Santa Fe daily New Mexican., 1897-11-01
Her LIFE WORTH $4,000
Jose Sanchez Held by COrOuer's Jury
for Murder of His Wife-Makes q
Second Statement.
REVOLVER FIRED At CLOSE RANGE
Insurance Policies on Mrs. Sanchez
Thought by Detectives Motive for
Crime-Frank x Vigil in Dem
yer to Aid Accused.

Denver, Colo, Nov. 1.-Jose Sanchez,
son of Sheriff Jesus H. Sanchez of valen-
cia county, N. NJ, was held for the mur-
der of his wife by the ooroner's jury to.
day. Later, he retracted his former story
that his wife was shot in bed Saturday
morning by man who entered their
room in the Colorado house, and con-
fessed that he shot his wife, but said it
was accidental.
He said he dreamed or imagined that a
man had entered the room, who held him
up on the street the night before, taken
$5 from him and threatened to kill him
if he reported the matter to the police.
He jumped up, he said, and sat down on
the side of the bed with revolver across
his lap, and it accidently went off, shoot
ing his wife in the head. Then he fired
another shot in the direction of the door.
Sanchez said he then went to the room of
his friend, "Mexican Pete" Everett, q
prize fighter, and told him what had hap
pened. "Mexioan Pete," he said, advised
but to say that somebody had entered the
room and shot Mrs. Sanchez. Mexican
Pete' was arrested after Sanchez made
the second statement. He denies that he
told Sanchez to conceal the truth.
Sanchez second statement is declared
by the police to be even weaker than the
first. The position of the wound in Mrs.
Sanchez head shows that it must have
been caused by shot fired at close
range, by some one holding revolver over
her head. To account for the fact that
he had most of his clothing on, Sanchez
said it was his custom to sleep in his shirt
and trousers. Sheriff Sanchez is i'll at
Los Lunas, N. M, and has sent his under
sheriff, Frank X. Vigil, to look after his
sons interests. Vigil was not permitted
to see young Sanchez today, until his
confession had been recorded and signed
by him. With Vigil is Augustus O'Br1en,
of Santa Fe.
The suspicion that Sanchez tried to
poison his wife before the shooting,
proved unfounded. An autopsy showed
the woman had not been poisoned.
MOTIVE FOR THE CRIME.
The detectives have discovered strong
motive for the crime with which they
charge Sanchez. The young wife's life
was worth $1,000.
The insurance policies which became
payable at her death we're issued as fol
lows: September 30, in the Aetna of
Hartford, two policies payable to Sanchez;
October 20, two policies in the Bankers
Life, OF Denver, one for $4,000, the other
for 81, 900, payable to Sanchez; October
%, in the Security Trust & Life, of Phila
delphia, $4,000, payable to Mrs. Sanchez
executors or assignees. On this policy
Sanchez has receipt dated Tuesday last
for $45, part payment on the premium,
which, according to the policy, is not due
until November J..
The detectives have. not failed to note
the fact that the policies on Sanchez life
we're issued before those on his wife.
August 30, he took out policy to in
sure himself in the sum of $4,000 in the
Germania Life of New York. On Sep
tember 28, he insured his life in the sum
of $4,000 in the Preferred Accident of
New York. In this policy he gives his
occupation as that of travelling salesman.
1t ls peculiar fact, say the police, that
this policy insures Sanchez for only one
year, whereas all the other policies are
written to be payable at any time, pro-
vided the premiums are paid up.
The scandal which followed the at.
tempted shooting of Miss Virginia Otero
de Chaves at Peralta was keenly felt by
the Sanchez family. The father, how
ever, bravely defended his son. letter
from Sheriff Sanchez received by the
young man since be left home informed
him that he should remain away for some
time and conduct himself Alright. When
he lived at home Sanchez was known as a
foolhardy youth, it is said, and delighted
in the sports of the Mexicans, chicken
fighting in particular. He was employed
as Office deputy under his father.