The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1916-01-13

January IL, 1915
Editor La Voc Publica,
Santa Rosa, N. Mex.
Dear Sir:
My attention has just been called
to an article in your paper under date
of December 81, 1915, headed "Grand
Jury Work." which outside of the
facts that complaint was filed and
change Of venue taken, does not con-
tain word of truth.
The facts are that Segundo Salas
filed a complaint in a peace proceed
ing in the justice court of Montoya.
On the day set for hearing difficulty
arose between the parties at Montoya
and after the difficulty was over, the
parties appeared before the justice,
plead guilty and paid their fines: A
proper application, in writing and
sworn to, was then filed with the JUS
tice at Montoya for a change of ven
ne in the peace proceeding and in the
cases growing out of the difficulty at
Montoya, and on the showing therein
made the justice granted a change of
venue to the nearest adjoining pre-
cinct, which was Ina, New Mexico.
On the day set for hearing ali par
ties appeared with their witnesses and
the witnesses were duly sworn and
gave their testimony. The complain
ing witness, Segundo Salas, when tes-
tifying in the court, denied that he
had ever sworn to the complaint in
the peace proceeding and attempted
mt first to deny his signature TO the
complaint, but afterwards admitted il
was his signature, but stated that he
did not accuse Earl Elliott of the
items set forth in the complaint. Nat
urally there was nothing for the Jus
tice to do but dismiss the complaint
and as the malicious intent of the pros
ecuting witness was so apparent, he
assessed the costs against him, but
did not assess the attorneys fees or
any items that are contrary TO the al
lowance by Statute.
In the case of assault and battery
against Earl Elliott, IL appeared that
he had plead guilty to this charge and
paid his fine and the complaint had
been filed in error and the case was dis
missed by the prosecuting witness
himself.
As to the charge that Earl Elliott
appeared before the justice with
large number of friends and that they
together with myself, intimidated the
justice, wish to state that the only
friends of Mr.. Elliott appearing ut
the he, ring were witness In the case
and ] know that the many friends of
Mr.. b. l.. Moncus, the justice of the
peace, will bear me out In the state
ment that any man or body OF men
that would attempt to intimidate him,
in his own Court, would be attempt
ing TO do the impossible.
I wish TO state again that the wit
nesses in the case were sworn, that |
nearly a dozen witnesses testified on |
both sides; that very competent in
terpreto. was provided and that every |
word spoken In the case was correct |
ly interpreted from Spanish into En-
glish and from English into Spanish,
and that therefore the information |
given you is willfully false.
or course, ! realize that your ar
ticle Is merely printed for political ef-
feet. We, Of Quay county, find that
mt every Convention Of either party |
held in the Western part Of the state,
charges are brought against the peo-
pie Of this county to the effect that
they do not treat the native people
fairly and that we do not like the ma
tive people. No single instance Of
unfairncss has ever been brought up
and proven 10 my knowledge, the