The new era. (Walden, Colo.) 1906-19??, 1908-12-24
FRANCISCO MARTINEZ FINISHES
HORRIBLE CRIME IN SOUTH
ERIN COLORADO.
F|VEFOLD MURDERER.
ABDUCTED BEAUTIFUL GIRL, AS
SAULTED AND FINALLY
SHOT HER.

crimes or series of crimes in the an
| nails OF the West and which have
caused people to shudder at their aw-
fulness, are given by parties from thi
city WHO returned today from the eX
treme eastern part of the county,
where Francisco Martinez murdered
| four members of the Garcia family
last Wednes,lay-the father, mother
son and grandmother, abducted Mag
gle Garcia. a seventeen-year-old girl
whom he held as prisoner until Sun
day night, completely at his mercy, as
saultins her at will, then sent a bull
let through her brain, which must
have been a welcome relief from her
tortures, and finally took his own life
to escape death at the stake, which he
knew awaited his capture alive.
While the community was prepared
for a story full of horror, 1t was not
prepared for the awful details given
today.
Everything indicates that Martinez
premed;tated the murder, as last Tues
day he was seen sharpening an axe
while the elder Garcia turned the
grindstone for him. Martinez was
given shelter at the Garcia home We'd
nesday night and, after the family had
retired and he was satisfied that all
were asleep, he crept upon them and
killed first the son. twenty-five years
of age, the only member of the family
who could have fought for his life.
Then the father, seventy-five years
of age, and the mother, fifty-two years
of ago. were attacked, he splitting
their heads clear to their chins. Then
going to the bed of the aged grand
mother. Luz Gurule. who slept with
the seventeen-year-old girl, he dragged
her from the bed, as the mark on her
arm plainly indicates, SO that he could
reach the girl.
Later he killed the grandmother
while she knelt in prayer at the footln
OF the other three members who had
been slain and while she was hold
ing crucifix in her hand. Her head
was split through the center clear to
her neck, and she fell to one side and
lay across the feet of Mrs. Garcia.
Her knees were bent under her, show
ing that she was praying when muir
dered. After four of the family had
been SO ruthlessly slain, he turned his
attention to the beautiful seventeen
year-old girl, who was to later suffer
torture worse than thousand deaths.
With the bodies of his victims. hor-
ribly Outchered, in plain view. Marti-
nez assaulted the girl, she being too
helpers and too terrified to desist.
The fiend then forced the girl to
accompany him. AS it was necessary
for her to change clothing she secured
one Of her brothers coats and an over
coat of her father. Martinez took no
horses, md dragging the terrified girl
with L., started for the hills and
Rock Canon, east of the Garcia home.
Tho murder did not become known
until Friday, when three posses were
started in pursuit. The last seen OF
Martinez and the girl alive was about
400 o'clock Sunday afternoon. when
one o; the posse tracked them to q
rocky canon, nearly thirty miles away.
One member of the posse fired at Mar
tinez, when the latter placed the girl
between himself and his pursuers and
reiterated up the canon among the
rocks. which are inaccessible to
horses. The posse was composed
tirely Of Mexicans, already terrified at
the murders committed and in deadly
fear CT Martinez. These men re-
turned to the Garcia home and there
found Under Sheriff Kreeger. who had
left here the Saturday before.
The officer went back with the pos
Sc, arriving at the hiding place of Mar
tinez carly Monday morning. Kreeger
led his men along the rocks until they
found the bodies of the two.
Martinez was in a sitting position
against large rock, and about ten
feet below him. lying face down. where
IT had fallen from ledge Of rock after
the fatal shot, was the dead body of
the girl. She had been shot between
the eyes. the bullet passing through
her head. Martinez had placed the
weapon against his right temple and
ended his own worthless life, tearing
the top of his head nearly off.
The body of the girl was carried on
the shoulders OF the men down the
canon to the road, where 1t was placed
on the wagon and taken to the Gar
| ella home. The party arrived just as
funeral services were being held over
the bodies OF the other four victims.
Statements Of election expenses filed
by ] U. Vigil, chairman of the Las
Animas Democratic county committee,
and d. L. Taylor chairman of the Re-
publican central committee, show that
the Republicans Of Las Animas county
spent $10,754, against $3,S9S.50 ex-
pended by the Democrats.
The Rock Island Is said to be ar
ranging to place gasoline motor cars in
service between Colorado Springs
Pueblo. 1t is reported that several cars