Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1912-01-23
WHITE CAP,' CASE
NOW BEING TRIED
IN ESTANCIA
Judge f. L. Medler is Proving
Efficient and Speedy III the
Expoditing Of Business Be
fore Court.

Estancla, n. NJ, Jan 23.--The first
week of the adjourned term OF the
Torrance county district court result
ed In seven iugy trials, five convictions
of felony. and several pleas of guilty
in misdemoanors. Judge Modler has
shown himself an adept as making a
court move along; dioposlng OF
large volume of civil business In the
meantime.
The important convictions were Sc
cured AGAINST George W. Ford. a
prominent ranchor living in the Man
zanO mountains and Charles -. Brown,
a ranchcr living a few miles west OF
Estancia Both of those defendants
we're convicted OF cattle stealing Ford
underworld 20 justify his possession
of the cattle in question as holding
them as estrays. and Inspector Van
Horn oi the sanitary board In part
corrOhorated his statements TO the
effect that he had received "A letter
from Ford saying he held cattle as es-
trays. II appeared. however, that the
cattle could not fall within the ostray
law they not having been 80 miles
from their accustomed range How
ever. the defendant had the benefit OF
all testimony to show that he held
the cattle In good faith and under n
claim OF right as estrays. This de-
PENDANT about the time he is alleged
to have come into possession OF these
cattle. was convicted of selling beef
without exhibiting the hides. and tho
jury, after remaining ont all night. re-
turned a verdict of guilty as charged.
Brown attempted to Justify mis- pos
session ct the cattle he was charged
with stealing by claiming under n bill
of sale, but the prosecution by its
evidence showed that the securing OF
the bill OF sale was a ruso by which
the defendant hoped TO escape from
his unlawful act IN having the cattle
In his possession after he feared that
he had been detected IN unlawfully
taking and branding the cattle with
! his brand The mounted police have
been instrumental IN collecting a
large amount OF evidence for the
state.
In the case OF Fred l. Hill, the de-
PENDANT charged with larceny al Noun
tainair some two years ago, the de-
PENDANT withdrew his plea Of not gull
~ and entered plea OF guilty OF petit
! larceny. and he was sentenced TO
pay fine of 500 and the costs in
Cured In the case.
The case OF the state against car
los Brito. charged with larceny Oi har-
Iress. resulted In verdict OF the jury
tof guilty The defendant was caught
IN the act. hut tha night being dark
the question OF identification became
material The defendant defended by
way of an alibi, which, however, the
prosecuting attorney broke down com
| pletely. and the defendant showing the
marks Of the struggle which occurred
I i'm the darkness when he was appre-
hended. ala not take the stand. TINS
combination OF adverse circumstances
brought the jury TO q verdict OF guilty
Of grand larceny.
In the case OF p. A. SpecKmann
against the board OF county commits
siOners of Torrance county and Allen
Barret. proprietor of the Daily Herald
OF Estancia, the court on hearing, dis
solved the temporary Injunction
lgranted by Judge Nozzle and sustained
the demurrer OF the defendants TO the
complaint, allowing the plaintiff time
Ito plead further This case grew out
OF the fact that Speckmann had 2
contract with the board for printing,
which the board after Speckmann had
made campaign Trades against the
defendant board cancelled, claiming
the right TO give the work 10 whom
Il pleased The court held that Tor
printing under the sum of 5000 II
was not necessary for the board ia
make contracts and that they had
the right to place the work where
they wished They therefore gave the
: printing 20 Tho Herald. published NJ
Estancia. and this arrangement the
/ court held was legal
The most important case on the
docket Is now ON trial. being the
lMountainair so-called White Cap case
= (Capsain FOrnOn aud Ranger Collins
! are on the ground living attention I,
| the matter. The rhine complained
r of occurred on August IA, 1903. the
; story leading mp 'o the crime ~
Hong one, and soemg TO have been th'
r ontefowth OF troubles originating be
tween the owners of the townsite. Th'
}. spociRc act complained OF "a the
shooting up OF the residence OF a Mrs
Z Kna0p. one of the owners OF the town
y site by JOsia Perkins, Charles Noble
George Dunn AMI Charles Griffin
e there were several more defendant
% who made their geI way before heinl
arrested or indicted. u Is claime'
10 the defendants deliberately posted no
tices ON Mrs. Knapps and Mrs. ku
d bena's houses, telling them 10 leav
u the country within "A hours or thoi
houses would be- shot OF. They dil
: not get on In ume and the shootint
lup came of. Mrs Knapp was Ia he
house al the time OF the shooting an
some 20 shots were found In th
house. some of which came close 4
killing Mrs Knapp The mounte
. police have been hard az work In I'M
4 case and have brought witnesses fro.
20 Oklahoma. Some OF the defendant
y are nrominent a. Mountainair an
men of means.
T-rr
- - - naaNo nnEo laaaar