Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-04-12

This is but one of the many false
hoods with which the article in ques-
ton abounds. Its aim is to prejudice
public opinion and to make a political
issue out of a matter at law and to bring
about a commencement of a trial of the
cases in the newspapers. The New
| MEXICAN. however, looks at these cases
from a different standpoint. 1t will
give the facts and nothing but the facts.
Its position in short is this: If there is
sufficient evidence within the judgment
of the committing magistrate to hold
these men upon the charges made
against them they should be held. If a
grand jury indicts them upon the evil
dence brought before such a body they
should be tried before a jury of their
fellow citizens sworn to do their duty.
Politics has nothing to do with cases ut
bar. The New MEXICAN believes that
Colonel Fountain and son were murdered
by a gang of cattle thieves and rustlers,
who feared and hated him. He was the
attorney OF the Southeastern New Mex
leo Cattle association and had been In
strumental in securing indictments
against many men, suspected of cattle
stealing in that region. Several OF them
had been tried and convicted OF such
crimes and sent to the penitentiary
through the work done by Colonel Foun-
tain as the attorney for the cattle asso-
citation named. He was murdered, as
the New MEXICAN believes, partly for
purposes of revenge, partly because his
assassins feared he would succeed in
fastening the crime of cattle stealing
upon them. The New MEXICAN does
not know personally a single one OF the
men accused. They are simply accused.
They are entitled to a fair and impair
tial investigation and the New MEXICAN
is certain, such is being accorded them
in every particular and in every point.
The Albuquerque Democrat is the
Democratic organ of the territory; ii
that party wants to make a political Is
sue out of the foul and cowardly murder
of Albert j. Fountain and his innocent
little son, well and good. The future
will take care of itself.
From the very editorial quoted from
tho Np,u MDvrCAN II apraarS that this
paper in company with the law abiding
and decent citizens of this territory,
wishes to see nothing but strict and
even handed justice done in this matter
If NcNew, Carr, Gilliland and Lee are
innocent such can be easily established.
If Tom Tucker acted in accordance
with law and in the discharge OF his
lawful duty such can be easily shown.
No good citizen, but who believes that
the Judges now upon the bench will act
fairly, impartially and Justly by all men
and will not prostitute their high Of
fees, as it goes without saying and
without successful contradiction, some
Judges and court officials have done
time and time again under the two
Cleveland administrations either for po-
litical reasons Or to satisfy hatred and
luminosity, political or personal.
The editorial in the Democrat viii
swerve no judge and no court otiiciaI
from his sworn duty. The murder Of
Albert j. Fountain and his 1~2-year-olc
son was a most dastardly and fou
crime. 1t is still a great and bloody
blot upon the fair name and fame Of
this territory and cries aloud to heaven
%unavenged. Let strict and Impartial
Justice be done in this as in all other
cases, even handed justice and let the
law be impartially administered. Such
is the determination of the administra'
ton and the good, law abiding and de-
cent citizens of New Mexico, and they
are in a vast majority, will loyalty
strongly and unitedly support this de-
termination and purpose of the admin
istration and will fully and unequivocal
ly approve all lawful, legal, fair ane
inst means to that end.