El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-01-26
BACA ACQUITTED
IN 10 MINUTES
New Mexico Lawyer Found
"Not Guilty" of Shooting
Celestino Otero.

Flfego Baca was found not guilty
Of the murder of CIestinO Otero by
iurv in the saith district court Tues
dav night after it had been out but 10
minutes.
iurv and the jury retired at 5:22 and
returned at 5:32 D. m There were few
neople in the courtroom when the YER
dict was rendered, Baca being there
with mis- wife and his two sisters. The
Baea case has been on trial since
Baea Tells of killing.
Elfego Baca took the stand in his
own defense Tuesday afternoon and
in self defense. 7 shot Otero because
I thought my life was IN Danger, ne
testified, and, when I shot at him
the second time ii was because he stlI
had the pistol in his hand When ne
dropped the pistol I quit shooting
The defendant began his testimony
nv telling the story of his life, the pub
lie office he had held and then TOOK up
the threads of the happenings which
led to the tragedy on South santa he
street, Sunday afternoon, January 81
1915.
Ct came TO Ell PasO at that time
said Baca. TO locate my II year old
son. who had run away from the state
Agricultural & Mechanical college at
Las Cruces 1 thought shouie liilu
=
ION the Saturday preceding the
shooting I got my pistol as there was
some feeling against me because 1 hau
been SalaZar's attorney
Met OterO at Hotel.
s.When DR.. Romero and / met IN the
Paso del Norte lobby We walked rev
steps and met this man Otero: he
said How do YOU do, and l SAID the
same back to him. I undertook TO shake
hands with him and Otero heslIateu
but finally he gave me his hand. -,
AT another time DR.. Romero salu
that he owed an apology TO both Of US
as Otero had asked him few days
previous when I would be IN town an
that he had neglected to deliver the
message or tell me that Otero hao III
Quired as to when ! was coming
Z asked him what did he want Win
me and he replied that he had some
business with me- rephed lhat MS
would step into the lobby Where tnyI
were a number Of chairs and we couIu
talk he said no, 1 want 70 see you
more privately
sThen I said that he might come. to
my room-but he declined TINS saying
that we should go to AndoJas place.
But why there / asked he replieo-
Because Andoja and myself want 10
see you
"Otero then went toward FL Paso
street and DR.. Romero and drove IN
and out Of the streets taking our JlnlS
as we realized that We would have 10
allow Otero time to get tnere- MhsH
we did get to Andoja's place when Il
at 925 Santa Fe street, ] got out OF the
car and looked in but did not see An
doja nor Otero- $3.50
"As we neared the crossing. driving
back, noticed the switch engine ana
we started to stop At the same time
OterO came across the track and waved
his hand, calling that we stop saiu
to Romero. Yes, stop
"Otero said, Aren't you going to An
So II cot a
been there and that AndoJa was not
there I told him that I did not care
TO 90 back Then 1 asked him what
do yon want2' He had his hand IN MS
right pocket and ! noticed that he De-
came somewhat pale
shot with Pistol.
81 said to him What have You gof II
that hand y and he said something real
quick and shot at me with a pistol
And 1 pulled my gun and rred Two
shots and he dropped When 1 tired
the second time he said Don't shool
any more and he dropped the gun ana
I said 7 amt going to shoot any more
"Otero then tried to reach the gun
where he lay and tried TO get at ms
pocket and saw man running 70
ward US and that man picked up the
gun. And I said to the mar What are
you going 10 do with that gum Then
I said TO him Throw IL away and the
man dropped the gun
Then ] turned around and SAID 70
DR.. Romero Let's 90 TO town want
10 give up TO the sheriff or marshal -
Two Witnesses.
Trinidad Zamora. then a bartender
at the Andoja place. and jeff Brans-
ford, a rider along the canal bank for
the reclamation service; testified that
they saw the tragedy from the begin
ming to the end but had not thought TO
discuss it
A. c. Augue. living at 1920 Alemada
street and formerly Of Albuquerque. y !
NJ, stated that OterO had told him that I
he was going to FL Paso to xiii Baca !
and get even with him for an article ]
that Baca had printed in one Of his J
papers He testified also that Otero !
had said that "he would return to Al
buquerque with $4,000 or $4,000 with 1
which he proposed to buy ranch
Gen. SaIa zar,S Attorney.
Baca stated that he had been Gen |