Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-04-03

taken down, they were placed in coffins,
at the foot of the soaffold, there to await
the orders of their respective families.
At 10 O'Clock their friends and relatives
were admitted to the Jail yard, and to
them the coffined bodies were turned
over by the officers of the law.
Valencia was taken to his home. The
other three men we're taken to the home
OF Frank Borrego. Funeral services for
all will be held from the cathedral on
Sunday at 1850 O'Clock. The interrment
Will take place in the cemetery of Our
Lady of the Rosary.
After the execution this morning Gov
ernor Thornton was seen at his office,
and asked if he had anything to say re-
garding the matter. He replied
81 have just two things to say, and they
are: First, am glad President McKin-
! ley and Attorney-General McKenna re-
viewed the case. Their action forever re-
moves the element of politics that had been
mi ected into it. Second, the fact that the
case was considered by both Democratic
and Republican president and the seu-
tence of death confirmed by them, will
teach the people of New Mexico that
crime can not be committed ard the
criminal escape punishment by reason Of
political influence.
81 have no personal feeling in the mat
ter whatever, and believe that the good
name of the territory has been vindicated
and law and order upheld by the execu-
| tion of the four men.
THE STORY OF THE CRIME.
| The crime for which these men we're
executed had its inception on the night of
| May 80, 1892, when exSheriff Frank Cha
vez while going to his home in this city,
was assassinated near the end of the
| ID. Il R. G. railroad bridge which spans
| Santa Ee creek near the old church of
Guadalupe.
They had been political opponents of
the murdered sheriff, but it is not be-
lieved by those thoroughly conversant
with the facts, that politics entered into
the crime to any great extent.
Certain it is that primary motive for
the murder was found in quarrel which
occurred at dance nearly two years
prior to the time of the killing.
| At this time, Frank Borrego shot and
killed one Jose Silvestre Gallegos, a warm
personal friend of Chavez. For this he
was arrested and confined in the county
| jail. Pending trial, he was beaten
and otherwise abused by the jailer,
Juan Pablo Dominguez. The pris-
oner appealed to Sheriff Chavez for pro.
lection, claiming that Dominguez had
acted the part of brute, and holding
that he, Borrego, although prisoner,
was entitled to protection against the
cruel assaults of man vested with some
authority, who had grudge of long
standing to satisfy. To this appeal it is
claimed that Chavez replied to the
prisoner that he had been treated with
greater mercy than he deserved. Borrego
protested, and an alteration followed,
in the course of which, Chavez beat
Borrego over the head with his pistol,
and this while the prisoner was heavily
ironed, precluding the possibility of de-
fence.
3orrego vowed that he would be re-
venged, and in the presence of witnesses
swore that he would kill Chavez if he ever
got free, eff it took him so years to do
| it," ....
Upon his release from confinement, his
| friends fearing trouble, and knowing that
he would keep his word in the matter of
taking revenge upon Chavez for the treat
ment he received while in jail, got him off
to Colorado, where he remained year
and a half. A few days after his return
Chavez was killed. Upon the evening
following the murder of Chavez, Domin-
guez, who in connection with the Chavez
killing, had first learned of Borrego's re-
turn to Santa Fe, armed himself and start
ed down town, saying that the city of
Santa Fe was not large enough to contain
himself and Frank Borrego. He met
Borrego, who was accompanied by two
friends, in front of the archbishop's resi-
dence and drew weapon. Borrego, how
ever, was too quick for him, and Domin-
guez fell deud, with bullet through his
body. For this killing Antonio Borrego,
and Lauriano Alarid were tried and &C.
quilted on the plea of self-defence.
The murder of Frank Chavez on the
night Of May 20, 1884, caused intense ex-
citement. Though not by any means
good citizen, he had great many friends,
was active in local politics and generally
popular with certain element. The
manner of his taking off was cowardy
and attracted sympathy to his cause, that
he never would have had, had he met his
death in an open fight, or even been given
chance for his life. He was shot under
the cover of darkness, while on his way
home.
Early in January, 1895, his murderers
we're arrested, taken before magistrate,
and committed without bail to await the
action of the grand jury. In due time
they were indicted and on April 20, 1895,
brought to trial. The trial lasted 81 days
and was bitterly contested. On May 80,
the third anniversary of the murder they
were found guilty as charged and con-
de nned to die. The case was taken on
appeal to the supreme court of the terri
tory, where the judgment of the lower
court was affirmed, and they were again
sentenced to be hanged on September "a,
1895. Shortly before the day set for the
execution, on motion for rehearing of
the case on the ground of faulty arraign-
ment of the prisoners, the supreme court
granted stay of execution. Upon a
hearing, the motion was denied, and the
prisoners were again sentenced, October
Is being the day set for carrying into
execution the sentence of the court.
Habeas corpus procs dings were then
instituted on the ground of lack of juris-
diction of the trial court, but the petit
ton was denied by the Territorial Su-
preme court. The attorneys for the de.
Tense then submitted transcript of the
habeas corpus proceedings to Justice
Brewer, o the Supreme court, during va
cation of that body, and he ordered a
stay of execution pending hearing be-
fore his associates. On presentation the
petition was denied by the U. s. Supreme
court. and for a third time the nrlsonara
we're sentenced to death-this time on
February 90, 1897. It now seemed that
the last hope has been exhausted, and
! preparations were commenced for carry
ing out the command of the law. The
gallows was erected, the death watch set,
and the usual preiminaries carried out.