Albuquerque weekly citizen. (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1891-19??, 1903-05-02
Contributes by ~
Old vyrver

upon mis- own son VINO had been con
victed OF murder. The friends OF the
son were numerous. and as is charac
teristiD ~ the people Of that nation
sympathetic Particularly so with the
unfortunate and who is more unfor
tunate than the poor devil who can see
his immediate finish in a manner H.
nominious and violent The neighbors
81 the Lynch boy massed for his res.
cue with the intention OF aiding him
20 fore gn terrestrial post. rather than
20 celestial one knowledge OF this
COMA. SOB his father he being beyond
doubt a righteous upholder as well
as an eNpounder NJ the law had his
.'n brought home and saw that he
vas properly executed by hanging him
tom a window of his own castle
We are also told that Lynch law Is
col American origin: that in the early
GAYS OF our history there lived in the
fontier ot our colonies in Virginia a
most upright man named Lynch. to
whom. because Of the distance to
courts OF law. was referred the settle.
ment Of all disputes and questions OF
followed by immediate execution. In
the one case we have the properly con
st.tuted court putting aside the law
and a. a civilian enforcing 1t. In the
other, the civilian 10y common consent
assuming judicial functions. and his
judgments enforced by the people
Whether the name Lynch law orig
mated 377 years AK in Ireland. or 11S
years ago In this country II Is true
that man has been subject to violent
death al the hands OF a mob OF his fel.
low man since the time OF Christ to
the present
In the history Of Albuquerque from
its foundation twenty-three years ago,
there has been but two lynchings. one
in triplicate and one single. but both
In punishment for the one crime How
IL becomes known 10 a body OF men
that they are about 10 come together
81 certain time. and within a limited
time, for purposes Of their own. can
only be coniectured. All seem TO know
af IL. none speak of 1t. yet at that ap-
pointed time and without variance
OF ten minutes between the first ARR.
val and the last. eighty men were with
in the enclosure OF an adobe corral on
Main street IN Old Albuquerque on the
night OF January 81. 1881. Few words
were spoken and those by but one.
a column OF twos soon formed itself.
and light stepping march was being
taken along Railroad avenue. passing
81 al a..
the old town jail This was an adobe
building with massive porches In front
and formed three sides OF square
Upon the east large single room
with grated inside ami solid outside
doors this the jail proper Upon the
south was a court room and upon the
west living room Of the jailor and
his family
Four men AT the jailor's door when
he appeared in response 10 a knock
asked for the keys and went inside
while procuring them. Leaving a
guard they crossed the square. opened
the Jail and entered to return In mo.
ment leading az the end OF a rope.
with moose around his neck. Califor-
mia Joe Placed between two pillars
Of the porch he was questioned as TO
his knowledge Of the murder OF Col
Onel Potter. He knew nothing the
other men did Il. His rope was thrown
over the porch rafter and Joe wilted
going 10 the ground In heap 4 sec.
ond visit 10 the Jail room and Miguel
Herrera appeared, he being placed be.
tween adjoining pillars. and repl ling
20 questions confessed his presence at
the murder. but that Marine Leiba
had committed t. Again to the Jail
snd Escolasto Perea was between ad.
Joining pillars and answering ques-
tions Yes they all fred at Pottef.
but Leiba killed him. California Joe
was not there but he furnished the
guns for all hut Leiba. Yes. they tried
Ia burn the body Of the dead man.
and afterwards buried H. Over the
porch rafter the ropes had been placed
and at the word all three were sus-
pended, Joe from his collapsed posi-
ton on the ground and the others
from standing positions. Ropes ends
were made secure 10 the pillars and
three humans were suffering the judg.
ment Of the Lynch court The bodies
swayed slightly. but without any re-
rulsiye or convuis've movements.
There was no contortion OF the face;
no ecidences Of pain or horror. After
A few moments suspension there com.
menced a contraction OF the muscles
of the arms and legs. The forearms
were gradually raised until the cross.
cd hands reached the height OF the
shoulders The legs were simultan-
eously drawn mp until they were as
completely doubled as possible. Then
came as gradual relaxation. until
the bodies hung limp. These move
ments lasted possibly two minutes
There were no grasplngs nor gasping
The eyes remained open the mouth
closed and the face retained It's llfellke
expression.
So passed three OF the Potter muir.
derers. They had had three months
freedom. and would have taken more