Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-02-23

| Like clap Of thunder In clear sky,
| came the news on Saturday that Francisco
GoDsales y Borrego, Antonio Gonzales ,
Borrego, Lauriano AIafid AMI Patricie
Valencia, OF Santa Fe, the convicted and
sentenced murdersrs Of ex-Shsriff Frank
Chavez, who were to have been hanged
to-day, had been granted respite by the
president Of tho United States till March
23rd, SO their case could be reviewed by
the president and his attorney general.
The wretched men. who had bsen trans
ferred from the rickety, old jail in Santa
Fe out to ths penitenthry, mile distant,
for safe kse psng, were frat informed Of
tho tidings Of great 10y about 8 o'clock.
Saturday morning, by Chas, A. Episss,
who had received q telegram from DeIs-
gate T. B. Catron In W ashiDgton City to
this effect.
About noon U. s. Marshal Hall also re-.
ceived notification by wire Of what action
had been taken and at 2 O'Clock the sheriff
of Santa Fe county was likewise Informed.
Here the matter rested until to-day, .
Sunday and legal holiday intsry ening.
whom 1t is understood that Gov. Thornton
will act upon the suggestion contained in
the following telegram received by him
from Washington yesterday afternoon,
signed by this attorney general:
The president having granted rsprieve
TO Borrego and others until March 23rd, to
give time for executive consideration, he
directs that in order to avoid all questions
OF authority, you issue like reprieve.
1unQnN ~ A
The question OF authority nodoubt refers
to the right of the government to inter
fers in Territorial case.
An OPTIo reporter was closeted with
Gov Thornton when the above official tel
Iegram was received, and had been told
that IL nothing wers receixed by wire, yes
sterday, pending the arrival Of the papers
by registered mail from Washington, ana
to prevent hiatus, he would respite the
men ten days, at the end OF which time,
he would extend 1t to March 23rd, as did
the president, unless something official had
come to hand In the meantime.
The general opinion 10 Santa Fs now Is
that these four murderers will not espiate
their crime on the gallows, their sentences
being commuted to imprisonment for life.
There was q rumor at Santa Fe, yesterday
and it was pretty well authenticated, that
letter from His Grace Archbishop Chap
ellie. addressed jointly to President Clevs.
land and his wife, Is the missive thatsaved
the mems neckifrom tho moose. Thescaf-'
fId on which they to be swung f,
had been erected in the court at the county
all and everything pnt in readiness Tor the
ex cuti, n.
The under-current,A Aof feeling on bo b.
sides might have bren Intense at Santa {,
yesterday, but it.did not manifest itself on
the surface. Thrrsswas not the least occa-
sion in the world for sending outthe lying,
exciting telegram that appeared in several.
papers, yesterday ay--indeed, ths wretch
who did It, deserves to have his neck
stretched nearly as badly as do the Borre-
gos ana their compapions in crime.so 'Isei
Gov W.T.. Thornton will pass through
LIS Vegas. on to=morrow mornings traiu,
On route for W Washington, D. q. whittier he
probably goes on matters connected wi:
the Borrego cage.