Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1913-10-02
LUCERO IS GIVEN
ONE YEAR TO
10 MONTHS
LEGISLATOR CONVICTED OF SOLICIT.
ing A BRIBE IS SENTENCED BY
JUDGE ABBOTT THIS AFTERNOON,
AFTER A new TRIAL WAS De.
MED.
APPEAL IS GRANTED;
BOND FIXED At s., 500

'In this case you have seen fit to
contest the proceedings and the case
went before a jury; the state went
to the expense of a prosecution. do
not therefore see fit to impose the
minimum penalty of fine. The SEN
tence of this court therefore is that
you be confined in the state pen'ten-
tiary for not less than one year nor
more than 10 months
In these words Judge E. G. Abbott
pronounced sentence on Jose T. Lu'
zero. representative from Lumberton,
Rio Arriba county, convicted recently
in the district court of solicitation OF
bribery in connection with the sena-
torial election.
AS the judge pronounced the sen
tence Mr.. Lucero gazed at the magis-
trate with an air of expectancy.
Judge Abbott had overruled a mo-
ton for new trial this morning ana
this afternoon granted the appeal to
the supreme court fixing the superse'
deas bond at $2,50o
Attorney e. P, Davies, who defend
ed Mr.. Lucero at the trial before a
iury. was in court, to make final
plea for his client.
| AS the Judge took his seat he adj
dressed the attorney saying; MT. Ia
yies, have you anything further TO say
in this case?'
First of Its Kind,
/ In his reply Mr. Davies said
"Your Honor | wish to call the
courts attention TO the record III tlls
case. with which yOnr honor is thor
oughly familiar,
I "Of course it is the purpose OF the
defendant to appeal but in view OF the
fact that this offense being establish
ed by the constitution of the ne"
state and is the FIRST OF it's kind un'
der the law, and in view OF the man
tuer in which it was brought about III
the offense was committed feel tha'
/ it is the duty OF this court to inhlc'
the minimum sentence
| Il do not believe that the imposing
of a penitentiary sentence in TINS case
would be demanded; | believe that d
fine would be just as effective as IN
carceration, For this reason ! respect
fully ask the court to apply fine rain
er than a penitentiary sentence
Mr.. Read is Silent.
Turning to the district attorney
Judse Abbott said MIR, Read, what
have you to say
Mr.. Read: 81 have nothing 10 say
Your Honor
The Judge then turned to the leg's
,ator who arose. and asked if he hat
ANYTHING to say Mr., Lucero SAID
few words. which were difficult to un
derstand
/ .Judge Abbott questioned him fur
ther and Mr.. Lucero said he had noth
ing further to say.
The Judge continued:
"Mr Lucero you have been con
victed by jury of the crime OF solicl
tation of bribery--made' crime b.
the constitution Oh Tue hS" o'o'I
New Mexico You were charged VIII
soliciting bribe at the time th'
question of the selection OF two Unit
ed States senators was pending.
81 regret that it has become m.
duty to pronounce sentence on you;
regret that it is my plain duty to per
form this act but as 1t is my duty
shall not finch from it.
Exceedingly Unfortunate
"It was exceedingly unfortunate TO
New Mexico that such matter as thl
was necessary. We know from th
papers and records that bribery ha
been going on in elections held in Old
err states than New Mexico. The pee
ple of New Mexico were determined
to put a stop to it as far as this state
this new state, was concerned.
"The day has come when brlber
MUST STOP IN NEW MEXICO. Pee
pie elected to Office must perform thei
duties without bribes. If bribery doe
exist, then it must be discovered AM
THE GUILTY MUST BE BROUGH,
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