Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-04-14
SHERIFF GARRETT SPEAKS.
Shows Up the Falsehoods and Misrepresen'
tations in a Recent Editorial in the
Albuquerque Democrat.

To the Editor Of the Albuquerque Democrat.
Las Cruces, April lO.-In your issue
of yesterday, the 29th inst, appears an
article headed "Strict Justice" in which
appear, to say the least, some very in
accurate statements. However, | desire
to answer only those parts of the article
that regard me. When l was first APP
pointed, l was appointed by Mr.. Ray
mond, who had won the Office of sheriff
in the contest suit against Mr.. Ascarte.
The Republican members of the board
of county commissioners were removed
by Governor Thornton for failure, 1 be-
lieve, to properly qualify, and Mr.. May
and Mr.. Baird were appointed by the gov
ernor to fill the vacancies. l was ap-
pointed by the new board as sheriff to
fill the balance of the term. The Demo-
Gratis nominated Mr.. s. P. Ascarate for
the Office and / ran independent and
was Endorsed by the Republicans. When
l announced my candidacy l a assured the
people of this county that l would put
forth my best efforts, without fear or
favor to any side or faction, to bring the
murderers of Colonel Fountain and his
little son to justice. I have ever been
conscientious in my efforts in this case
and have always said, and now say, that
l want to see the supremacy of the law
upheld and a fair and impartial trial
given the parties arrested in this case.
Furthermore, it has been asserted that
the men arrested, are in danger of mob
violence. All that I have to say Is that
as long as l have them In my charge
there Is no mar nor set of men that can
mob them.
Now as to that part of "Strict JUS
tice" where 1t states that Messrs. Lee
and Gilliland remained here with their
witnesses awaiting Indictment, etc, that
is false. Mr.. J. r. Gilliland is one of
the men charged with the Fountain
murder and he has not been here prior
to or during the present term of court.
His father, Mr.. W. Z. Gilliland, was
here, and 1 arrested him under an in
dict lent for cattle stealing and he gave
bond and went home. AS for MI. Lee,
he left before the grand jury adjourned.
1 think it was on Wednesday. Mr.. Lee,
never, at any time, stated to me that up
on my sending him word or sending some
one after him he would come in. Fur
thermore, it is stated that the grand
jury was adjourned here on April l.,
after being in session for three weeks;
this is not so. Under the law the grand
Jury can remain in session only 10 days
and that was all that this jury was in
session. As to the politics of the mem
bers of the jury, l know only two men
Mr.. Schaublin, Republican, and Mr..
Lopez, Democrat. 1t was personally
lr,n IN %n mo ovid fhipy to ,noct nf tho
court officers that the secrets of the
grand jury were public property. That
is one OF the reasons that the grand jury
| did not investigate this case. The other
reason is that it was not possible for
them to pass on all the testimony of the
territory in this case owing to the limit
ed time they had to hold and on account
of most of the witnesses residing in the
Sacramento mountains about 80 miles
from Las Cruces.
On April 3, / arrested McNew and Carr
on the street here in town and imme-
diately sent out a posse after Lee and
Gilliland, but did not call on the militia
as militiamen, bnt as they had horses
and arms at their immediate disposal
deputized them and sent them out, and
without any imposing parade as stated
In "Strict Justice"
In conclusion, all that 1 have to say
is that l will carry out and uphold the
law-secure these men against all viO-
lence of whatever kind, and If l can, to
run down the murderers Of Colonel
Fountain and his son, and all other
criminals in this county, without favor
to any faction or party, and let the
chips fall where they will.
p. F. GARRETT.