The Tomahawk., 1917-05-24
A BULLET NEARLY CARRIED AWAY ONE OF BILLS EARS.

A BULLET NEARLY CARRIED
perance union at once flung itself into
the battle. They formed a Juan
Cruz defense committee, composed OF
Mrs. H. H. Byrd, Mrs. Katherine B.
Patterson, Miss Clara True, Miss Mary
T. Bryan, and vowed Cruz should not
hang. A public appeal for funds was
sent out. The newspapers took up
the matter. Mr.. J. B. Crist, one OF
the most brilliant criminal lawyers In
New Mexico, was employed to de-
fend the young Indian.
The widespread interest in the de-
tense of Cruz attracted the notice of
Commissioner Robert G. Valentine,
head of the Indian department, who
was, as has been said, a stanch friend
Of Pussyfoot, and who had been away
on sick leave. Valentine had once
received a. communication from John
son when the sleuth was in prison
upon some trumped-up charge or 9TH
er, and had wired back:
"As you know, I am with you to
the limit, in prison or out"
Mr.. Valentine now interested him
self in the matter by not only imme-
diately reversing the order of Assist
ant Commissioner Abbott, but in send
ing Johnson instructions to do every
thing in his power to help the boy.
Johnson had done that already. He
had written to the defense commit
tee to the following effect:
referring to our conversation OF
the other day in the matter Of Jean
Cruz, I must repeat that, under in
structions from Assistant Commits
sioner Abbott, I cannot take part in
his defense. This Of course does not
bar me from contributing personally
to the fund raised for employment OF
counsel for his defense. I therefore
enclose my personal check for sou
toward the fund.
"The thing lies heavily upon my
heart. For six month Juan gave
splendid aid to my officers in sup
pressing the liquor traffic among the
Pueblos, of whom he is one. And
when our appropriation ran low this
boy became one of a band Of the finest
Indians I ever saw to work for the
rescue of their fellow-Indians, at their
own expense.
"Cruz is one of the finest type Of
young Indian men have ever known.
Father Camille Snex, his pastor,
speaks in the highest terms Of Juan;
SO do the merchants in the vicinity;
so does my good friend Father Hoel-
terman, who knows every Indian in
that valley, and who has lived with
them, worked with them, prayed with
them and fought with them for doz-
en- years."
On receipt of Commissioner Val
entine's orders abrogating those of
Assistant Commissioner Abbott, John
son hurried to Santa Fe and took up
the defense with all his might. Never
was a defense more vigorously con-
| Quoted. In the court room, beside
Mr.. Crist, for the defense, sat David
| U. Leahy of Las Cruces, the United
States attorney who had been de-
| tailed, at Johnson's request, to assist
him. Juan's young wife Dolorita, and
his baby, Jose, were in a corner OF
the court room. Adjoining the judges
bench and opposite the jury was
delegation of ladies from Santa Fee,
and a score of the most prominent
women of northern New Mexico. On
the front bench sat the veteran Fran
cisco Naranjo, the president Of the
federation Of 5000 Pueblo Indians,
and a veteran fighter and reformer
on behalf of his people.
I'VE know it will all come right"
said the Indian. Il know that Mr..
Johnson will bring Juan back to me-
said Dolorita, the wife of the &C.
cused boy. ut doesn't matter. The
whole thing is in Gods hands. am
merely doing his work" said Juan him
self to a charitable woman, who, when
the future looked very dark indeed,
went to the cell in which he was con-
fined and began talking to him in an
endeavor to prepare him for the
worst.
The lawyers for the defense talked
all around the prosecution, and the
decision, which occupied the better
part of an hour in the delivery, set