Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1907-02-11
HID THEMSELVES
IN MANURE CART
How Two Convicts
Escaped From
Penitentiary
WERE QUICKLY CAPTURED

Jose S. Baca and Pedro NAL
donado Run Down By Posse
After Short Liberty.
Jose S. Baca and Pedro Maldonado,
the two convicts who escaped Satur-
day afternoon from the Territorial
penitentiary, were recaptured later in
the evening in the vicinity of Sun
mount Tent City. They were run
down by the posse that started in pur-
suit, and offered no resistance when
confronted by the officers, although
one of them did not stop running un-
til several bullets went whizzing past
him. They gained the outside Of the
prison by concealing themselves in a
wagon load of manure.
Hid In Bushes In Arroyo.
Baca and a.aldonado were missed
within five or ten minutes after they
had disappeared from the peniten-
tiary. They were caught as they were
making their way toward the Santa Fe
mountains. When they saw their
pursuers bearing down upon them
they realized that they would soon be
overtaken and hid themselves in
bushes. The prison bloodhounds were
unleashed but the fugtives were once
more in captivity before the dogs ar
rived upon the scene.
AS soon as it became known that
the convicts had eluded the guards an
alarm was sounded and a searching
party was at once organized headed
by Superintendent Arthur Trelford.
The Territorial Mounted Police head
quarters were notified in a telephone
message. Officer John w. Collier who
is on duty at the Office in the absence
of Captain Fred Fornoff and Terri
torial Game Warden w. e. Griffin
Joined the posse and Sheriff Charles
C. Closson followed later with the
pack of blood hounds kept at the
prison for trailing escaped conyicts.
Baca Would Not Stop Until Bullets
Whizzed After Him. =
Baca and Maldonado were discover
ed in an arroyo close to Sunmount
Tent City. Maldonado came out from
his place of concealment in the bush.
es alongside and gave himself up with.
out further adieu. Baca was deter
mined to make another try for lib.
erty, however, and took to his heels
when he saw their hiding place was
discovered Failing to heed the com.
mand to halt one of the pursuers fired
at the fleeing figure to frighten aim
but Baca did not stop until the bull
lets whistled close to his anatomy. He
then considered 1T the better part OF
discretion to surrender and jerked up
both arms as a signal of submission
Baca is regarded by the prison Off
cials as desperate character and Is
now serving his fifth term at the
penitentary. tHis criminal record
is a long one and he has been In the
penitentary almost continuously fol
the past eighteen years. Horse
stealing appears to be his specia
| forte He was convicted for this Of
Tense several times and it was fol
stealing a horse that he is now serv
ing five years term in the pen.
Baca Has Record as Criminal.
Baca entered upon his fifth term al
the penitentiary about two months
ago. While awaiting trial in the Ber
nalillo County Jail he managed tc
escape from there and was at large
for some time until finally recapture6
by officer Rafael Gomez Of the Ter
ritorial Mounted Police. Gomez was
forced to use extreme caution in trail
| Ing Baca on account of the latter's
threat that he would not be taken
alive. Gomez employed strategy In
effecting the capture and secured the
drop on Baca before he recovered
| from his surprise.
Baca was recaptured in the Man
zano Mountains after breaking out oi
the Bernalillo County jail. Gomez
caught sight of his man without be
ing seen himself and concealed him
self in the bed of freighter's wagon
He ordered the freighter to drive
past Baca and when the wagon came
within easy range of the fugitive
Gomez jumped up and covered tn
surprised desperate with his rife.
Maldmado is also a five years mai
at the penitentiary, having been sen
fenced on a charge Of sheep stealing
He was tried and found guilty In th'
district court Of Union County.
No trace has as yet been found o
Gabriel Romero and Juan Martinez
the two convicts who escaped from thu
claypit east of the city week agt
Friday, although officers of the Ter
ritorial Mounted Police are securing
the country for the fugitives.