Red River prospector. (Red River, Taos County, N.M.) 1900-190?, 1903-09-12
Oas Of New MeHicOS Ancient Murder


Sentence Of death, pronounced
by Judge Kirby Benedict upon
Jose Maria Martinez, who was tried
in the District Court of Taos
County, New Mexico at the March
Term 1863. and convicted Of mur-
der, under state of facts showing
great brutality, and with absolutely |
no mitigating circumstances, and
over the sum Of fifty cents.
Judge Benedict was appointed
from Illinois in 1853, and died in
Santa Fe. N. M. in 1875. He was
Chief Justice of the Territorial
Supreme Court and Judge Of the
First Judicial District, Martinez !
was hung IN public at the appoint
ed time, in this town Of Taos Taos |
was ,ane home be Governor Bent
the first Governor of The territory,
and it was in Taos that he was
assassinated in the Pueblo uprising
Of 1S48,
aJddge Benedict said;
close Maria MARTINEZ, stand up
Jose Maria Martinez, you have been
indicted, tried and convicted by a
jury Of your countrymen, Of the
crime of murder, and the Court is
now abont to pass upon you the
dread sentence. of the law As a
usual thing, Jose Maria Martinez,
il is a painful dnty for the Judge of
a Court Of Justice TO pronounce
upon a human being the sentence
of death. There is something hoi-
rible about it. and the mind of the
Court rnsturally trevolts from the
performance Of such duty
j Happily, however, your case is re-
iieved from all such unpleasant
features, and the Court takes posi-
tive delight In sentencing you 20
death. You are a young man, Jose
3 Maria Martinez. apparently o! good
physical constitution and robust
health Ordinarily you might have
looked forward to many years of
; life, and the Court has 20 doubt
/ that you have, and have expected
to die at q green old age. But you
rare about to be cut off in conse-
quence of your own act. Jose
Maria Martinez, it is now the
spring-time. In little while The
i grass will be springing up green II
: all these beautiful valleys and or
these broad nesas and mountarr
e sides. Flowers will be blooming
E birds will be singing their swee
n carols, aud Nature will be putting
on her most gorgeous and attractive
il robes. and life.wlll be pleasant anC
men will want to stay. But non'
r OF this for you, Jose Maria Mar
IS tinez. The flowers will not bloom
! for you, Jose Maria Martinez. tn,
[ birdsrwlll not carol tor yca, Jos,
Maria Martinez. When hes
e things come to gladden. sAse-sense
Of men, you viii be occupying
space of about six py two beneatl
the sod, and the green grass AN
\ these beautfulfowers will be grow
o ing above your lowly head Th'
j sentence Of the Court is that yeI
be taken from this peec to tn
Z county jail; that you be- there KEPT
p safely and securely confined, in til
Is custody Of the Sheriff, until the da.
\ appointed for vour execution; (B
Very careful Mr. Sheriff that h
have no opportunity TO escape, eni
that you have him at the appoiute'
le place at the appointed time)
j that You be SO kept, jose Mari
Martinez, untii--- (Mr Clerk oi
= what day Of the month does Friday
about two weeks from this time
Al come? March 22ua. 4opr Homer
i livery we'll, until Fri,lay che 22n'
day Of March, when yon win 3
4 taken by The Sheriff from you
place Of confinement 70 some saf
J. and convenient spot, within O.
3 countN (rhat is your discretion
Mr. Sheriff soa ARE c'''7 So