El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-12-16
FAILS To
DIVULGE SECRET
Witness Gives No. Testi-
mony in Baca Trial Of
Alleged Confession.

santa Fe. n NJ, Dec 16.-Page B.
} Otero. former state game warden, this
. morning in the federal court here
! failed to give expected testimony i'm
plicating Trinidad c. de Baca. present
game warden. one Of the defendants in
! the alleged conspiracy Of Elfego Baca
and five others to Hberate Gen Jose
/ 1nez Salazar- It had been anticipated
| tEat OterO would testify that de Baca
I had confessed his completely in the
conspiracy.
Another feature of the trial was the
admission in evidence Of a telegram al
legged to have been sent by Manuel L.
Vigil. one of the defendants, to DR.. Fe-
/ lipe b. Romero al FL Paso on Janu-
airy %, 1915. shortly before the kill
ing of CelestinO OterO BY ElfeEo Baca,
OuerO and Baca both being named as
defendants IN the present case
The government sought to show that
the telegram, which had been turned
over TO Elfego Baca by Romero, had
bearing on the case
Mrs. OterO Testffies-
Mrs. CelestinO OterO principal wit
ness for the government, described
Wednesday the concealment for eight
days Of Salazar at the ranch house of
NJ Z. Vigil, United States district at
torney, following his escape from Jail
in Albuquerque, in November, 1914. The
house she said. was then in charge of
her husband, who in January last was
killed at FL Paso in quarrel with
Eifego Baca. The fugitive slept in
tunnel under the patio. she said, and
left November Is, 1914, Tearing a suit
Of clothes. which were burned Vigil
and Trinidad de Baca, state game war
den. she said, were at the house with
Salazar part Of the time.
She Fears Baca.
I was afraid of that man-klller.
Elfego Baca, and l am sun AFRAID OF
him." said Mrs OterO when crOss-eX-
amined in rebuttal as to her reasons Tor
having asked for protection from the
government. Mrs. OterO testified that
she had been in the state penitentiary
by her request since last February,
while held as a witness by the govern
ment The witness, who proved care
ful in her testimony, was sharply
cross examined BY attorney A 3. Rene
han. foT the defence, in an effort TO
prove bad feeling between herself and
Baca and Manuel L Vigil
Admits Desire for Vengeance.
you wanted TO get even, didn't your
asked Mr.. Renehan-
Yes" replied the witness
you wanted to see both these men
hang. didn't yOu2" was the next Ques-
4 would like to see criminals hanged.
II the law permits it," said Mrs Otero
Il am telling no lies Elfego Baca is
my enemy. They told my husband that
they were going to pay him SleOV ana
was angry at them" she continued
Cared for Salazar-
NY husband was broke and wanted
the money" When quizzed by Mr.. Rem
chan about the $1,000. Mrs Otero SAID
she understood that her husband had
gone to the Jail 10 get the Mexican
out and had taken care Of him.
She said she heard her husband tell
Salazar they had offered him $1,000.
FL PasOan Identifies Messages.
B F. Hilburn. night manager Of the
Western Union at FL Paso, identl1ied
telegram which was read to the jury,
dated FL Paso. February 1, 1919, signed
'Opelia Ortega-" and sent to n L. VI
gil, district attorney at Albuquerque
The telegram was as tollOWs-
"sCelestinO Otero ceased to exist yes
terday at p. m find myself with
out resources Please supply them 10
me" -
The following reply was identified
and submitted;
ALBUQUERQUE, y. Nj. February / Ope-
liza Ortego, FL Paso- am sending
money tonight You will receive II IN
the morning. Signed. NJ Z vigil
Mrs Otero admitted the FL Paso tele-
gram was from her