Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-11-10
TERRA AMARILLA NEWS.
Writ Acquitted Of the MURDER of Lipps
sheep and Cattle Thieves Con-
victed-M urder Trial of Deside-
rio SandOval In Progress.

Correspondence New Mexican.
TERRA Amarillo, N. NJ, Nov. 6, 1897
Since my last letter TERRA Amarillo and
it's environment have been more distin-
guished by sort of dolce far niente in
dolence, except for the transitory sense
of activity which the sessions of court
impart than for any special liveliness or
vitality. During the past week, however,
Emmit Writ of Lumberton, as the world
probably knows by this time, was aoquit-
ted of the charge of numbering Charles
W. Lipps, at Lumberton, this county, on
April 20 of this year, under his plea of
self-defense. 1t is due to Mr.. Writ to
say, in addition to his exoneration by the
jury, that he made out very plain,
strong plea of self-defense.
The juries of this county seem at last
to have awakened to the notion that if
cattle and sheep stealing are to be re.
pressed and eventually done away with
responsibility for such consummation
rests even more upon them than upon a
vigorous public prosecutor.
Nazario Ortiz, Felipe Gallegos and
Miguel de Herrera have just been con-
vioted of sheep stealing, and Antonio
Jose Esquibel of cattle stealing. The
iuries with very becoming touch of
kindliness, 80 to speak, recommended
c!emency, and doubtless their recommen-
dation will be given effect to the extent
of month or two. Though they have
not yet been sentenced, as the court in
similar cases has sentenced conviots to
the penltentiary for 18 months, it is fair
to assume that the sentences of these four
men will be no less. This makes six who
are now in Jail here awaiting remission
to the penitentiary.
Yesterday morning the trial of Desi
derio Sandoval for the murder of his wife,
Papilia Moya de Sandoval, and Silverio
Martinez, near Coyote, on the 7th of last
March, began. The prosecution closed
it's case, and the defense is now under
way. Sandova, testifying In his own
behalf, charged that he caught his wife
and Martinez under such circumstances
az justified his killing the man. His de-
fe 1se as outlined by his counsel was
justifiable homicide. This program the
defendant entirely upset by asserting
upon CROSS examination that, though
Martinez was detected as he stated, yet
it was his intention simply to thrash the
des poiler of his home and drive him off,
had he not become afraid that Silverlo
would shoot him. Oross.examination
brought from the defendant the state
ment badly that he shot the alleged
paramour of his wife in self defense.
The prosecution, it is Understood, will
show on rebuttal that Silverio Martinez
was killed at some distance from the
house of Sandoval by three or four
conspirators, while in q moribund condi.
tion was dragged to the house of the de.
fendant and there given the coup de
grace; that Sandoval's wife, who is said
to have been a woman of strict chastity
and uprightness, ran out of the house, but
was finally coaxed back by a woman in
the murdsrous party, and shot while upon
her knees, with uplifted hands, begging
for her life, because she had been wit.
ness to the assassination of Silverio Mar.
tinez. Sandoval has not been a good
witness in his own behalf. The Rhastly
expression upon his countenance when
forced into some incriminsting admis
sion under the skillful CROSS. examina on
of the district attorney, the shifting,
furtive glance of his eyes under his
low hung brow all told against him,
and the general opinion is that he Is a
candidate for the gallows, with every
probability or election.
Jose Maria Lopez, one of those charged
with the murder of Gregorio Oassdos, is
very Ill in jail.
The coming week is expected to be used
up in murder trials.