The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-08
THE BUTTON GANGS FIGHT.
EFFORTS TO SAVE rom MURDER
ERS IN NEW MEXICO.

gate Cntron's Part ia the Case.
SANTA FE, N. NJ. Nov. A.-Tho United States
supreme Court has granted a stay until Nov. 10
In the case of the Borrego murderers, and so
another chapter has been opened In the history
OF the desperate battle for life fought By tho
Button Gang and its supporters, In court and
out of court, against the determined efforts VI
the Governor and the law officers OF the Terri
tory to punish confessed assassins.
As n preface to the story Of the case, q brief
exposition Of the political conditions existing in
tho Territory Is necessary. Men who sincerely
believe they are speaking with elaboration and
moderation affirm that nowhere else In the
United States 10 the practice of politics go ut
terly vicious as in tho Territory Of New Mexico,
and nowhere else 10 public opinion, that
should sustain tho Executive In enforcing
the law, so debauched and degraded. There
arc good people In Now Mexico. but
their influence is ineffective. Breaches OF
official trust, perjury. forgery, oflcial embezzle-
ments not only 60 unpublished frequently, but
furthermore there is no public opinion that
sends to Coventry the scoundrel who manages
to keep out of Jail. Even n term in the peniton-
tiary Is not considered to leave n stain upon the
reputation necessarily, and the ex-convict seeks
and secures public office, honors, and emoiu-
ments at the hands Of his fellow citizens. Muir
der has been a recognized political method. q
campaign trick, and assassins have been re-
warded with Office for their services.
The struggle for Offices In Santa Fe,
San Miguel, and some other counties In
New Mexico has been carried on Tor
years through secret political societies. oflcered
and backed by Americans and composed mainly
Of ignorant Mexicans, some of them despera-
does OF the worst type. A history Of the MUIR
ders committed by these bands of assassins
would I'LL a large volume. Tho Democrats or
ganized as knights of Labor. and the Knights
soon became better known ne White Caps. The
Republicans formed mutual protection leagues
to Offset the White Caps. and the ignorant
Mexican Indians. who were induced to join
these secret societies. were easily persuaded
that 1t was necessary for them to band together
to resist the encroachments OF the other fell
lows. The league in Santa FG was known as the
Button Gang. and vas organized by I. b.
Cntron. now Territorial Delegate In Congress.
and his associates to combat the influence OF
Frank Chavez, the masterful and domineering
leader Of the Democratic natives. The despera-
does of the Button Gang were assured l. of the
support and protection Of Catron and the law
officers under his control. and. as Catron was .
leading lawyer and was reputed to be rich, they
relied absolutely upon his power to protect
them from punishment.
In the winter of 1s9l-e2 Catron's right to a
seat In tho Legislature was contested. and when
the Legislature mot. he called upon the men,
bers Of the Button Gang to arm themselves and
assemble In the Capitol to support him. Catron
himself was an oath bound member of the
Button Gang. as he subsequently, admitted on
the witness stand. Tho gang assembled In re-
sponse to his request, armed with weapons
secretly furnished from the State penitcntiary,
and bloodshed. 1t Is believed. was averted only
By a vote to seat Catron. Believing that they
had inundated the Legislature. and elated by
Catron's victory, the member of tho league
then determined to do their patron the further
service of removing Frank Chavez from his
political path. They had heard him say that
the Republicans could not carry Santa Fe
county while Frank Chavez lived In 1t. and
they reasoned. logically enough, that the death
of Chavez would promote the interests of Ca
tron and themselves.
A conspiracy to assassinateC Chavez was there
fore formed by the Executive committee Of the
Button Gang. consisting OF Hippolito Vigil.
Frank Gonzales y Borrego. Antonio Borrego.
Laurlano Alarid, Patricio Valencia, Frank
Rivera. Faustin Ortiz. Juan Gallcgos. and prob
ably a few moro. who kept in the background.
Some Of these men were selected because of
their personal enmity to Chavez. who had
thrashed most of them at odd times in tho
course OF either pleasure or duty.
III " thO I'D NJ ooiut
the Democrats OF Santa Fe have canonized him
aud meet solemnly upon the anniversary OF his
death to eat a dinner to his memory and make
speeches. For years he WAS the Sheriff of the
county. and he used tho public funds that ca mo
into his hands as freely and generously as he
sQuandered his own monsy. Nobody in dis.
tress ever applied to him in vain for help. and
1t is said that he paid for all the Mexica an fu-
nerals of the poorer classes that were seen in
Santa Fe for years. That Is. the taxpayers paid
for them, for Chavez was 5000 short in his
accounts when he went out OF office. He was a
giant In stature and strength; absolutely fear
less, impulsive. violent, generous, and master
full; n formidable foe and a loyal friend. He
never declined n challenge from an enemy and
never failed to espouse the cause OF the weak.
And he was betrayed to his death by creatures
who lived upon his charity.
After several consultations over n plan FOR the
murder Of the Lion OF Santa Fe, Juan Gallegos
determined to have nothing to do with 1t, but
no did not dare to withdraw openly from tho
conspiracy. lie wrote n note to Chavez nform
ing him OF tho plot and giving the names of all
the conspirators except his own and sentit
1ns'f feFri,o or a 'I When "e chave re was sas" Killed lie .r the
note was found in his pocket.
Chavez knew Of the designs OF the conspira-
tors long before they were contaminated. and
one. day he seized one OF the gang; .Faustin
Ortiz, by the collar, in the presence of Vigil and
OtlleTH, uHu hhlu.
80 you are ono OF the gang that proposes to
kill me? ] wonder IL your friends here want to
try II now I" and he flung Ortiz from him con-
temptuouslv. Ortiz fell upon his knees and
begged for mercy. and the gang heard his vir-
tual admission of tho accusation.
Faus,in Ortiz talked too much. He was n
weakened conspirator. And no straightway
disappeared from human ken. When his body
was found buried In the sand OF an arroyo. re-
vealcd to some boys by a rpttine hand thrust up
10 view. Catron and the Button Gang tried tolay
the murder at Frank ChRvez's door. hut utterly
failed. The wRgGing tongue Of the weak and
foolish boy had been torn out by the roots. No
need to ask who slaughtered him..
On the night of May 20. lSg2, Frank Chavez
was slain by nmbushed towards. For months
his friends Ind not permitted him to go homo
alone at night. and he had, avoided the route
that crossed the railroad bridge and passed the
church of San Rosario. erected In fnlhlment of
the vow OF Diego de Vargas 200 years ago. But
on that night Atilnno Gold, pretending to be his
friend. led him across the railroad bridge. where
the assassins were lying in wait In. the shadow
OF tho church, and there he was shot to death
In tho dark.
A reign OF terror followed In Santa Fe. Every
body knew that the Button Gang had murdered
Chavez, but the assassinn and their backerD had
control of tho machinery Of the law, Juan
Pablo Dominguez, Chavez's friend. was holder
than others He declarpd. in the presence of