Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-11-08

Santa Fe, n. NJ, Nov. THE court
must hold that Alarid is guilty of tho
charge made-the proof ~ conclusive
it Is very difficult TO obtain proof as
has been obtained in this case, but il
has been obtained in this case, and the
court for a long time has been anx-
ious, owing to the constant charge
that juries were reached and juries
were fixed, and things of that kind.
and the court never having been able
to reach evidence to that effect as di-
rect as thls-the court has been anX-
ious to reach a case where II could
be shown conclusively that this was
done"
Now, | regard this as having been
shown conelusively and beyond a rea-
sonable doubt, that there was an at
tempt here made by Alarid to inhu-
ence this jury and to get at least two
of these jurors TO obstruct Justice in
the meaning Of the law. l. therefore,
shall hold that Alarid is guilty Of con-
tempt Of court in this case and viii
impose a sentence of 30 days in the
county jail as a punishment for this
offense."
Thus did Judge John r. McFie sum
up the case as II had been presented
to the court this morning, when he
sent Ricardo Alarid to Jail for 80 days
bers of the United States jury which
recently returned into court here an
Indictment against the Phelps-Dodge
company and several New Mexicans
for alleged illegal filing upon coal
lands in san Juan county and thus
did the court administer the severest
blow ever dealt to the gentle art OF
jury fixing as practlced in santa Fe
county. That jury fixing had become
In. kfu
was made perfectly plain by the court
in his reference TO tho frequent ru-
mors OF 1t which had come To the
court and I'm expressing his pleasure
i'm finding case in which this eNl-
dence was plain and unmistakable. II
WIS made as plain as was the TACT
that through the efforts of Assistant
United states Attorney Peyton Cor
don and his assistants, the practice Is
going TO stop.
The finale in the Alarid contemp
proceeding came this morning WITH
dramatic suddeRness and with f. e
that seemed TO tar the attorneys Tor
the defendant. who have mainta 'ed
throughout that Alarid had pui red
himself Of contempt by his sim ple
little denial that he had attempted 10
fix the iury-a statement which u
now seems lays Aiarid open To very
serious indictment on the charge OF
purgery II came with a suddenncss
which even seemed 10 snake Nidilu =
stolid comDosure.
Not only was Alard found guilty
of contempt and sent to Jail for 80
days. but Gregorio Griego, member
Of the grand fury who was discharged
from further duty some time ago nc
cause he was known To have gone ire
quently to the office Of Catron ana
Gortner during the deliberations OF
the Jury and becauc he was beHeNed
to have divulged what was going on
lin the grand jury room. was ilned
5000 on charges similar to those
against Alarid and after Gricgo had
thrown himself on the mercy OF the
court
a week ago an Information was
filed before Judge McFie. supported
BY afndavits by Leo Hersch and
Others. Of Santa Fe. which charged
that Ricardo Alarid had attempted To
fix Jurors and that he had made the
statement that eve had eight OF
them" Immediately there went up a
wall OF protest against the action OF
the special assistant United states at
fornev. who u was said, Was at
tempting to drag reputable citizens
into the mire. who was charged Win
having caused the discharge OF grand
1urnrS without luHA Nhu7f nttN - -
TO force indictments sought oy the
United states. The wall was LOUD ana
persistent. but the representative OF
the government went composediy on
his way Counsel for Alarid. Messrs'
Catron and Gortner. sought to secure
the discharge Of their client from the
contemnt charge after he had nlea
an affidavit In which he denied the
charge. on the ground that Alarid :
simple denial purged him 81 contempt
and thereafter on points Of law. MI.
Gordon. representing the United
States fought this demurrer 10 the
information and was sustained by the
r"uri. who expressed desire To hear
evidence and to learn the facts In the
s--a ~ Gordon introduced his evil
dence, which went far 20 show thai
rita had been actively engaged in
attempting to FIX jurors. The defense
maintained its attitude Of indifference
20 the evidence. resting its case on
legal. technicalities. Yesterday. how
ever. the court expressed a desire for
further Information. and the infOrma-
tion being forthcoming in quantities
attorneys for Alarid decided to intro
duce testimony. Aiarid was placed on
the stand and while admitting certain
paints charged iu the Information, de-