Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1907-07-27
WILL TRY Al
LEGGED ASSASSIN
Domingo Wales to
Answer For Brutal
Murder
VICTIM WAS COL. CHAVEs
Trial Comes Up at Esta ncia
Next Week.. Gap" Clark,
Also to Be Tried.

Two murder cases, which have been
pending for about two years in the
district court of Torrance County will
come to trial at the adjourned term
at Estancia, Monday, July 80 One is
that of the Territory versus Domingo
Wales and the other the Territory
versus gap Clark
Particular interest centers in the
case against Wales, who is charged
with the murder of Colonel J. Fran
cisco Chaves, who was at the time of
his death Territorial Superintendent
OF Public Instruction, and one of the
best known men in public life in New
Mexico. Colonel Chavez was killed
while eating supper one evening at
the ranch home of a friend near Pinos
Wells. Considerable mystery sur
rounds the tragedy and it was a cold
blooded affair. Wales was arrested
some months later and charged with
the crime. He has been confined for
safe keeping since at the Territorial
penitentiary in this city.
Killed in Cold Blood.
Colonel Chaves, as already stated,
was eating supper when he was as
sassinated by being shot. A rife bull
let which crashed through window
to which he had his back turned ended
his life. Although several persons
were seated at the table with him,
none saw who fired the shot, although
the assassin must have stood close to
the window while taking deliberate
aim. The victim staggered to his feet
with a cry of pain took a few steps
backward and fell dead On the floor.
The deadly missile struck him in the
back and ranged downward. 1t is
thought that it penetrated the heart
or cut q large artery
Immediately after the shooting the
occupants of the house ran outside to
see If they could find the assassin, but
the cowardly slayer had disappeared.
Footprints were discovered on the
ground in proximity to the window
through which the shot was fired and
the tracks of horse were found
within about three hundred yards Of
the house The supposition is that
the murderer escaped on horseback,
having tied his horse at short dis
tance from the house, and skulked the
remainder Of the way on foot.
Wales Arrested on Suspicion.
Wales was suspected of the crime
and arrested. He was bound over to
await the action of the grand jury
without bail, and later an indictment
was returned against him charging
murder in the first degree. Jacobo
Sedllo, who was summoned as wit
ness before the grand jury was also
indicted as an accomplice, because of
statements he had made of an incrim-
mating nature, and he has been in
carcerated since in the county Jail of
Santa Fe County. Sedillo, 1t is be-
lieved, knows more about the killing
than he told the grand jury when ex-
amined. and it is believed that he will
turn states evidence.
Attorney General George w. Prich-
ard will assist District Attorney Frank
w. Clancy in the prosecution, as
Colonel Prichard was attorney gen
eral at the time of the murder and
as he and Colonel Chavez had been
bosom friends for many years The
assassination was committed two
years ago but the case could not be
tried before owing to lack of court
funds.
"Jap" Clark Murder Case.
"Jap" Clark lis under indictment
for the murder of James M. Chase
who was killed April 4, 1905, on the
streets at Torrance. Clark admits hav-
inb shot Chase but claims justifica-
tion in self defense. 1t is said that
there were several eye witnesses who
will corroborate the story of Clark
There had been bad blood between the
two men. Chase was shot twice and
died within few hours. He did not
make any statement concerning the
shooting or the cause that led up to
it SO far as known. 1t was regu.
lars duel on the streets from all ac'
counts and Clark was wounded in
the knee by a bullet from Chases
revolver.
Claims Self Defense.
According to the story OF the affair
as told by the defendant Chase had
threatened to shoot him on sight, and
was in an ugly mood when they met
at Torrance. Clark was then in the
employ of El Captain Land and Cat
tie Company and had been sent to
town to purchase some supplies. The
defendant asserts that Chase drew a
revolver twice before the fatal shoot
ing took place but put It back In his