Arizona republican., 1907-11-08
WHATEVER HE DID
 HE STOLE NO CHILD
The Discharge of Leonitas Vega Yes terday-The Conviction of Arnold Green for Burglary.

The case of the territory against Leonitas Vega, indicted for child stealing came suddenly to an end in district court yesterday and the de- fendant was discharged Late last summer Vega was arrested for running away from his home with his wife's young sister, Amelia Lopez. The cou- pie made their way into the Buckeye country where Vega introduced the girl as his wife. He was arrested there and the girl was brought back with him and restored to her relatives. There were two other charges which might have been made against him. but the one on which the territory thought it could best proceed was that of child stealing and Vega was held 10 the grand jury and indicted.
 Yesterday at noon after the territory had put in all the facts regarding the running away of Vega and the capture of him and the girl Attorney Richard son for the defense moved for the dis charge of the defendant on the ground that the evidence did not show that crime had been committed.
 The defendant had been charged with stealing child. The attorney proceeded upon the theory that noth- ing could be stolen unless it had an owner. In this case the girl who was sixteen years of age had neither par ent nor guardian. She had for long time been living at the house of the defendant and had been supported by him. It was the contention of the territory that the girls married sister. the wife of the defendant stood toward her as a guardian but the defense con- tended that in no way was she the guardian an,' more than the husband was.
 The argument of the motion occu- pied the greater part of the afternoon and while it was in progress the jury was excused. At the conclusion of 1t the jury was recalled and was in structed by the court to find a verdict of not guilty. Within ten minutes a complaint had been sworn out by the defendants wife against him charg- ing him with violating the Edmund's act. He was taken before United States Commissioner Johnstone who held him in the sum of $50 for prelim- irary examination. He will probably be brought in for arraignment today. The time of the preliminary examina- tion will depend upon the return of United States Attorney Alexander to the cit.. Botfi he and his assistant are now in Tucson attending United States court.
 After this disposition of the Vega case in district court. the business of jury for the Sanchez mur- der trial was begun.
 In the case of Paul Sanez. the In- dian convicted the day before for com- mitting an aggravated assault upon Mrs. Liliie June O: Mesa. motion for a new trial was filed. The defense asked time to prepare for the argu- ment of it and that was granted. The time for passing sentence was post poned
 The jury in the case of Arnold Green on trial for -participation in the-Con- nell burglary brought in a verdict of guilty. This case had been completed to the argument period the night before. As soon as the oratory was con Cluded the jury took it in charge and reached q conclusion on the first bal lot '
 The defendant was led down stairs swearing and gnashing his teeth NOW, he said, 'I guess you damn fools are satisfied"
 Henry Lawson, who had pleaded not guilty to the charge of burglary, withdrew his plea and pleaded guiSy Time for sentenced was waived and he was given one year in the peniten- tiary, his service to date from July F of this year. The lightness of his sen tence is attributable to his services to the territory in the case of Green. Walter Scott, the partner of Green who had had the same opportunity to secure leniency and rejected it, was given eighteen months in Yuma.