Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-11-11
Nuanes Pleads Guilty to Attack
on Mrs. Majoribanks; Con-
fession duplicates FIorencio
Pfeiffer as Chief lnstigator.
DAMAGING TESTIMONY
AGAINST THE PRISONER
Woman Victim on Witness
Stand Relates Horrible Story
of Crime; Positively Identifies
Alleged ASSaiIantS,

Positively identifying Tlorencio
pfeiffer as the man who hrutally as
saulted her near Il powder storage
house in a lonely part of the sand
hills east of the southern limits of AL
buquerque on the night of June "a
last, Mrs Godie Majoribanks yester-
day afternoon told the jury in Judge
Abbotts court her version of the at
tack upon her. She told her story
clearly and in a straightforward way
Mrs. Majoribanks began with the time
when she and her husband arrived at
Abajo and continued it up to the time
when she staggered into the little sta
ton building at that place more dead
than alive to give the first news of
the outrage.
In corroboration of his wfe's story
Majoribanks also identified Pfeiffer
as the man who showed a gun into his
face and ~,manded him II ret into
box car while Pfeiffer and another
man dragged the helpless woman
away to the sand hills, declaring that
they were officers and were arresting
the two for trespassing on railroad
property. Following the testimony of
Majoribanks was that of George Ros-
sin, twenty years old, who swore that
he saw Pfeiffer and another man
leading Mrs. Majoribanks away be-
tween them in the direction of the
sand hills.
Nuanes Pleads Guilty.
Most damaging of the proceedings
Of the day for Pfeiffer, however, was
the appearance of ProcopiO Nuanes
before Judge Abbott, called to plead
to the indictments, charging him with
completely in the outrage with Pfeif-
fer. Nuanes pleaded guilty to the
four indictments charging him with
assault, robbery. attempted robbery
and impersonatlng an officer.
In a confession written and signed
on the day of his arrest Nuanes de-
clared Pfeiffer was the leader in the
affair and that he had taken the lead
throughout. 1t is possible that .Nuanes
will be called as a witness for the
territory during the day.
Court convened at $3.50 and aside
from the break to allow Nuanes to
enter his plea the work Of selecting
the jury proceeded rapidly. Numer-
Gus challenges were made and it was
noon before the panel had been COM
pleted.
Mrs. Majoribanks was the first wit
ness for the territory. She was ap-
parently quite calm and collected and
gave quick, direct answers to the
questions put to her by District At
torney klock. She rehearsed the
whole brutal story of the assault.
identifying Pfeiffer positively as the
leader and Nuanes as the other man.
Beyond asking her place of residence
and manner of life for several years
past. Attorney John A. White, coun-
sci for Pfeiffer. did not cross-examine
Mrs. Majorbanks.
Were Not Formally Married.
Mrs. Ma joribanks stated that she
and Majoribanks had travelled eXtens-
lVely over the southwest, through In
dian territory, Oklahoma, Colorado,
Texas and New Mexico, that they had
ridden and walked and many times
mad paid no railroad fare. 1t deVel-
oped under cross-examination that
Mrs. Majoribanks has not been legally
married to Majoribanks but has lived
with him as his common law wife for
three years past. Mrs Majoribanks
also stated that she was married some
Years ago TO a man in the Indian ter
rltory and that he is at present living
IN Chicago, and that as far as she
knew neither of them had secured a
divorce.
Majoribanks, when placed on the
stand, identified Pfeiffer without any
hesitation as the man who had placed
himself and wife under arrest on June
"a. He told the story of the affair mp
TO the point where he was locked in
box car and later released by Dep
uty Sheriff Felipe Trujillo. He was
released by Trujillo when the officer
was notified of his presence in the car
by George Rossin, who had previous
ly seen Mrs. Majoribanks being car
ried away by two men.
Rossin was the next witness. He
identified Pfeiffer a. one of the men
who was walking toward the sandhills
with Mrs Maioribanks. Rossin stated
that he heard Majoribanks calling for
help IN the box car and notified Dep
uty Sheriff Trujillo. Rossin told his
story clearly and efforts on the part
OF counsel for defense to shake his
testimony on cross-examination were
unsuccessful
William +. Marquette of the city po-
nee force. was the last witness called
before adjournment was taken at "a