The herald., 1896-01-29
ROGER|O ROCHA'S HISTORY
Old Timer Tells of the Cruel
Ejectment
SENATOR DEL VALLE'S TALE
Indian and His Aged Wife Turned Out
in a Storm
SENATOR DEL VALLE'S TALE
Bed Ridden Octogenarian Wife Died Few
Weeks After as a Result of the
Exposure

The history of the life of Rogerio Rocha
is really an interesting and pathetic one.
1t is interesting for the reason that the
reading public has been informed through
the columns of this paper how the aged
Indian has been dealt with in the last fif-
teen years; how he was cruelty elected
from his lands in the San Fernando valley,
and how in the declining days of his life,
after having lived nearly twenty years be-
yond the allotted three score and ten, he is
finally left to die in want and poverty.
And what is going on in the meantime?
Efforts are being made to form syndicates
to re-establish Rocha's title to the lands
from which be was elected for the sole
financial gain of the members of the syndi-
Gates referred to. But no efforts have been
made for ten years and over to do anything
in Rocha's interests that have secured for
him any immunity from the suffering in
cident to an impoverished condition that
must of necessity fall upon any civilized
person who has reached the advanced age
of 80 years.
A gentleman who was born and raised
in Los Angeles county and who has known
Kogerio Rocha for forty years yesterday
related the story of Rocha's ejectment
from his San Fernando lands, which was
certainly both cruel and heartless. He
said:
"The day that was selected to eject Rog-
eric Rocha was such q day as Monday
afternoon. The rain was pouring down in
perfect sheets. That was the time these
philanthropsts selected TO have the old In
dian and his bed-ridden wife moved from
under their roof.
"A party of deputy sheriffs proceeded to
Rocha's casa, where he had lived for over
forty years, and entering, they carried his
poor old wife, over 80 years of age, out
into the road in the rain, and there they
laid her down,
"She had not the strength to move. She
laid there for some time and finally, as
remember, was carried down TO the mis-
sion, where she died shortly after as re-
suit of the exposure TO the rain and wind
at the time of the eiectment.
"Rocha's s chickens and personal effects
were slowed away in sacks and dumped
into the road. The ejectment was the
most outrageous proceeding | have ever
witnessed in my life"
The gentleman who told this story is
known throughout all Southern California.
His integrity of character is beyond ques-
ton. He desires no particular publicity in
connection with the case. but his name will
be given if any responsible person de-
sires it.
Senator Refugio F. Del Valle is well ac-
quainted with Rogerio Rocha. The senator
remembers that when he was boy Rogerio
was one of the best known Indians about
the mission San Fernando. He was skill
ed artisan and was an adept at making
spurs in the California style, as we'll as be-
ing a blacksmith. In those days the
padres taught all the Indians TO be useful
in some way, and Rogerio Rocha was one
of the handiest of them all.
The senator states that Rocha formerly
sang in the early days in the old mission
church at San Fernando. He had good
voice and could read the notes of music
very easily. The senator's recollection is
that Rogero could read and write. If the
senator's recollection in this particular has
not failed it is significant, for in the last
five years everything that bears Rogerio
Rocha's signature is signed by an
his