The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-04-03

writing a note to Chavez informing
him of the plot and giving the names
of the others in the conspiracy, fed the
territory.
On the night of May 90, 1892, Chavez
was led into ambush by Atilano Gold,
q pretended friend. and shot to death
while on his way home
A reign of terror followed in Santa
Fe. Everybody knew that the Button
gang had murdered Chavez, but the as
sassins and their hackers had control
of the machinery of the law, the dis
trict attorney and sheriff were oath
bound members of the league, and
Catron's money and influence were all
powerful.
For declaring that he knew who
killed Chavez. Juan Pablo Dominique
was shot down by Antonio and Frank
Borregc and Chico Alarid. Two days
later Frank Borrego gave himself up,
pleaded self-defense, produced his own
brother and Alarid as witnesses. was
tried before a jury selected by the
Button gang sheriff and acquitted.
THORNTON's GOOD WORK.
This was the state of affairs when
Governor Thornton was appointed in
1893. He removed District Attorney
TwitcheIl and Sheriff Conklin, and ap-
pointed new men. The new sheriff be-
gan hunting for evidence, and the dis
trict attorney procured a confession
from Rivera.
Early in January, 1894, another of
the conspirators confessed. vigil, Bor-
rego and others went to Rivera and
with guns at his head, compelled him
to go to Catron's office and make aft
davit that his confession had been ex-
torted from him under duress.
Sheriff Cunningham decided to move
at once. Cunningham and Deputies
Tucker and Otero suddenly appeared
on the street with rifles and shotguns.
Frank Borrego, armed with two re-
volvers and with his pockets full OF
cartridges, was the first wanted man
encountered. The sheriff leveled his
rife at him and Borrego threw UP his
hands.
Hippolito Vigila, chief of police, cor
oner and school director, resisted and
was killed
Antonio Borrego was penned up in
his house and preparations were made
to blow up the place with giant powder.
He surrendered. Chico Alarid, Patricio
Valencia and Frank Rivera were ar
rested without resistance.
The preliminary examination of the
prisoners was held before Judge Seeds,
a Republican judge, in February, 1894,
and was full of startling and sensa-
tional episodes.
Frank Rivera. Louis Gonzales and
other minor members of the gang
turned states evidence and confessed
the conspiracy, and Rivera, when con-
fronted by Catron with his affidavit
denying his own confession, told how
that affidavit had been forced from him
by Catron and the Borregos in Cat
ron's Office
A PATRON OF CATRON.
Juan Gailegos was brought back from
Colorado, and he related in detail the
efforts of Vigil and the Borregos toAin- |
duce him to shoot Chavez. The SEN
sation Of the trial came when Gallegos |
said: Frank Borrego said to me, Mr. |
Catron will give you $500 if you kill |
Chavez, and will protect and defend |
you. He is a powerful protector I |
killed Silvestre Gallegos and nothing
has been done to me. Mr.. Catron is my |
patron'
When the case finally came to trial |
in April 1895, the defense attempted to |
set I'D an alibi, and the court reeked /
with the rankest perjury. The four
prisoners were found guilty of murder
in the first degree and sentenced to be
hanged.
The case was appealed to the su-
preme court on a writ of error and
long delay ensued. Plot after plot to
release the Borregos from Jail was
hatched, attempted, discovered and
foiled.
The murderers were sentenced to be
hanged on the 10th of July, 1895, but
the supreme court was unable to hear
the appeal until August, 1896 The
Judgment of the lower court was then
affirmed and the date of execution set
for Sept. "a, 1896. The case went to the
United States supreme court fora writ
IF mandate directing the territorial su-
oreme court to grant the murderers a
rev trial. The Washington court fin
lily dismissed the appeal, and returned
mandate to the territorial court to re-
sentence the murdererS.