The Glenwood post., 1919-03-15
Twelve Men Declare Cruz
Romero and Lee Martinez
Murdered John Breuss
DEATH FOR ROMERO

The last issue of the Post told of the
trial then in progress of two Mexicans,
charged with the murder of John
Breuss, quiet and inoffensive farmer
who, until November 81, 1918, lived ON
his little ranch near Silt, attending to
his own affairs and leaving other peo-
pie undisturbed.
While we told in our last issue of the
damaging testimony and telltale evil
denee against the Mexican prisoners,
there was at that time nothing to in
dicate with any degree of certainty
that they would confess to the murder.
But the evidence against them was so
damaging to their case that when they
came to testify in their own behalf,
Romero admitted that he killed Breuss
and Martinez confessed to being pres
ent and witnessing the murder, though
both sought to justify themselves by
pleading self defense, claiming that
Breuss attacked them with big knife
and they thought their own lives in
danger.
1t is evident that the jurors who had
listened carefully to all the testimony,
took no stock in the self defense sto-
ries of the defendants for on Saturday
they brought in their verdict declaring
both defendants guilty of the murder
of John Breuss, and fixing penalty Of
death in Romero's case and recon-
mending sentence of life imprison-
ment in the ease of Martinez. The
lighter sentence of Martinez is due to
the instruction of the court to the eff
feet that the defendants were entitled
to tho benefit Of any reasonable doubt,
and inasmuch as Martinez denied d.
rect completely in the murder, although
he admitted he was present when Ro-
nero killed Breuss, seemed to warrant
the jury in stopping short of the death
penalty in the case of Martinez.
Romero created someting of a sensa-
ton when he told his rather ingenious
story in admitting the killing and in
his attempt to justify his action and
while all who heard him believed him
when he said he killed Breuss, it was
quite plain to be seen that they did not
believe his story in mitigation of the
crime.
Romero says he traded Breuss a horse
for a mule and gave $40 to boot. Later
Breuss became dissatisfied with the
trade and took the horse to Romero's
camp and left it, taking the mule back
home with him, but failing to give
Romero back the $40 when asked for it
later. Breuss said he did not have the
money, but would give Romero chick
ems to the value of ten dollars, the
chickens to be valued at so cents
apiece.
| While Romero and Martinez Bros
were in the act of getting the chickens
Breuss came out and entered into .
quarrel with them, finally drawing
knife and assaulting Romero, according
to the story. Romero picked up a club
knocking Breuss down and chatting him
until he was dead, the three then dig
ging a hole and burying him under
pile of manure. The Mexicans admitted
that after killing Breuss and burying
his body they ransacked the house for
valuables, stealing watch and a gun.
Martinez was sentenced Wednesday
by Judge Shumate to life imprisonment
at hard labor in the state penitentiary
at Canon City. Romero's attorney has
filed motion for new trial and this
motion must be disposed of before the
court will pronounce sentence in Ro-
mero's case.
| Joe Hartman returned the first Of