Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1896-10-29
rwRNrY.poun YnAns AGO.
Qatroe was a hpber Then ana tho
porrhpt Partner ola Venal Judge.t

l AM II FH A1 k.A
corrupt Partner ola venal JUDGE
I. b. Catron's reputation. which
was recently "smirched" by evidence
that he is a briber and too dishonest
even to practice law In New Mexico,
was made more than twenty-four years
ago, and In 1972it was so bad that
United States = troops we're called out at
Santa Fe to prevent the outraged and
indignant people Of that town from
hanging him.s, Atthat time, the Santa
Fe ring was in Its prime. Thomas b.
Catron wae attorney general, Jamss
Palen was ~U6fted States Judge, and
Steve Elkips wss general mapagesl of
all the devfltry. II was thaopen boast
Of Cstron and Elkins that they had
made a bargain with Judge, PAlen By
which 1t was impossible f6r any othsf
attorney to wilma oasersin his court.
They took cases on ssspec,n aud II was
understood that Palefr shared IN the
plundec. ,--r, -,.eur -.f>
This corrupt combination exasperated
the people, and petitions for Palen's
~. " oDoH no"1eu y ~ ny
Elkins' ine legislature, In December,
1871, passed a bill assigning Palen to
another xaistricts Theoring's governor
vetoed the bill, and then a popular
YFement was organized to pass 1t
Over the = veto. Catron and Elkins
bought a number of legislators, but
neeoeo Two more. Xxi asked August
hircnner 70 helP the ring, o promis-
ca nun lavolapie decision In q ser
talh sui' snouio ra,en NOT DC removed.
"A lew aays Ialer, Satron asked hircn.
ner 20 ony two MEMBERS ana onered
n'ni eovo iop the loo, saying ,tnat the
tsmoyai OF raien Q u rum Eikans q
nimleiIt : ~,
nronne, reiuseo W unueIsake Inc Jop'
a a@ VI y, iotz, ne made
tss'1rsc.e ~ wnole anair,
p.ooa aYis are yS' 10
9. ni'onnei was peel con-
~ mn.'ary posts ana
no $500 auo Iopu'a,'on
mu', .,S were sen' 70
" .ne
S,..O. 1o1a lohiseu
o. ~ .pt9' ~
" .noSn'sn' eoioiee 'nc uay "nen
.nv a.yfeI"PS was y DC mace 70 pass tne
olil oyer-sue governors ,VeIo' Judge
Olefet,-o. oan.a re- 'e~iegraPnea 10
citizeqs OF Las vegas TO go to Santa
Fe at once andalook after their MEM
Der, Pascnal Baca, who had been
cornered byaElkias. Ahasty midnight
drive was made 10 Santa Fe, and Baca
was confronted BY a number of his in
.d,gnant constituents. to whom he con.
fessed that Elkins had bouoht his vote.
Il To- be delivered ON the following day'
the price-being the canceIIlne OF d
mortgage Of $3.50 on Baca's property.
Elkins. hearing of Baca,s confession.
o out of bed and rushed yer to one
of the9Iagiyepas delegation. exclaim-
inc uMv God. Dick. what are
YOU doing berep Don't . know that
il Judge Palen is removed from this
district. It will ruin mep For Gods
sake, kaapf your. hands offin
.Dick,' refused TO c-ountenauce the
steal. and. the matter went over to the
next dav3 : At the hour for the gather
ing OF the assembly. the town was
wild with excitement. The streets
we're filed with people from all parts
OF the Territory, and two companies
of United States troops, under
command Of General Gordon Granger.
surrounded the legislative ball, having
oeen ca,ied out oy the sner,n' VINO vas
AFRAID tnat ne Wouia mol DC aoie 10
HeeP 'n1 peop,e lom aSsassina''ns
"a I'M, TSs LIZ ano uen on
r.. rm1 ou.A mas " ,nlea.-
e' oouie W yo'o, anu ins'l