The San Francisco call., 1896-09-26
Slayers OF Sheriff Clavez Are
Given Another Chance
for Life.
TRAGEDY OF FOUR YEARS AGO
The Killing Alleged to Have Bsen
Planned by Political
Enemies.

ALBUQUERQUE, n. NJ, Sept. 25.-The
execution of four desperadoes in New
Mexico yesterday recalls a tragedy in
Santa Fe four years ago, when Sheriff Cha
yez was ambushed by four men and slain.
Chavez's murderers were also sentenced
TO die by the rope yesterday, but on
| Wednesday the Territorial Supreme Court
granted rehearing, and the execution
was stayed. Every preparation for their
death had been made, and it was believed
that instead of four murderers, eight would
hang, the ninth eyil-doer whose taking off
was also to occur on Thursday, September
a, having committed suicide IN prison.
The granting of a rehearing gives the con-
victed men another chance for life, and a
case that has been fought in the courts for
years will be reopened.
At late hour on the night OF May %,
1892 Sheriff Frank Chavez of Santa Fe
County was attacked By several men while
crossing bridge in the ancient city of
Santa Fe on his way to his home. Several
shots were fired, with fatal results. The
assailsnts disappeared and escaped appre-
hension for two years. The primary cause
of the murder was ascribed TO political
motives instigated by prominent men op-
posed 10 the Sheriff, who welded great
influence for his party in Santa Fe County.
Individually, Chavez was well and fayora-
bly, connected.
A clew led to the accusation of Fran
cisco Chavez Borrego, his brother An
| tonic Gonzales, Laurence Alarid and
Botnio Valencia, all of whom were re-
garded as hard characters. When the
officers fell upon the accused there was 3
hot fight, in which one OF the gang was
killed and the four suspects captured.
| Upon trial Valencia made 3 confession
duplicating the Borrego brothers and
Alarid in the crime. Conviction resulted
and the date of the execution was fixed
by the trial court. The case was appealed
| ard on September l the Supreme Court
affirmed the judgment OF the lower court
and fixed the daIe OF execution, Attor-
ney Catron for defendants called the at
tention of the court on the following day
/ to the TACT that neither the docket nor
record of the District Court showed that
| the defendants were arraigned. The Su-
preme Court announced suspension of
action until its sitting on adjourned day,
| September %. On that day q rehearing z
was granted.
No criminal case in the history of the
| Territory has attracted more attention
than this one owing to the political con-
necllons brought into IL, II being charged
! that one of the defendants attorneys was
| instigator OF the crime. Governor Thorn
ton IN an open letter accused Catron, and
| the latter in like form, made positive de-
NAL. Last fall the defendants attorneys,
Spies and Catron, were before the Supreme
Court charged with completely in the
crime. The charges were refuted and
Catron, AZ an adjourned meeting OF the
Bar Association, was chosen as It's presi-
| dent
Editor Thomas Hughes of the Albu-
| querqne Citizen, for the publication of 3
lengthy article in his paper condemning
| Chief Justice Smith for alleged attempt to
connive with Attorney Childers, in this
city, TO defeat justice in the case OF Spies
| and Catron, wss committed for contempt
prisonment OF sixty days in the BernaliIIo
County Jail, which sentence was duly exc
| cuted.