Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1911-12-18
MURDER EPIDEMIC
IN NEW MEXICO.
Attempt to Blow up Entire
Family Near Chamberino,
Dona Ana County
HAS CONFESSED
Three Slayers Sentenced at
Estancia by Judge John
r McFie.

An attempt On the lie CT Antonio
Lassich took place last night at his
large ranch house in Chamberino,
Dcna Ana county recently willed to
him by Estevan Sewer, deceased. A
barrel of gasoline was placed against
the door of what the villains mistook
to be that of Mr.. Lassich. but which
was the sitting room. The explosion
completely demolished that room and
wrecked the adjoining one in which
three women were sleeping, injuring
all of them, the Oldest of whom it is
thought cannot survive.
Ex-convict Confesses to Murder.
By reason of the confession of Will
lam Chisholm paroled convict from
Sierra county, now under arrest, it
was learned that the supposed suicide
On December 13, of Sam Fernandez,
who was found with his throat cut
from ear to ear in a room back of a
Kelly saloon was murder and that the
knife was welded by Chisholm. The
latter was taken in custody by depu.
ty sheriff as he was about to make his
getaway and will be taken to Socorro.
titled
While Drunk.
While drunk short time ago
Chisholm confided to Fernandez that
he (Chisholm) was going to burn
down the big store of the Kelly Mer.
camille Company. After he sobered
up it is said Chisholm decided to kill
Fernandez to prevent the latter
peaching on him. After the killing
which bore all the evidences of sui.
eide, Chisholm got drunk again and
told several people that he had muir.
dered Fernandez. Soldering up again
he decided to get out of the country.
but was nabbed by the deputy just in
time.
Attempted to Stab Woman.
Fernandez was an employe of the
Germany Mining Company, and
short time before he was found deal
had been released on bond, on the
charge of attempting to stab WON.
an with butcher knife.
Espaiin Acquitted Of Murder.
After evading the long arm of the
law for thirty-six years Damacio Els.
palm was brought to the bar of justice
for a murder alleged to have been
committed in Dona Ana in 1875. At
Las Cruces jury after hearing the
case, brought in verdict of not gull.
ty and he is again free man. Espalin
killed Serbulo Lujan on the streets OF
Dona Ana, after quarrel, which came
about over trivial matter, eye wit
inesses testified as to the shooting in
the district court and after hearing
the entire case the Judge instructed a
iverdict of not guilty.
1.-TWO Women Plead Guilty to Murder.
/ Upon arraignment in the district
court at Estancia on the indictment
charging the murder of Juan Peralta
lat fatigue May 2s, 1911, Juana Peral-
ia de Aragon and Isabel Billesca plead.
ed guilty. Upon being questioned by
/ the court as to what part they had
taken in the murder, they said they
had been forced under threat of death
+ by Eduardo Trujillo to assist him in
carrying out the murder to make way
with the body. In reply to questions,
they denied having taken any part in
the work except as they were compel
ed to do.
Three Murderers Sentenced.
The three defendants who had plead.
ed guilty in district court at Estancia
to the indictments charging the muir
der of Juan Peralta at Tajique OF
. May 2S, 1911, Eduardo Trujillo. Juana
a Peralta and Isabel Billesca, wers
brought before the court for sentence
The sentences were: Trujillo, not les;
than twenty-five nor more than fiftl
years at hard labor in the territoria
penitentiary at Santa Fe. The womeI
= were given not less than three mo-
more than five years in the peniten
tiary.
Acquitted on instruction Of Court.
Albuquerque, N. NJ, Dec. 18.-Whit'
haired and bent under eighty years 0
: age, Donacio Espalin last week wa
On the instructions Of court, .adjudge'
:. innocent of murder which. as wa
. alleged, he committed thirty-six year
70 ago.
: Espalin was on trial in the distrio
Icourt of Dona Ana county, at La
Cruces. Two eye witnesses of the q
legged killing men who then wer
: mere boys, were among those VIII
testified.
- Espalin. after the killing, went I
= Mexico where he remained until fc'
N months ago, when he went to Yslet'
i Texas, where he was arrested. Th
= evidence, as the court declared. at thl
late date, was too incomplete an