The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1901-08-08
MURDER DONE TO
PLEASE A WOMAN.
The Crime that Brought a
Mexican TO Death.
WORD OF MISTRESS WAS LAW.
Juan Rocha Was the Peon OF Guadalupe
Rodriguez.
WORD OF MISTRESS WAS LAW
Juan Rocha Was the Peon of Guadalupe
Rodriguez.

singer, was ndHGeu mere to'ddy ~
the county Jail.
Rocha : crime il without parallel
in this part of Texas. II offers an
interesting study ia chronology, a
murder by suggestion. Rocha was
a tool in the hands Of petty wO-
man, who had become tired Of her
husband. and was anxious TO be rid
of him, even if murder had TO be com
mitted.
This phase OF the crime was used
in an effort to induce Gov. Savers to
commute ROcha ; sentence to life inn
prisonment, the punishment that
was meted out to the woman, but
the governor declined to entertain it,
holding that while Rocha may have
been under the domination of Mrs
Grimsinger, he knew that he was do
ing wrong.
John frimsinger was a bartender.
He married Guadalupe Rodriguez
the daughter of a well-known and
well-to-do Mexican family. They had
one child. a daughter, ) years old.
The marriage was not a happy one
and it's bonds became unbeara BILE to
the passionate and headstrOng wo-
man She determined to be rid of
her husband
Among the possessions which she
took to her new home when she was
married was Juan Rocha, an old
Mexican. He was Il peon i'll all the
word implies, faithful as a dog and
service in his perfect obedience and
devotion to his mistress He had no
grievance against Grimsinger, but
when the wife told him he must put
her husband out of the way the old
peon knew nothing except TO obey
They plotted the murder for two
weeks.
Grimsinger worked at night On
the fatal day he arose and ate his
dinner and then went back to sleep
Ats O'Clock Rosetta, at IA signalfrom
Mrs. Grimsinger. took an ax-handle
and repaired TO the room. Mrs |
Grimsinger continued calmly to pre-
pare supper.
= The old peon with few blows |
crushed the skull of the sleeping man |
He and Mrs. Grimsinger and the lit |
tie girl the last unaware that she
had been SO cruelty orphand, ate the
meal After dark. Rocha carefully |
dressed the body and singing it over
his shoulder carried it out of the
house. He had been told by Mrs
Grimsinger to lay it on the railroad
track nearby, so that train passing
over it would destroy the evidence of
murder. Whether because the body
was too heavy for the old man to
carry SO far, or for what reason is
not known, he dropped it on the
street near the track,
He returned to the house and with
the woman attempted to destroy the
bloody bed clothing. As a last re-
sort they set fire to the house, but
the fire department saved it.
Next morning early Il pedes trian
found Grimsinger's body and gave
the alarm. Rocha and Mrs. Grim
singer were arrested and made partial
confessions, supplemented later by IA
full confession from the old man.
The grand Jury was in session and
they were indicted at once. Their
trials followed soon after. Prejudice
against hanging woman saved Mrs
Grimsinger : neck. Both cases were
appealed and the higher court affirm
ed kOcha ; sentence. Action has not
been taken on the womau's appeal.
Rochas lawyers then appealed to
the governor for a communication of
sentence. representing that the old
man was completely under the power
of the woman, and being peon.
knew nothing but obedience to her
will. \ petition signed by the con
gresham, state senator. representa-
tives, Mayor Hicks and other city
officials and about two score promi-
nent lawyers was sent to the gov
ernor, but without effect. Monday
he declined 70 interfere. declaring
that the crime was a coId-bloodei
murder.
During his confinement Rocha has !
never been heard 10 utter a word Of
complaint against Mrs. Grimsinger.
He went to the -seAows calmly. The
death warrant was read in English