Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1912-04-09

This Is not the story that Baca told
/ g. ID Sona, Il the iatter h. TO be be-
lievod tSee pages ~ and rs or
lStna's testimony, nor does Judge
Fall COrfObOrate thiB statement OF
Racas as shown BY the testimony OF
Senator Holt (see Hollis testimony,
page i3)
judge FAN told Holt that Baca
Icalled him Just outside the door and
said. do you know what these men
are driving att They want money
for their votes" This would Indicate
painly that neither MontOya nor any
one OF the accused mentioned money
IN she presence OF Judge Fall, not
withdrawing Ellego Baca's statement
10 the contrary.
II ~ true tnnt tho Witness iiaca
testified TO certain other facts reflect
ling on the accused, but this commit
tee Is unwilling to say that the ac-
Cused are guilty TO soliciting bribes
upon the unsupported statements OF
llaca, and especially when material
lpart Of his statement is cOntradic-
tory.
The statements and explanations
made by the accused members seem
~
than those OF the witness Baca.
This committee is OF the belief that
the accused have been made the vic.
Tins Of conspiracy against them,
that they were inveigled to room ~
of the Palace hotel on the night
OF the 18th OF March by the witness
Baca in furtherance OF that con
splracy They we're evidently invited
there pursuant TO the plans that had
been agreed upon by those In the
secret in advance.
We do not find from the testimony
that the accused solicited any money
from the Witness Baca IN that room,
nor do we find that they promised
TO vote for any particular candidate
for United States senator for money
received IN that room, despite the
tiort OF Raca 10 make y so appear.
We believe that the accused mem
tcrs were led into trap for the pur-
pose Of driving them out OF this house
either by resignation or expulsion;
that the scheme was contemplated
for several days prior 10 the 18th OF
March that in support Of this con-
lclusiun designations had been pre-
pared for these men 20 sign before
they were invited into room -. The
secrecy with which the business was
carried on makes it apparent to this
committee that the action taken by
those in the scheme was inspired by
la desire to get these members out
OF the legislature for the reason that
they could not be controlled by those
who wanted to control them In the
matter of voting for United States
senator.
The methods adopted by those in
the combination cannot be TOO strong
liy condemned The manner In which
the arrest OF these men was Effected.
the taking OF them to Jail and the
placing of them in confinement with
out a complaint against them and
without a warrant, showed plainly
the object that their accusers had In
view The conduct Of the iailer. VINO
refused 10 deliver tho accused TO the
sergeant-atoarms under the authority
of this house cannot be too strongly
censured Such conduct directly re
-lfl0eth upon, the. dignity and independ,
ence OF this body and Il is for the
house Itself 10 consider what action
Il should take regarding the conduct
of the individuals herein referred 10.
Your committee upon the whole
case finds:
First-That the proof IN this case
7 does not show the accused TO be guilty
, OF accepting a bribe for their votes
for the Office OF United States sena-
+ tor or for any other purpose.
) +. Second-lThat the proof OF this case
/ Is not sufficient to warrant the COM
, mittee In finding the accused. or any
: Of them, guilty OF soliciting brides, al
) charged against them.
, Third-That the accused have been
| made the victims Of a combination by
> which II was expected they would be
+ compelled to resign their seats In THIS
house or be expelled therefrom.
Fourth-That those IN the combina
! ton and conspiracy against the ac-
ouBed were led TO lake the course they
, did because OF the fact that they were
|, imposed upon by Elfego Baca and
! they did not believe that they would
he able 70 control the votes OF che
accused for at least one United States
senator
That the methods adopted for the
arrest and the imprisonment OF tho
accused without a complaint beine
illed against them, aud without war
= rant are condemned by this house.
Five--That we regard said arrests
and imprisonment Of the accused and
! the refusal TO permit the sergeant.
alarms Of this house 10 take into
lcustody said members under the cir
! Icumstances named as viOlatlve Of the
, ,prerogatlves OF this house under the
constitution OF this state which may
> call for further action by the house
4 Under the above conclusions and
! findings, the committee submits the
following resolution and asks its adop.
. ti0n
. Resolved, That there Is nothing "a
T, the facts of this case requiring the
, expulsion Ol J. 4. Lu1Cro, luis II
Monioya. Julian Trujillo and Manuel
. Cordoga as members OF this house"
, (Signedl
d. G. Dc Baca, Chairman.
JAMES w. CHAVEZ.
RAFAEL GARCIA.
W. II. II. LI4EWELLYN,
j. w MULEENg.