Albuquerque weekly citizen. (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1891-19??, 1903-05-30
JIMMIE LITTLE AND
THE PRiNcELET

or all the railroad boys who we're
running Into Albuquerque In the late
79's and early SOS the most popular
was Jimmie Little. He had worked
his way from water boy on the gravel
train. to conductor on a passenger
train. and was because of his joviailty.
conviviality and gentlemaniy man.
ner and habits favorite with all
classes.
Everybody knew Jimmie Little and
that he was an entertainer, and recog.
nizing his good qualities. Reese and
Loebner induced him to leave the EN-.
ploy OF the railroad and take charge
OF their branch house at Los Lunas
and there Jimmie resided and did
mercantile business until October 8.
1881.
Upon the afternoon Of that day
twig from branch OF one OF the trees
OF Valencia county's royalty was visit.
ing Little's place. playing billiards and
following the customs II his antece.
dents. This little princelet ordered all
things to be his way and all the men
to bend the knee in alteration OF him
and his conduct. Jimmy and the
princelet we're not congenial. To a
man born and reared In the freedom
OF q republic. toadying to mushroom
royalty was repulsive and In one time
ard two motions the princelet was In
the street. his dignity. his raiment and
10 oil ~ lnaa In In
his dignitw the most.
After few moments ordinary quiet
ness prevailed and no thought given
to tragic climax.
On the morning OF October 6. 1880
Little's lead body was found behind
the counter OF his liquor department,
his head resting on a gallon demijohn.
his left arm thrown over the demijohn.
his right arm bent under his body with
a pisrol In his right hand from which
two bullets had been fred. Upon ex-
aiming the body twenty six knife
stabs we're found upon IL.
BY a peculiar coincidence during the
preceding night. Celso Espinoso and
Aristotle Naranjo had been treated for
gun shot wounds. and when this fact
became known their arrest was AFFECT
ed. and In due time the sweat-box pro-
duced the story OF an atrocious muir
der
The two prisoners had gone to Lit
ties place OF business at o'clock
on the evening OF October 5. for the
stated purpose OF purchasing whiskey.
A dispute was entered into. followed
instantly by murderous assault on
the part OF the two Mexicans. each
armed with ko,fe; Little secured his
gun and succeedsd In wounding Espin'
oso In the left shoulder and Naranjo In
the right groin, neither of them suffi'
ciently serious to prevent them cutting
Little nearly into steaks. leaving his
body at the inner end of the counter
agains, the wall to which he was drv'
en- in the fight.
Little's body was brought to Albu-
querque and arrangements made for
his burial on Saturday, October s.
Outside the numerous friends and
general popularity OF Little in our
town, a further bit OF history which
makes his recital OF local interest Is
the circumstances. never before more
than whispered. that on the evening
Of October Z. when the prisoners were
secure In the Valencia county Jail. all
the funeral arrangements completed
twenty-one of his friends had time &c
devote to another. and to them seem
ingly important matter.
At dusk, had one been observant
horseman could now and then be seer
leaving the town and travelling south
A rendezvous bad been arranged. and
from thence, along the easterly banks
OF the Rio Grande squad OF twenty