Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1899-06-14
w. II. CHILDERs TALKS.


hoods In the Fountain Case.
T. b. Catron and W. b. Childsrs. the
two lawyers who assisted District Attor-
ney Barnes In the prosecution OF Lee and
Gilliland, at the trial In Hillsboro for the
alleged murder Of Henry Fountain.
came up from the south last night, Mr..
Catron containing on to Santa Fe.
Nj. Childsrs was seen by representa-
tive Of The CITIZEN this morning and
asked concerning the speci6 misrspre-
sentstions In the reports Of the trial sent
out by the Associated Press and by spe-
cial correspondents Of other newspapers,
which induced the prosecuting attorneys
to Join In signing the card, published In
the New Mexico daily papers. TO the
effect that the reports were untrue.
In reply Mr.. Childers said: III ! had
the stenographer's notes Of the trial l
could show you specific instances where
every one Of the daily reports sent out
varied from the facts. To cite few Of
the more notorious misreprssentsti stions,
there was the statement that Major
Llewellyn In his testimony had said that
StenOgrspher Hollis notes Of the pre-
liminary hearing were incorrect. when
he said nothing that could by any pos
sible strained construction be tortured to
warrant such conclusion; the assertion
that Meadows. one OF the principal wit
nesses. was formerly member Of BILLY
the Kids" gang, when the only time he
ever met that desperate WAS on an occs.
sion when he went fishing with him and
some other men; and the almost totally
false account OF DR.. Francis Crosson's OK.
pert testimony.
Furthermore we objected to the SEN
sational reports sent out TO the effect that
hostile bands Of armed men were marsh
ing the streets OF Hillsboro. and that
there was almost mo ,nentary danger of a
bloody outbreak; that In anticipation Of
such trouble large number OF special
deputies had been sworn In. This report
was untrue and was q reflection on the
territory for the reason that 1t gave her
an unenvlabls reputation In the eyes OF
the world, similar to that enjoyed by
Kentucky. on account Of the threatening
attitude assumed by opposing factions a,
recent murder trial In that state.
doubt II there was single man In Hills.
boro who came armed into the court room
or walked the streets carrying his flre
arms. do not doubt that every mar
who attended the trial brought hts gun
with him, but left 1t la his room.
Everybody knew that in the event OF
acquittsl there would be no outbreak
and as the friends OF Lee and GillilsnC
were confident from the start that the,
would be acquitted. there was absolutely
no ground for the belief that there would
be serious trouble.
Another Misrepresentation. in itself
OF no moment, was the statement that
the women OF Hillsb0ro presented the De
PENDANTS with flowers. The only founda
ti0n for this pretty story was the fact
that q daughter OF A. h. Fall gave eaci
OF them a bouquet.
II realize rs strongly as any one thai
the Associated Press aims to furnish
truthful reports. but the association WA,
certainly unfortunate In the selection OF
a man to cover the Fountain trial.
telegraphed Melville X. Stone In regard
to the actions OF his representative. and
he telegraphed back for particulars.
shall write him u letter explaining thu
matter fully. He, OF course, labored un
der the difficulty that he was unable tC
appreciate the discrepancies because h,
did not have copy OF the official anC
correct report OF the evidence will
which to compare the Associated Pres
reports
Lee ana Gilliland will next be tried IL
Silver City for the murder OF Deput,
Sheriff kearney. Ths court meets ii
september.
The contempt with which John Ne
Cutcheon IL charged ia based Oh the fac
that before the jury panel had bsen com
pleted he distributed numerous copies o
his paper the III Psso Graphic, whicl
contained an article charging, amOni
other things. that the prosecution OF LIE
and Gilliland was conspiracy.