Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1905-09-25
Japanese RidicuIe Report Of Outrages
BUSY 0TER0 COUNTY COURT
New Jury Law Cumbersome and Cost
Iy-Judge Mann Right Man in
Right Place.

Alamogordo, Sept. 24-The fall
term of the district court for Otero
County has closed, after an exceeding
ly busy three weeks session. During
this time the grand jury, which was
in session ten days, returned SO true
bills and eight no true bills. The vio-
lators of the Sunday law came in for
considerable attention from the grand
jury, there being Al bills returned
against those who have failed in the
past to respect these enactments. The
criminal matters have held the major
portion of the attention of the court,
there being three convictions by jury
trials, Charles p. Drake, assault with
intent to kill; Elisha Leslie, larceny
of neat cattle, on change of venue
from Lincoln County; Saturnino Lara.
assault, being armed with deadly
weapon.
Drake and Leslie have received pen
itentiary sentences, there still being
ten indictments hanging over Elisha
Leslie, while Lara paid fine of $50
and costs. Seven pleaded guilty to
the charges preferred against them,
all paying fines; twenty old cases were
nolled by the district attorney; bonds
in four cases were declared forfeited;
there were two hung juries; and in
one case, Pedro Aguilar, for wife beat
ing, the jury returned verdict for
the defendant. Judge Mann passed
upon two insanity matters, committing
both patients, Jose Severa and Joe
Capuano, to the insane asylum at Las
Vegas. Very few civil matters were
up for consideration.
The jury law of the last legislature
proved to be assessed of numerous
short comings. 1t is expensive, cum
bersome, dilatory and wholly unsatis-
factory. 1t is good law on paper, but
in practical application its leading
characteristics tend only to consume
| the court funds and tie up the courts.
In drawing the special venires nece
sary at this term of court, Judge
Mann, in the interest of justice, ruled
that all names SO drawn lived within
ten miles of the county seat Without
this ruling by the court, and strict
following of the provisions OF the
law, the empaneling of the jury for
the first case called on the 18th in
stant would, in all probability, have
consumed the first week Of court, as
the names of the first dozen persons
drawn lived at the extreme limits of
the county.
H. B. Holt, the new district attor-
ney has won golden opinions from the
court and all who have had dealings
with him in his official capacity. A
Igentleman of fine sensibilities, law
yer of learning and far-reaching capa-
Utilities and an official alert and ever
responsive to the responsibilities OF
his position, he has, without exaggera-
!, tion, dispatched more business In
the three weeks of this term Of court
. than others would have done in twice
the time, and done so with infinite
ease and consummate satisfaction to
, the court the litigants and himself.
Judge Mann is holding fast to the
. affection and favor Of all the officers
of the court and the public generally.
His rulings are prompt and just; the
time and funds of the court are con-
served, and all in all he is, in his OFF,
cial capacity, proving more and more
, the man for the place.
Court will open at Santa Rosa on
, Monday, October Q. This session will
probably last two weeks, and every
indication points to busy fortnight.