Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-03-27
INTERESTING TRIAL
1t Ends In the Acquittal Of Frank
B. Coe Of the Charge Of
Murder.
A LINCOLN COUNTY ROMANCE
An Attempted Elopement Ends In Death
The Girls Father Placed On Trial for
the Murder Of Her Youth
full Lover.

Frank B. Coe was acquitted at the
district court at Roswell Of the charge
of having murdered Irwin Lesnet at the
home Of the accused man on the Ruido-
so river, ten miles south Of Lincoln, on
the night of October 4, 1893, at which
time young Lesnet intended to elope
with Mr.. Goes eldest daughter then 16
years of age.
A YOUTHFUL ROMANCE.
Young Lesnet had been formerly In
the employ Of Coe. breaking horses for
him, and being about the home a great
deal the young people formed an at
tachment for each other which for some
time was unknown to Mr.. and Mrs. Coe.
When 1t became known, Coe discharged
Lesnet and later ordered him never to
show his face again on the ranch. The
young people carried on a clandestine
correspondence for some time, and final
ly agreed to elope. Some days before
the shooting Lesnet gave Ross Coe, the
son of j. N. Coe, one Of Frank B. Goes
brothers. letter at Lincoln. addressed
to the girl. Instead of delivering 1t to
Sidney, Ross gave 1t to her father. who.
on opening 1t, found it contained infor-
nation that Lesnet would meet her on
the night of October 4, at the bridge
across a small canon near the house,
and would take her to Lincoln, where
they would be married.
THE ELOPEMENT FRUSTRATED
Mr.. and Mrs. Coe said nothing to Sid
ney about the matter, and when that
night came sat up until late hour to
see that she should not leave the house.
Coe finally went to bed, and Mrs. Coe
laid down on the sofa in the sitting
room. After some time she arose and
went to her daughters room and dis
covered that she was not there. She at
once woke her husband, and told him
that Sidney had left the house. Coe got
up, and, taking his Winchester, went
out to the stable. and standing the gun
against the wall inside Of the door, un-
tied fine mare he had there and was
bridling her, when he saw his daughter
and Lesnet coming toward the barn
yard, the latter being e. short distance
behind the young girl. 1t was afterward
learned that they were returning for
her saddle.
SHOTS EXCHANGED.
About the time that they reached the
gate in the fence in front OF the barn
Coe called out to them, and Lesnet, who
had a gun, Immediately fired at Coe as
he stood inside the door of the barn.
The latter returned the fire. Lesnet
had just turned after firing, and three
buckshot entered his back. Coe saw him
stagger and apparently endeavor to use
his gun again, and then he fell. In the
meantime the young girl. frightened,
had run around the barn. Coe, fearing
that the young man might be only lying
still to shoot again with better luck did
not go near him. but went round the
barn and found his daughter behind 1t,
crying bitterly. He took her to the
house to her mother. and then went to
the orchard, where Jerry Dalton was
sleeping. and told him what had hap
pened, and asked him to go and see how
badly Lesnet was hurt.
FOUND DEAD.
Dalton went and found the young man
dead. He notified J. N. Coe and several
other neighbors of what had happened,
and some Of them came to the place.
covered the body with a wagon sheet
and sent messenger to Lincoln to notl-
fy the authorities. The coroner's Jury,
which held an inquest the next day.
found Lesnet lying on his back, with
the gun, 3S-caliber Marlin rifle, be-
tween the legs, cooked and cartridge
in the chamber. DR.. E. H. Skpwith
found three buckshot wounds, any OF
which would have been fatal.
JURY DIsAGREEs AT FIRST.
The jury retired at 10 o'clock in the
evening, and on the first ballot stood
nine for acquittal and three for convic-
ton. The second ballot was 10 to 2, and
the third ballot, taken at o'clock In the
morning, resulted In verdict Of mot
guilty" The case was tried at Roswell
before Judge Parker. on change of
venue.