Daily Arizona silver belt., 1908-12-02
FOUR PERJURERS 0N WAY ID PEN
RESULT OF A CONSPIRACY AT PHOENIX TO RUIN A YOUNG MEXICAN GIRL WHO HAD BEEN OUTRAGED BY YOUNG MAN.

PHOENlA, Dec. 1.--SOmethlng took ! place in Justice Johnstone s court last week which will go great way toward breaking up practice which has been in vogue for years among a certain class of Mexican young men, Chat of procur- ing the ruin of young girls and then treating the matter lightly. When brought into court they usually have brought several young men with them to perjure themselves by swearing that to their own knowledge and in their own experience the girl was of bad character. That move was always made to serve as reason why the defendant should not be compelled to marry the victim.
 Jesus Quintenares was arraigned be- fore Justice Johnstone charged with constructive rape, the victim being Cruz Lastro under the age of consent. Quin- tenares made the mistake of confound- ing this proceeding with an ordinary action for seduction and he had with him four young men, Ray Espinosa, Joe | Bain, Crisanta Villanueava and Ramon Casas all of whom testified with many smirks and much nudging of each other that they had all mistreated the girl who was asked by the court after the testimony of each if that was so. She denied it vigorously, saying that she had been led astray only by Quintenares and that under promise of marriage.
 When Quintenares took the stand he wore an air of assurance. indicating that his victory was already won and he began with statement to the court that the court itself could see that it was impossible to marry girl of such reputation.
 "Who's talking about marriage' asked the court; "that subject has not been thought of and you are the first one to mention it. You are not asked to marry this girl That is not what this proceeding is held for" The court then told Quintenares that he might testify under oath or he might make a statement without oath and he warned him that whatever he might say would be used against him.
 Quintenares then proceeded boastful. ly to describe his relations with the girl, for he had not yet come to under. stand the nature of the action against him. When he had finished the court committed him to the county jail to await the action of the grand jury Quintenares was dumbfounded, but his witnesses found enjoyment in his un. expected predicament and continued to nudge each other, laugh and leer at the girl.
 The court then turned to them and told Constable Murphy to take them to jail also to await the action of the grand jury on a similar charge based on their own voluntary and boastful confessions. It was a surprised and sor ry looking quartette that the constable escorted across the street and locked up.
 They immediately applied to him foi advice as to the way to get out of il and he told them that he knew of nc way. They suggested marriage to tho girl, all five wanting to apply for Ii censes at once. Quintenares urged his superior claim, but it was. not admitted by the others until the constable told them that if. anybody was to marry, il should be Quintenares. They sent back word to the court that they were ready to marry if five brides could be provid ed for them. They seemed to regard matrimony as an expiation They arc ,still in jail and there is belief that they ought to be sent to the peniten tiary.