Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-02-19
GOVERNOR NOT TO INTERFERE
Francisco Gonzales y Borrego, Auto
Mo Gonzales y BorregO, Lauriano
Alarid and PatriciO Valencia
Must Pay the Penalty.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY %, The FATAL DAY
The Governor Says That He Can Not
Consistently Interfere with the
Course of the Law.
FEBRUARY %, The FATAL DAY
EXECUTIVE OFFICE,

Santa Fe, N. M.
In the matter of the application of Fran
cisco Gonzales Borrego, Antonio
Gonzales Borrego, Lauriano Alarid
and Patrcio Valencia, for commute
ton of sentence.
A petition signed by several hundred
persons has been presented to me pray
ing that the sentence of death by hang
ing pronounced against the above named
defendants, for the murder OF Francisco
Chavez be commuted to imprisonment for
life.
This petition is based entirely upon
the plea of mercy. Neither the petition
ers, or the attorney for the defense in his
argument, pretended that there is any
doubt of the guilt of the defendants,
or the justice of the verdict and judge
ment pronounced against them. In fact,
no such plea could be made, as at least
two of the defendants openly acknow-
lodged the guilt of all, and have repeat
eddy detailed the circumstances of the
commission of the crime to the officers
of the law and their friends.
The question then resolves itself into
the plain proposition of the policy of ex-
tending executive clemency, based upon
the plea of mercy to the condemned and
their unhappy and sorely distressed fam
lilies.
In deciding this question l feel that it
is my duty to act simply as the repre-
sentative of the people at large; as an
executive appointed to see that law and
order are enforced; that the peaceful and
law abiding classes are protected from
outrages and crimes of the law breaker
Looking at the question from the
point of view, as to what will be the eff
feet upon society if the Communication Of
sentenced is granted: whether it can be
done without Jury to good government
or would result in encouraging the Grim
inal classes to continue their lawlessnes;
and add to the commission of crime; the
situation becomes grave and serious
one. To determine this, let US briefly
review the case:
The evidence introduced upon the trial
proved beyond question of doubt, tina
nearly two years prior to the killing o
Francisco Chavez, these defendants
entered into conspiracy for that purpose
laying their plans with deliberation
selecting the place where the assassination
should occur, ana eventually changing tn
locality from the court house to the plac
where Chavez was murdered; that they
laid in wait under the bridge near tn
Guadalupe church night after night fol
almost week, waiting for their victim
and finally they shot him dead at nigh
while he was quietly and peaceably return
ing to his home, without warning; giving
him no opportunity to defend himself
! That afterwards, when they were tried
and convicted, they were defended by thu
ablest counsel in the territory: that thu
Judgment of the court wss reviewed b,
the supreme court of the territory ant
affirmed; and that the case was tinall,
carried to the Supreme court of the
United States by writ of habaes corpu
and again reviewed and affirmed. Th
crime was so deliberate, cruel ard cold
blooded, that it excited the attention o
the people of the entire territory and tn
country at large. The trial consumed
nearly four years; was strongly and abl!
contested at every step at cost of muci
labor and large expenditure of money BY
the territory and there is no doubt as tt
UllC CoLICOuhcoo anu JupVuooo VI Uho Lin
determination. It was without doubt
deliberately planned and carefully exc
cuted, cold blooded assassination com
mitted after long and mature deliberation
Uuder these circumstances 80 we'll know
and established, I believe that an,
interference with the decree of the cour
upon my part, would be an abuse o
executive power, that could only result
in public calamity, clog the wheels o
justice and encourage tho commission o
crime.
1t is time that the criminal classes O
this territory should learn that when the,
deliberately defy the law; delberatel,
plan and commit crime, that they mus
expect the law to be melted out to then
to its fullest extent; that they shoul,
expect no more mercy than they EXTENDED
to their victim. When criminals ono
learn that they violate the law at thei
peril that justice will surely overtak,
Them that the majesty of the law cal
and will be upheld and enforced, crm'
will become less frequent, life ant
property will be safer, good order ant
quietude prevail.
For these reasons, decline to interfer
in this case, but shall let justice take its
course. W. T. THORNTON
Governor of New Mexico