El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-09-07
WISHED ONLY QUICK
TRIAL FOR MARTINEZ
Pecos Gratified Over Gov.
Colqqitt's Statement
About Reprieve

Pecos, Tex, Sept Much gratifi-
cation was evinced in this city by the
dispatch in the San Antonio Express
from its Austin correspondent to the
effect that governor Colqultt had sara
that if he had been conversant with
all the facts, he would not have grant
ed the respite of 80 days in the new
celebrated Martinez murder case. The
people of Pecos, duly incensed at the
enormity of the crime by which MISS
Emma Brown met her death, demand
ed only quick and impartial trial
Leading citizens saw that no mob vio-
lence would occur and none did occur.
The Mexican was sent to Midland, W
miles distant at the request or lead
ing citizens of Reeves county, not that
mob violence was greatly feared, but
as a further protection to the con-
fessed murderer. In addition to this,
the leading citizens, and, in fact q
great majority of all the citizens ar
Reeves county publicly thanked DIS
trict Judge Isacks, of Midland county,
for his prompt action in asking and
having Texas rangers sent to Reeves
county This was all done so that
there could be no question but that
the Mexican-Spaniard should have a
fair and impartial trial-but a prompt
trial.
when the Mexican was transferred
from the Midland county Jail TO Pecos
for trial. nj attempt was made to In
ficers in whose hands he was In the
court room, the counsel for the ac-
cused was granted every right. TWO
able lawyers defended Martinez. Lit
defense and the jury assessed the pun
ishment at hanging. Judge Isaacks
then sentenced the prisoner and he
was again Immediately conveyed to
Midland and there placed In the MID
land county Jail for safe keeping until
the day of hanging, which judge Isacks
fixed as September 1.
Shortly after Martinez was returned
to Midland, an article appeared in the
same California Socia1istic journal as
had before worked up the Mexicans.
such article stating that the defendant
had had inhuman treatment; that his
parents had been driven across the
desert and inhumanely treated; and
American and especially Texas justice.
This paper, printed in Los Angeles, was
circulated all over western Texas,
where the Mexican population is large.
derer by making the governor be-
lieve the prisoner was under 16 years
of age, got the governor to grant a 80
days respite, holding off the hanging
until October l. Even after this was
done, no attempt was made by citizens
of Reeves county TO go to Midland and
mob the prisoner. However, the pris-
oner was conveyed to Abilene and
lodged in the Taylor county jail as a
further precaution. About this time,
petitions were circulated all over va
rious portions of west Texas, asking
that the governor do not commute the
sentence to life imprisonment Prac-
tically every white perso Mn Reeves
county signed this petition. Simulta-
neously with the securing Of signatures
to the Reeves county anti-commutation
petition, parties in Terrell and other
Texas Mexican border counties began
the circulation OF petitions, addressed
to the governor, asking for a respite
and a Communication of sentence II is a
fact that the citizens of the Mexican
border couties are not and were not
familiar with the awfulness of the
crime committed
Sentiment in Reeves county demands
that the sentence be carried out and
that the most horrible crime ever COM
mitted in the trans-Pecos country be
avenged, according to the mandates Of
the law. There will be no mob vio-
lence.