Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-04-03
MURDERERS OF SHERIFF CHAVEZ
DIE AT SANTA FEE. N. NJ.
THEY ALL DROPPED TOGETHER.
WE'RE MEMBERS OFF A LEAGUE
KNOWN As THE "BUTTON GANG"
Reprieved by President Cleveland and
by President Mckinley, but Came
to Their Death mt Lust
Double Hanging in
Louisville.

Santa Fe, N NJ. April 2.-Francisco Con-
zales y Borrego, Antonio Gonzales BOZ
| rego, Lauriano Alarid and Patricio Nalen-
| cia. condemned to death for the murder of
ex-Sheriff Frank Chavez, who was killed
from ambush on the night of May % 1882,
were hanged together on one scaffold at
9:l0 u. m. to-day.
On Thursday night ten special guards
were placed in the Jail by the sheriff, and
this morning draft of forty men was
made on the cavalry companies by the
governor with instructions to act under the
orders of Sheriff Kinsel.
The scaffold was 12x2l feet. with a six
foot drop through a single trap six feet
long and three feet wide.
The prisoners passed restful night, the
guards saying that not one even turned in
his sleep. The death warrant was read to
them at 7:3O this morning and was received
by the BorreGos with some facetiousness.
| The vicar general remained with the
| doomed men until they were led to the
| scaffold, administering the consultations of
| their religion. They mounted the scaffold.
attended by the sheriff and three deputies
| and the vicar general, and disappeared
! from the view of the limited number of
spectators within tent which surrounded
| the scaffold.
None of them showed the slightest weak
| ness. and they made no statement except
to request the sheriff not to fail to remove
all traces of the cause of their death be-
fore their bodies were turned over to their
families.
The ropes and caps were adjusted, and
at 9O9 the trap was sprung. The necks of
all were broken, except that of Valencia,
the lshtest In m weight, who ,,, died from
Sunday from the cathedral.
The four men were members of the eA-
ecutiye committee of what was known as
the Button gang" a league organized
II combat the political influence of Chavez.
who was a Democratic leader in Santa Fe.
On the night of May 49, 1892, Chavez: who
was giant in strength and absolutely
fearless, was assassinated while on his
way home. The next night Juan Pablo
Dcminguez, who openly declared that he
killed. For this crime Francisco BorreSo.
who had been seen fleeing from the scene
of the murder gave himself up. pleaded
months the gang" which controlled both
the police department and the sheriff's of
flee, was supreme in Santa Fe and no at
murder. When Governor Thornton was
appointed in 1893 he removed District At
tcrpey Twitchell and Sheriff Conklin from
Office and the new sheriff began hunting
Chavez and soon obtained confessions from
two of the conspirators. Francisco and
ANTONIO bOTTeSO, IduTidnO AldTlU, fdlTlClO
Valencia and Frank Rivera were arrested
and Hippolyto Vigil, chief of police and
coroner, was shot dead while resisting ar
rest. AT the trial Rivera, Louis Gonzales
turred states evidence and the two Bor-
reSos, Alarid and Valencia were convicted
OF murder in the first degree and sentenced
to be hanged. The case was appealed on
a writ of error to the United States su-
preme court, which finally decided against
the murderers. Pending the hearing in the
supreme court. Alarid and Valencia con-
fessed.
February 49, but President Cleveland grant
ed a respite for thirty days. Then Presi-
dent Mckinley granted a further respite
until to-day. Yesterday he refused to in
terfere further and SO telegraphed to Gov
ernor Thornton.
Yesterday afternoon the relatives Of the
doomed men were admitted for last inter-
views and all broke down for time, but
regained their coolness during the night.
Frank BorregO told his wife that he had
made peace with his God and all mankind
and was prepared to die with his lips seal
ed as to all ne knew of the crime. He had
prepared written statement to be read
from the scaffOld, but decided to destroy
it, as it's contents referred to men more or
less prominent in public life and he did not
wish to leave the 800 kinSmen of himself
and associates any preteXt for reSortinS to
vengeance in future upon those he would
necessarily have to name. Borrego also
directed his wife as to the care of his body
and that of his brother, Antonio, and his
kinsman, Lauriano Alarid. He said they
side. till Sunday morning, when they must
be buried In the clothing in which they
We're hanged and in the collins furnished by
the county.
Numerous plots for the rescue of the
prisoners were thwarted by the vigilance
OF the territorial authorities, and a mil
ltary guard was stationed at the jail for
some time under orders from Governor
Thornton.