Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-12-15
COURT IN TAOS
The First Term Held Since the
Year 1896 Resulted Very
Satisfactorily.
MURDERERS ARE CONVICTED
The Grand Jury Recommends That the
Tax Levy for Court Purposes Be Doubled
and Makes Other Suggestions
Of Value.

last week and part of this week was a
model session in many respects, both
for the amount of work accomplished
with a small amount of money, just
81 ,040, and the efficient work of Judge
McFie, District Attorney Gortner and
District Clerk A. M. Bergere. Although
the grand jury was in session only two
and a half days, including half a night,
it considered thirty-one cases, returned
fourteen indictments, and made the
usual Investigations. The petit jury al
so did good work. Four murder cases
were tried, and conviction was secured
in every case, greatly through the earn
est efforts of District Attorney Gortner.
AS an example of Taos county justice,
the case of murder against Eduardo
Duran may be cited. Duran murdered
a man by stabbing him at Arroyo Seco
November IA. He was indicted by the
grand jury, convicted by the petit jury
Of murder in the third degree, sentenced
to ten years by Judge McFie and lodged
in the penitentiary Wednesday by Sher-
if Higenio Romero twenty-five days
after the crime was committed. The
court accomplished work in eight days
that formerly took thirty days, and at
one-third Of the former cost. Undoubt-
eddy the session was one Of the most
successful and economical court ses-
sions ever held at Taos, and, Of course,
the credit belongs to Judge McFie, his
efficient officials and the public-spirited
juries, which We're selected by Jury
Commissioners Juan Nepumecemo Mar
tinez, William Frazer and Lauriano
Mares.
The following is the grand jury re-
port:
We, the grand jury, in and for the
county of Taos, having completed u
labors, beg to report to your honor as
follows: We have been in session for
three days, working solidly the whole
day, and holding night sessions, so as to
complete our" labors in as short a time
as possible, on account of the shortage
of the court fund in this county.
During this time we have examined
into thirty cases, including cases that
were brought before us from the differ
emit justices of the peace Of the county.
We have examined forty-eight wit
nesses, returned into court fourteen
bill was found.
In the limited space of time to which
we were confined we think that, al
though the number of indictments are
many, yet it should not be understood
that this county has more criminality
than other counties Of its size. The fact
that we have had no term of court here
since 1896 Is the only reason why so
p VIZ, ses have been presented to this
-
'. ind this county, as a whole, Is a
quiet, law-abiding one, to which we
draw your honor's attention with pride.
We have followed your honor's instruc-
tions in regard to our personal feeling,
and have indicted no n through mall
ice or petty spite, or ignored any in
dictment through fear or favor. We fur
Their beg to report that the committee
appointed to examine the books Of the
find the bonded indebtedness to be $41,-
500; that there is at present in the inter-
est fund the sum Of $96.S0 in the gener-
al school fund, $736.S9; in the general
county fund, s174.5 6 in the court fund.
81, 089. SO; in the road fund. STA 30; the
Judgment fund is overdrawn the sum
Of 1913; Staab's Judgment fund on
hand, 1854; funds Of the different school
district amount to $3,816.9S. We find the
clerk and treasurer's books kept in a
neat and clean ann and to the credit
Of the officers in charge. We beg to rec
ommend that the levy for court pur-
poses be raised to double the amount 1t
now Is, for the reason that at the pres
emit rate of levy there cannot be possibly
enough raised to hold court in this coun-
ty except every two years, and this Is
the main cause why the amount Of
criminal business accumulates. We
would suggest 5 mills instead of ~
mills. We also recommend hat a spe-
cial levy be made as a court house fund,
so as to have money on hand continual
ly to pay for the necessary repairs, etc,
of the court house.
We further beg to report that we have
investigated the county clerks office
and find that the office is kept in a-busl
nesslike manner We ascertained that
the total amount Of taxes collected in
1899 up to the Goth of November was
So, 9 2.37, of which 49, 200 was licenses and
S., 500 was taxes of 1898, the balance be-
ing delinquent taxes for the years 1891
to 1897 inclusive.
We further desire to report that owing
to the fact that during the past four
years the collector has not been charged
with the total amount Of taxes appear
ing on the tax rolls, as required by law,
and credited with the amounts collected,
1t is, therefore, impossible for US to as
certain in such a limited time the
amount Of delinquent taxes due this
county. We would, however, recon-
mend that the Duncan law in regard to
the delinquent tax question be strictly
enforced as speedily as possible, as the
county cannot meet it's legitimate ex-
penses in the way that taxes have been
collected in the past. We have exam.
ined the Jail and find 1t in good condi.
ton. clean and comfortable as could be
expected. The court house is In need Of
repairs to the chimney, plastering and
painting, and we heartily recommend
that the same be done as speedily as
possible. We also recommend a super
vision by the sheriff of the matter of
gaming tables and the licenses thereof,
to the end that violation of the law in