Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1911-08-05
Feeble Minded Son of Pioneer
Alleged to Have Been
Starved and Beaten in Lone
ly Mountain District,
SHOCKING lLL-TREATMENT
REPORTED BY THE VICTIM
Made to Herd Goats for Days
Without Food, Young Man
Says He Has Been Threat
ened With Death,
Especial Correspondence to Morning Jou,u.l

Especial Correspondence TO Morning Jeuru.1
silver CITY y, NJ. Aug A story
oI inhumanity ana cruelty has lust
come TO light here through anony.
NOUS and signed letters and personal
investigation that probably has no
parallel in the annals of New Mexico
and which overshadows the tragedies
presented to the public in the peon-
age trials in some of the states.
The main facts as alleged are about
az follows:
\ well-known and respected citizen
of Grant county a pioneer in thu
great southwest, woll known In Texas
west of the Brazos river. and In the
latter seventies a familiar figure IN
the old stage days In Las Cruces, and
well known at one time In Franklin,
now El Paso, Tex, has a son 81 years
of age. This son, when ten years old.
was stricken with brain fever that
left him with an impaired and feeble
mind, yet he understands what is said
To him and rs able to take caro- OF
himself and do what he Is directed to
do about ranch or farm.
Twonty-nlno months ago his elder
brother secured for him situation
on a ranch about forty miles west Of
silver city on the lower ella river,
and up To Il few days ago he has been
az work out there in the rugged moun-
talns During these months, his faith
or says. he has often met the ranch
man, who has reported his son was
doing well and was contonttd with
his work, that of a herdor. Under the
arrangement made by the brother the
ranchman was to pay the young man
SIS a month, cloth and bonrd him.
Tho last time hts father met the
ranchman was last June, when. he al
lcgcs, ne was informed that his son
requested him to send out n nice sui.
OF clothes as he wished to attend
Fourth OF July celebration and a
dance to be held In the noIghborhood.
His father got the clothes and some
other things ready and gave them to
the ranchman to take out
Mysterious Letter.
A few days ago his father received
an anonymous letter, stating that his
son was being cruelty treated and
starved, and suggesting to him 10
como and investigate for himself. A
newspaper here IN Silver City on tho
same day. received signed letter, re-
porting that the young man was evi-
dontly being whipped half to death.
starved and cruelty treated generally.
II set forth that not long since the
young man almost famishlng reach
ed u ranch house and begged a little
something TO eat 4 bucket of milk
was given him Of which he drank He
was supplied with bread aud other
food which he ate SO voraciously and
in such quantities that those watch
ing him became alarmed and took the
food from him, He informed them
he had not had mouthful for some
three or four days. ana his, appear
ance ana actions evidenced that fact
50 the letter stated
ON receiving the letter his father
Immediately secured conveyance
and went out to investigate. Tho
ranchman and his family were away
from home ana the house locked. He
then made a seareh through the
mountains and found TN, camp of his
son. who was herding goats. lie was
terribly cmaciated, very weak and
hardly able to get about. There was
not q morsel Of food in the camp, and
the young man informed his father
he had not had anytime to cat fcq
three days.
It Is alleged inquiries made by his
fnther among tho noighbors of tho
iunchmun confirmed statements made
i'm the letters received here In Silver
city. and further, 1t was asccrtained
that the young man had been unmcr-
cifully whipped and beaten. He IN
formed his father that he was afraid
10 leave the place or to send him in
formation as he had been warned
more than once if he did he would be
Killed He had been SO terrorized he
said. that he was afraid to inform any
one. II was also learned by his faith
or that the Fourth of July celebration
and the dance story was absolutely
false aud that the suit of clothes sent
TO the young man had been nppropria.
ted BY grown son Of the latter. His
father also learned 1t Is said, that not
"A cent of wages had over been paid
and that his son WAS compelled to
wear the ragged cast-off clothes Of
the ranchmanS SON When found at
his camp the young man was bare
footed aud ragged. He Was brought
to Silver city aud sent ont into the
country to live with Il friend of his
fathers.
Attorney AlVan White and Clark
have been retained To prosecute the
rauehmHn and to institute suit to re-
cover Sia5 wages alleged TO be due
the Young man.