Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-04-02
FOUR MEN EXECUTED
The Murderers Of a Sheriff OF
Santa Fe County, N. NJ,
Expiate Their Grim.
FEW WITNESSES PR lsENT
The Majesty and Dignity Of the
Law Upheld Throughout by
the Santa Fe Sheriff.
FULL ACCOUNTS AT HAND

Special Telegram to the Optic.
SANTA FE, N. NJ, April, 2.--The
Borrego assassins paid the penalty OF
their crime here, this morning. The
drop fell at 9:10 O'Clock. The details
of the execution were carried out with
clock work order and there was no at |
tendant disturbance of any character.
A detail OF forty-five picked men, rep |
resenting the Territorial cavalry and
inis sntry, commanded by Colonel VIM.
Strover, did guard duty under direction
of Sheriff H. G. Kinsell; q guard OF
twenty men watched the Rallows and
iail. all night. The assassins occupied
q stone cell opening into the jail and
were placed within fifty feet Of the can
vas covered scaffold. They slept but
little. last night, partook scantily OF
nourishment and devoted their time to
prayer.
At 8 80 O'Clock, this morning, an
additional detail Of twenty-five military
men marched to the Jail and were as
signed to duty in and about the jail
ward and in the street. A distance OF
100 feet on either side Of the street
entrance to the jail was kept clear OF
all persons save those who held tickets
of admission to the jail yard from the
sheriff. Beyond the two dead lines
thus drawn, guards kept back the
crowd OF 600 or 800 persons who had
gathered in the street.
Rev. Father Fourchegu, vicar general
Of the Catholic church, spent an hour
with the prisoners. At O'clock
sixty five persons were present in the
Jail yard, by the invitation OF Sherih
Kinsell. Professional and leading busi-
ness men and q number of visiting
county officials, including Sheriff Pat
F. Garrett, of Dona Ana county, made
up the crowd of spectators. The sheriff
adjusted the belts and bracelets on the
four men.
At few minutes after 9 O'Clock, the
click of the big iron cell door was
heard, as the guards, rifles In hand
called the spectators to STALL back
twenty feet from the foot OF the gal
lows The funeral procession ap-
peared, moment later, led by Sherlh
Kinsell, who had not slept for hve
nights; by bis side, walking erect, o
smile on his face was Lauriano Alarid /;
lust behind them, Patricio Valencia
who walked alone, with his character
istic shufiing gait, his head down ana
then came the Borrego brothers, look
ing very pale, but bearing determin-
ed expression of countenance, Vicar
General Fourchegu and four deputys
bringing up the rear.
The prisoners walked boldly up the
steps and disappeared from view be-
meath the canvas that covered the up
per half of the scaffold. In two min
utes. the vicar general uttered last
praver and left the scaffold; in two
minutes more, the arms and legs OF the
doomed quartette were pinioned Win
stout cotton cords, the black caps and
hempen nooses were adjusted by the
four deputies, and three seconds later,
Sheriff Kinsell pulled the lever. Inc
drop fell at 9 10 O'Clock. Only Valen
cia's body quivered; the other three
showed absolutely no signs OF life
Their necks were broken and deati
was almost instantaneous. valenci'
died of strangulation. DR.. j. Il. Sioar
held Frank Borrego's wrist, The othel
.physicians were DIR. J. M. Diaz, Or. :
= *. Brady and DR.. j. A. Massey. II
from four to nine and one half minute
their pulses ceased to beat. The phy
sicians noted their pulses for eieve'
minutes. In sixteen minutes, four pin
wood coffins, painted black, wer'
brought in, and at 8 :35 o'clock, Sheri
Kinsell cut down the bodies. Ther
was a scramble for pieces OF tn
ropes.
Al 10 O'Clock, the coffin lids wer
ulaced, the names written in lead per
Gil on the top. and the brothers an
relatives Of the dead men were calle
from the streets to take charge OF To
bodies.
The majesty and dignity OF the la
were upheld, throughout. In such
manner as to entitle Sheriff Kinsel
and his aSslSJAutos ~ vuO ni6 noos SA1-
The four bodies will not be interrt
mill Sunday morning. This is in cor
nliance with their request. The fa'
that the culprits never uttered VOL
from the scaffold, was great surprl
TO everybody.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
SANTA FE, N. M. April 2.-Tl
members of the Borrego, or "buttor
Uang Of assassins, were executed In Y
fail ward here at 9:10 o'clock, u
morning. The jail was under gual
of the Territorial militia, all nigh
and an additional guard was put 9
this morning. There was no d
turbance Of any kind. The convit
spent the night in prayer and at 81
o'clock, walked from their cell aero
the Jail yard and mounted the scaffc
steps without atremor. They made
abatement. Vicar General Fourche
said the last prayer, and in most p
feet and orderly Manners tho fatal or
followed. Only Patricio Valenci'
body showed the least signs OF !
After the drop. He died Of strangu
zion The necks Of the Borre
brothers and Alarid were broken. I
bodies were cut down at q;S5 and
10 O'Clock Were placed IN pine coH
s.d tnrned over to their families,