El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-01-25
HERD Of COATS
SEIZED BY j. s.
Dona Ana Sheriff Trails
Big Herd From Pelea,
Stopping Shipment.

Following q brief hearing before
deputy United States collector Of Gus
toms W. ". Carpenter. Friday noon,
s52 goats, alleged TO have been snug
gled from west of Juarez, Mex, were
officially seized by the customs de-
partment, according to a statement
made by Mr., Carpenter. and the own
ership Of the goats will be deter
mined by the United States district
court
The goats are claimed by Jose Car
rasco and Jesus Gutierrez, both Of
Juarez, partners Juan Perez and Mar
Gus Diaz, also goat owners Of Juarez
claim few goats among the herd
Claims Ignorance Of Smuggling.
J. Y. Cannon, a local stock buyer,
who purchased the goats in Ell Paso.
and who was about to ship them to
Fort Worth when they were seized,
stated that they were purchased in the
regular course Of business for $3.50
from a Mexican named Pablo Porrass
whose name appeared on the bill Of
sale for the goats submitted IN evil
dence. Mr.. Cannon was represented by
Hudspeth and Harper. attorneys.
Mr.. Cannon said that he did not
know that the goats were stolen or
smuggled property at the time OF pur-
chase.
Following testimony by Mr.. Cannon
and sheriff Felipe Lucero, Of Dona
Ana county, n. NJ, Mr.. Carpenter an
nounced that there had been sufficient
evidence to show that the goats had
actually been smuggled from Mexico,
and that the goats would be Seized.
Porras. the alleged seller Of the herd,
was not at the hearing.
Formal statements from the various
men concerned, who were present at
the hearing, viii be taken this after
noon
Masked Riders Bind Herders.
The goats were stolen from the care
Of Bartolo Murio and Manuel Men
doza, goat herders, Mondey evening"
Juarez when the seizure occurred
Three men, two on horses and the
third on a mule, with handkerchiefs
over their faces, rode up and held
up the two herders with guns. They
were bound and taken about a half
mile from the camp and told not to
move on pain OF being shot. The three
men then drove the goats across the
international line near Pelea, n. NJ
Follow Trail at Night.
As soon as the theft Of the goats be-
came known. officers at Juarez tele-
graphed to sheriff Lucero at Las
Cruces, who Immediately started with
MS deputy ELDA EAAAr " d4Al-
mobile. They took the FL Paso &
Southwestern RAILROAD to Pelea and
picked up the trail Of the goats there
Wednesday evening.
The two officers followed the trail
Of the goats for more than two hours
until the moon went out, when they
made camp. By early sunrise they re-
sumed the pursuit OF the goats. trail
ing them to the Rio Grande, where
they had been crossed on the Cour-
chesne bridge. On the west side Of the
river the trail went up below the
Franklin mountains. and. circling the
city led to the Cameron Union stock
yards.
UnIoaded in Morris Yards.
The goats arrived at She Cameron
stock Yards Wednesday evening and
were Ioded on cars Thursday morning
and transferred to the Texas & Pa
cific railroad yards. Here they were
held uD by orders from the customs
officials, after sheriff Lucero had
made complaint that they were stolen
and smuggled goats. They were then
taken to the Morris stock yards and
unloaded-
The herd. numbering $50, Is said to
be the. largest number OF goats ever
struggled across the international
line
At the hearing were some OF the
owners from Juarez and the two goat
herders who were held up by bandits