Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1906-09-05
ABBOTT'S HEAD
GOES IN BASKET
Resigned as District
Attorney By
Request.
G0R7NER FILLS VACANCY
Mail Too Slow for Executive
4 New Prosecuting Of
ficial "Muy Pronto".

LaJe yesterday dlleTlooH IL was ie'
ported about the city that Governor
Hagerman had telegraphed District
Attorney E. c. Abbott who is at Sea-
girt, New Jersey, requesting his resig.
nation as Territorial prosecuting Off
cial for the counties of Santa Fe and
Taos and that Mr.. Abbott had COM
piled with the Governors telegraphic
request also by wire. 1t was also
stated that the Governor has appoint
ed Robert c. Gortner, of this city, to
fill the vacancy.
Gortner Offered Job Last Monday.
1t seems that the position was Of
fered Mr.. Gortner Monday last and
that he requested day for considera-
tion. Yesterday afternoon the New
Mexican was informed that the Cover
nor and Mr.. Gortner were closeted for
long time, probably two hours, going
over the situation and it is under
stood that an amicable agreement was
arrived at under the terms of which
Mr.. Gortner accepted the office ten
dered him by the Governor. What
occurred at the conference the New
Mexican does not know but report has
1t that the experts report on the finan-
cial condition of the Territorial Peni-
tentiary recently published and its
contents were among the principal
matters of discussion. 1t Is believed
that part of this report will be
brought to the attention of the Ter
ritorial grand jury now in session by
the new district attorney. 1t had been
stated for some time that there were
two candidates for the position, name
ly r. H. Hanna and Charles c. Catron,
Of this city, and that the latter was
supported by Mr.. Gortner for the
place.
Talk Says Abbott Baked.
1t is also talked openly that
Mr.. Abbott had been requested during
his present absence to have Charles
c. Catron act as assistant attorney for
him during the present term of the
district court and that he declined to
do so, but instead appointed his
father, Judge A. j. Abbott, to act for
him. The significance Of the change
is bound to be more and more appar-
ent as time rolls on and as the inves-
legations of the grand jury at this
term of court proceed. This is the
first time in the history CT this Ter.
ritory that a change in district at
torneys has been made by Governor
SO suddenly and during the progress
Of term of court at which the district
attorney in office has much important
business, with which he was familiar
and which he knows all about, to
attend. Mr.. Gortner has held the po
sition before and was succeeded four
years ago by e. G. Abbott therein
The appointment has created lively
speculation and much talk.
This forenoon after 1t became
known that f. c. Abbott had resign
ed as District Attorney for Santa
Fe and Taos Counties, Assistant Dis
trict Attorney A. ]. Abbott declined
to act any longer in that capacity. He
had no objection to answering ques
tions by the grand jury or giving thai
body any information it desired, but
declined to sign any official papers
as district attorney. AS Mr.. Gortnel
had not yet received his commission
and, therefore, could not qualify, the
Territory was not represented at to
days session of the district court.
An Albuquerque special states tha
Governor Hagerman stated there las
night and this morning that he hat
received the telegraphic resignation
of E. G. Abbott, had accepted 1t ant
had appointed Robert G. Gortner hi!
successor. Inquiry at the office o
the Secretary of the Territory showed
that up to noon today no official or
der or appointment had been filed b!
the Governor in that office.