Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1902-04-14
COURT Ar CARLSBAD.
One Murder Case Is Disposed Of and another Is On
Trial

: Special Correspondence New Mexican:
Carlsbad April II, 1902.
The spring term of court for Eddy
county is nearing the end of it's two
weeks term. Fair progress has beer
made. Some delay was occasioned al
the inception by difficulty encountered
in completing the jury panels, but after
these were filled business progressed
with reasonable celerity.
One of the noteworthy cases was dis
posed of last night, the jury about
nine o'clock returning a verdict of mot
guilty. in the case of the Territory vs.
James Manning. Manning was
charged with killing Walter Meeks at
the "S4" ranch in January. 1901 by cut
ting him with a knife. The men were
engaged in building a tank, had some
words, and in the difficulty which en-
sued, Meeks was killed. The defendant
claimed self defense, and after one Of
the eye witnesses to the killing, called
on behalf of the territory, testified that
ming and srucl1 him the first blow on
the head and shoulder with nattock,
there was but little doubt as to
what the verdict would be. Colonel
Prichard ably represented the territory,
but the weight Of evidence was against
him, the defense making out the
stronger case. Gatewood and Bateman
represented Manning. The verdict is
very generally approved.
A jury was secured today in the case
of the Territory VS.. Eli Foster, Luther
Foster and Elder Miller, charged with |
killing Church Wilburn, in the Hope |
settlement in June, 1900. The prose- |
cutting witnesses are the members of |
the Wilburn family, and the case par
takes in it's nature of q family or fac |
tional feud. The sympathies of the set |
tlement are quite generally divided be-
tween the several parties, and the
trial of the case will doubtless invoke |
some bitterness. Freeman and Gamer !
on appear for the defendants. 1t is |
hoped that 1t will be possible to con-
clude the trial by Saturday night but if
not, court will go into next week a
sufficient length to permit of conclu-
sion. All the jurors save those on this
case have been discharged for the term.
In recognition of the presence of the
court party in Carlsbad, an informal
was rendered Judge and Mrs.
Mcmillan at the Union Club rooms last
evening" Between eighty and one hun
dred citizens and ladies We're present to
pay their respects. 1t was a very rep
social assembly, and the
Judge and Mrs. Mcmillan We're made
to feel that Carlsbad and it's people
We're glad of the opportunity to accord
the hearty welcome and appreciative
The press Of business and prepara-
lion for the trial in progress today,
made it impossible for Colonel Prichard
to be present, fact which was gener-
ally regretted
There has been a fairly good clear
ing of the docket this term, and while
t had been hoped that when the court
.erm was ended a clean docket entire
would have been presented, yet there Is
luite general satisfaction over the
work accomplished and full disposition
o give the court every credit for the
business transacted.
Judge Mcmillan goes from here to
where he will remain several
lays hearing such cases as do not re-
luire a jury the smallness. of the
'ourt fund in Chaves county making
t impossible to hold regular term
here. From Roswell the Judge goes
o Lincoln for a session Of two weeks.