb, A Mason, Wn
Charles Fisher, Geo Robbins, X A Robbins, r /
Theilmann. DiOnleiO POTtillO, A Leroy, Jane
Bell. Nathaniel Bell, Ii II Stanley.
Resolutions adopted at a mass meet
ing Of the citizens OF PInos Altos, Grant
County, New Mexico, held September
] DDn1 1909