The herald., 1896-12-15

tillo are natives Of the southern repub-
lie and ignorant in the ways of the law
beyond belief
Some weeks ago a nephew of Guerrero
was found dead upon the Ballona road,
and the uncle and Castillo. being last
seen in his company, were supposed to
know something about his death. At
the coroner's inquest 1t developed that
Guerrero and his nephew had been
drinking, and the latter became so
drunk that his uncle left him lying by
the side of the acequai. with his horse
tied close by, while he went to the Three
mile house to get assistance. Guerrero
found the youth Castillo at the road
house and asked him to come and help
him get his nephew home. Upon the
witness stand Castillo stated that ne
returned with Guerrero to where the
boy lay, and that the latter began to
beat his nephew. A watchdog lay by
the side of the drunken lad and would
not permit his uncle to vent his spleen
in this manner, and so it was clubbed
away. But here Castillo interfered. so
he said, and helped to lift the boy onto
his horse, which Guerrero also mounted.
and rode away. Beyond that Castillo
said he knew nothing. At the time OF
the inquest, however, Gurrero was heard
to remark to Castillo: Now wer're
caught. and if you had only-kept your
mouth shut everything would have been
all right
This remark deepened the general i'm
preston that both men knew more
about the boys death than they cared
to tell. and that probably murder had
been committed. Later, when placed
under arrest. both men announced their
willingness to plead guilty to murder
in the second degree; all they desired
was that their lives should be spared
The offer was not accepted, and on Sat
urday they were brought up in Justice
Sexton's court for their preliminary
examination. Assistant District Attor-
ney Williams prosecuted the case and a
most curious state of affairs was re-
vealef.
When Castillo was examined he con-
fessed that he had lied in making his
statement before the coroner. Up to the
point when he returned with Guerrero
to the side of his nephew he had stated
facts, but from thence on only lies. In
reality, he and Guerrero had with a
rope tied the boy on the horse, so that
he wouldn't fall off. and then Castillo
had mounted, ana he. not Guerrero. had
gone away on horseback with the boy.
Shortly after starting the horse had
stampeded, getting frightened at some
thing. and had thrown both Castillo and
his drunken companion. The latter be-
ing tied to the horse had been dragged
along for about 100 yards, and had in
that manner been killed. Castillo said
that some hunters were passing at the
time. and if they could be found, they
could. if they would, corroborate what
he said.
Upon this showing Assistant District
Attorney Williams had the case contin-
ued until yesterday morning to per-
nit a search being made for the hunters
referred to. Sure enough, when court
opened these witnesses were present
and corroborated Castillo in every par
ticular. 1t was also shown that when
found the inside of the boys thigh was
plainly marked where the rope had
chafed the flesh.
On motion of the assistant district at
torney the case against both of he pris-
oners was dismissed but the wonder
remains that these two men should
have been so moved by fear that they
were prepared to confess to a crime
they had never committed. and with
their own hands close upon themselves
the doors of the penitentiary for term
of life Imprisonment.