The herald., 1896-02-03
THE EARLY DAY PRACTICES
How the Mission Indians We're
Dealt With
THE FRAUD AND DECEPTION
The Story Of Lost Contract That Was
Unfortunately Found
"Honest" Land Owners Endeavor to Cob.
BILE an Indians Barley Crop In Its En-.
hui Del
THE FRAUD AND DECEPTION

VI want to say to you that the manner in
which the Indians and the unsuspicious
and ignorant Mexicans were dealt with in
the sixties and the seventies by some of
our most respected citizens and successful
business men was outrageous. Deception
and Misrepresentation, absolute dishon.
esty and unquestioned perjury were the
foundation stones of some of the fortunes
that are to-day in the possession of some
men who are what we are pleased to
term our first and foremost citi-
zens: They used all Of these
arts in their dealings with the Indians and
ldexicans and the court records show it
beyond any question of doubt. They SIM
ply robbed them blind. The victims of
these dishonest practices are either dead
died miserably in most instances, but they
were fortunate, perhaps, to find a resting
place at last where moths cannot corrupt
nor tn oves break in and steal.'"
This was the remark that was made to o
HERALD representative yesterday by gen.
in the old district court of this county and
in the superior court as we'll. He had been
reading tho story of Rogerio Rocha's
wrongs and he was full of wrath and indig-
nation.
"Why," he said, "when was in the
Coult9 saw duu DeCaIlo personally aC.
quainted with more skullduggery in the
litigation with the Indians than would fill a
large sized book if what became conyers-
ant with was all written out. Let me tell
you of one case.
IAN Indian had made q contract with q
large landholder, who is now prominent
man in the county to plsnt some of his
broad acres to barley and to raise crop on
shares. The land owners attorney drew
up the contract and the parties signed.
The Indian got copy Of the contract.
"Just when the time came to thresh the
barley the Indian found that he had, as he
thought, lost his contract. So, thinking
was dealing was an honorable man
he went to him and told him that he had
lost it. He asked to be given a copy of the
agreement from the original which he land
owner had in his possession.
"But Oh some pretext the honest land
owner put him Off.
"When the Indian got all of his barley
threshed the honest landowner attached
it, claiming it as his own. myself levied
the attachment as deputy sheriff.
well, later the matter came up in the
courts for settlement. In the meantime
the Indian, in looking over some papers he
had, found his contract, which he supposed
he had lost. But as the landowner had
claimed there was no contract, and his
attorney who had drawn up the instrument
had claimed the same, it was concluded to
hear their testimony under oath on that
point. So the honest landowner was put
on the stand and asked:
"sWas not q contract drawn up between
yourself and this Indian defendant where
by he agreed to till portion Of your land
on shares?'
"'No SIR was the prompt answer. mo
such contract was ever written nor did !
ever sign it,
..You are sure, are you. on this point?'
"' am.'
Then the Indian was put on the stand
and asked:
"'Was contract ever drawn between
you and this plaintiff whereby you agreed
to till portion of his land on shares?'
"'Yes. there was.'
"'Have you that'contract with you now?'
"sI have. Here it is.'
pocket the contract. The honest land
owner and his lawyer was paralyzed. They
could say nothing and they could do MOTH
ing. They had been cornered in q clear
case of perjury and subornation of perjury,
for the lawyer drew the very instrument
the existence of which they had denied.
''They thought the Indian had lost his
contract, and that it was a golden oppor-
tunity for them to rob him of the fruits of
his labor. Neither Of the parties were ever
prosecuted for perjury, although there was
clear case against them.
''This is only one of a number of cases I
could bring up. Rogerio Rocha was fear
fully wronged, but there were hundreds of
his people who were similarly dealt WITH"