Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1914-07-08
ELFEGO BACA IS
ARRESTED ON A
CHARGE Of LIBEL
Candidate for Congress Gives
Bail TO Appear for Arraign-
ment at Los LunaSi Will
Waive Hearing,

sheriff Ruperto Jafamillo, of Los
lunas, Valencia county. last night ar
rested Elfcgo Iaca, owner OF III
opinion Publica. "a spanish daily.
and candidate for the republican con-
gressional nomination. here upon the
charge of criminal libel.
The arrest of Mr., Baca came in Sc
auence 10 the service Monday night
ny sheriff Jaramiilo of warrants.
charging criminal libel upon four les
sees of the newspaper.
Mr.. Baca Immediately furnished
$1,000 bond to appear at . o'clock
this morning in Los Lunas for ar
raignmcnt. j. M. Sandoyal and j.
X. Salazar. of this city. were the
hondsmen. Mr.. Paca said that he
intended To waive preliminary exam
nation and expected TO be bound
over to await the action of the next
grand jury
To Los Luna Tod-y.
He viii go TO Los Lunas this morn
ing accompanied. he said, by Mr..
Sandova and Victor Sails. who have
agreed tc give bond to secure Mr..
Bacas liberty pending the action of
the grand jury.
MIR. Baca understood that the COM
plant against him was based upon
the same articles. published In Ia
opinion Publica that furnishes the
basis for the warrants against Santa
Cruz Ronquillo, Juan u. Gusman and
Luis l.. Tierre, publishers of the per-
iodical since Mr. l|aca gave up active
management The articles offensive
to Mr. Otero, according TO allega-
ti0ns charge by innuendo that rela-
tives had a hand In the death of Solo
mon Luna. republican national COM
mittccman. Alr Baca is said to have
made the declaration that he inspired
the articles.
Icssccs In Jail.
The three men arrested previously
were In Jail at Los Lunas at O'Clock
last night in lieu OF bond. They had
furnished s 600 bail each for their
appearance at their arraignment yes
terday morning. but when they waived
preliminary examination and were
held for the grand jury they were
unable to produce bondsmen at once.
so they We're committed.
Modesto {. ORTIZ, their attorney.
came here yesterday afternoon in an
automobile, his arrival having been
delayed by breakdown, and depart
ed yesterday evening for Los Lunas.
He had signed bonds for the three, it
WAS said. The bond pending the ac-
ton of the grand jury for each of
the three is $1,000. They will be
released probably upon the arrival of
the attorney and viii return to Albu-
querquc perhaps this morning. Mr..
ortiz also is counsel for Mr. Baca.
Mr.. Baca said he had been told by
Mr.. Ortiz that he had bail for the
three lessees.
civil suit May lie tiicd.
RumOrs We're rife last night that
civil action was to follow the arrests
and that the complaint would be filed
this week. Judgment for $25, 600
against the men severally and colec-
lively is to be asked, according to
report. This. however could not be
confirmed for publication.
Mr.. Baca wanted 1t known that he
was not in Jail last night. lie assert
ed with assurance that he was Just
us certain of being in congress after
the next election.
Mr., Baca stated yesterday that the
articles to which Mr.. OterO took eX-
ceptOn were OF his authorship, but
he stated emphatically that they con-
tanned no libel He apparently de-
rived some confidence from the state
ment that they did not give any name
VI lHulcdte directly or indirectly the
identity of the person who killed Mr.
Luna, III he was killed% The way
Tor investigation by state officials
mad been thrown open. he said, at the
same time expressing assurance that
after probing by competent detee-
tives the public would know that
Luna had been slain
Two Years Maximum Sentence.
Mr.. Baca said there were circum-
stances that would convince any nar-
son of reasonable understanding that
Luna had been killed. They might
not be mentioned for publication.
however, without inviting an action
IN libel, he said.
saying that comment had been
made that the articles we're printed
lor political purposes, MIR. Baca de
cared that La Opinion Publica had
taken the same position at the time of
the death of Mr.. Luna
lie believed that Investigation
should be welcomed by law-abiding
eltlzens generally. Personally he did
not know whom to charge. he said. but
ne thought authorities should inves-
usate thoroughly.
me penalty prescribed by the
criminal libel law is a fine from 500
- $1,000 and imprisonment not ex-
teedinB two years. or both, at the
nj a