La Junta tribune. (La Junta, Bent County, Colo.) 1881-1939, 1906-07-07
o..,e County su,a.,.r ,.,sen.s.

den of William Baden, and sentenced
to life Imprisonment, was released
from the penitentiary on Jult 4th
under the terms of unconditional
pardon granted him by Governor
Mcdonald in pursuance of custom
of the chief executive of the state TO
release a prisoner from the peni-
tentlary in commemoration of the
national independence day.
The murder of which Sandoval
was convicted was one of the most
foul ever committed in Otero coun-
ty. The victim was William Baden,
young man about twenty-siX years
of age, who was quite well known in
the Paramount country where he
worked for different farmers. He
was industrious and saved his
money, and just previous to his
murder had been working for VIII
liam Shell. When he quit he had
about 800 and announced that he
was going 10 Mexico. He was put
off a freight train at Timpas and
was around that station all day ex-
hibiting a roll Of money. IL was
supposed he left the same night,
but about a week later his dead
body was fished out of an unused
well. He had been murdered with
an axe and his body thrown in the
well.
Sandoval and Armijo Gurula. two
Mexican section hands, We're arrest
ed, but Margarita Baca, who was
thought TO have been the principal
in the murder. got away. He sub
sequently died in a penitentiary in
New Mexico, and confessed before
his death, that he struck the blow
that killed Baden.
Sandoval and Gurula We're tried in
April, 1900, the most dramatic Incl
dent of the trial being the testimony
of David Houghton. a well known
cattleman, now of Point of Rocks,
Kansas, and well known in La Junta.
Mr.. HouShton speaks the Spanish
language like native, and one week
after the Mexicans were arrested
he spent five hours in the county
Jail at the request of Sheriff Barr.
When placed in the cage Mr.
Houghton announced that he had
been arrested for cattle stealing,
and that Barr had another prisoner.
named Margarita Baca, who had
confessed 10 a murder, and who
would be there shortly. Baca is the
man who was thought to have been
chiefly concerned in the murder,
and which subsequent events proved
to be true. Houghton's statement
Immediately enlisted the attention
of Sandoval and he began To cross
question him. The prisoners had
not the least suspicion that Hough-
ton understood the Spanish
language. and during the five hours
the latter was in Jail, he heard the
men talk Of the murder in Spanish
in way that left no doubt as to
their guilt. Houghton's subsequent
testimony at the trial had a strenu-
Gus and visible effect upon both
prisoners, they being simply dumb
founded by the revelations made by
the witness.
The jury agreed upon verdict in
three hours, Sandoval being found
guilty Of murder in the first degree
and being sentenced for life.
Gurula was acquitted, he evident
ly having had only guilty knowledge
Of the murder. Shortly after the ver-
diet was rendered Sandoval confess
ed to Interpreter Pete Dice that he
and Margarita Baca murdered Ba-
den, the first blow being struck by
Baca, which apparently killed Ba-
den. The body was then carried to
the well where Sandoval says Baden
revived and made . struggle for his
life. and that he finished him."
On what ground the Board Of
Pardons released Julian Sandoval
from the penitentiary is not known.
There is not question Of his being
equally guilty with MarRarita Bsca
Of the murder. in fact he admitted
as much himself few minutes after
the jury brought in a verdict. 1t is
said that Judge voorhees,, who SEN
fenced Sandoval, recently wrote to
the governor that he would not op-