Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1907-05-13
Admitted d Killing
Madril Before Be-
ing Sentenced
BOTH TO HANG JUNE !
Prisoners Displayed No Emo.
ton When Told They
Must Die.
Special to the New Mexican.

I1lllSUOlOJ 4S. N'y Ah<ty 40 ON~ ~
the most important criminal trials
ever tried in New Mexico ended here
last week when the death sentence
was passed by Judge Frank w. Park
er, upon Mrs. Valentino Madrid and
Alma Lyons, convicted by jury OF
the murder of Manuel Madrid by ad-
ministering rat poison. That the case
was an important one and that great
interest was manifested in it's out
come was evidenced by the large
crowds that thronged the court room
from the time it was definitely known
it would be tried.
The Territory was ably represented
by H. A. Wolford, the district attor-
ney, who was assisted in most ex-
cellent manner by Elfego Baca, Albu-
querque attorney, who has within the
last few years gained a wide reputa-
ton as a criminal lawyer, especially
as a prosecutor The defendants were
represented by Major James r. Wad-
dill, of Deming, who was appointed
by the court to conduct the defense
and who did everything in his power
for his clients. However, his
eloquent argument in behalf OF his
clients was smashed into smithereens
by the forceable arraignment OF
facts presented by Attorney Elfego
Baca who closed for the prosecution.
The jury was out just one hour and
three quarters and returned a verdict
of guilty in the first degree as cnarg-
ed. The defendants withstood the
ordeal with as much fortitude as has
ever been evidenced in a court of jus.
tice; the verdict never shook either
one of them and the imposing o!
the death sentence was accepted in
the same stole manner which they ex-
hibited throughout the trial. Neither
of the defendants denied the part tax
en- by them in the horrible crime.
Manuel Madrid, the deceased, was
a we'll known and highly respected
citizen of the community.
The other defendant, Francisco
Baca, has been ordered to the peni-
tentiary at Santa Fe for safe keeping
as his trial will not come up until
the September term Of court.
Mrs. Madrid Makes Statement.
Before the passing of the death
sentence on the defendants, Judge
Parker gave each an opportunity 10
explain why sentence should not pc
passed upon them. In connection
with this the court said:
"You have been tried and convicted
Of murder in the first degree. What
have YOU now to say to the court II
anything why the judgment and SEN
tence of the court should not be
passed upon you?"
Mrs. Madrid replied:
'T have only to say here in the pres
ence of God that neither ! or this girl
can be punished because this felony
was committed, but it was not done
because we got it out OF our minds,
neither have | this knowledge in my
mind to do this. If I had done this
out of my own mind I would not be
here Neither would have been at
his sickness as | was, as most OF the
people over this town saw and one of
her brothers also. | did not separate
from his bedside one moment. have
also to say something else. That
those words that Mr.. Julian Chavez
said yesterday that we went to the
graveyard on this day that he took
this matter, it is not true because I
have a witness that saw him in the
house; we were playing, myself, that
witness, this girl and himself playing
there, and if you wish can bring that
witness that | or no one went to the
graveyard, neither |, this girl or him.
self, 1 show that witness up if you
wish"
The court:
"Am to understand from what you
say that you deny that you admins.
tered this poison?"
Admitted Administering Poison.
The prisoner:
II do not deny having given it but
was not made up in my own mind. It
was meanness that was injected into
my mind. have not this way of
thinking of such grave felony as this.
If no one had been advising me moth
ing would have happened.
The court:
who advised you to do it?"
"Mr. Francisco Baca. That is the
gentleman | would never have
thought such thing In my life II this
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