New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1920-11-26

will be released after the hear ng on
Dec. 4 will depend upon Judge Reed
Holloman's construction of the cons
titution and the laws with respect
to the pardoning power.
Governor Larrazolo's theory that
these prisoners were part of a mil
itary command and knew nothing of
their objective, when Their officers
began the move to raid Columbus.
and are therefore wholly without
blame or responsibility, is not borne
out by evidence that has just come
to light. The incident in po mt oc-
Cured in 1916, during the admins
ration of the late William c. Nc
Donald as governor of New Mexico.
even Vii sta raiders OF the
original group were convicted of
D. - in he first degree and sent
enced to be hanged. When they
were awaiting the execution of the
death sentence, they were held in
he pcnitentiary here for safe keep
ing. Strong representa- ons were
made to Governor Mcdonald that the
mea were innocent OF knowledge of
the mission. and that they had 10
in'ention at all OF harming any
Amer cans. The plea made on be
half OF these seven condemned men
WIS just about the same that Gov
ernnr Larrazolo ias nade TO the
public in extenuation OF his act in
PARDON ng the 10 remaining Gov
e-nor larrazolo asserts in the pardon
that he has examined every one OF
the prisoners, that they assured
him that they were forced and i'm
pressed into service against their
will. and by force" Surely Govern
o, Lairazolo had no suspicion that
the pn ouers would tell h m in
st-icic,i confidence, of course. that
'heg started CIT with the intention
oi raid'ls an .'merican town, loot
inl, burning killing!
Governor Mcdonald also secured
e, dence and statements from the
condemned prisoners. but he did not
proceed by calling them into his of
flee and plying them with questions.
Instead, he used the only plan that
vas possible TO bring out the exact
aud uncolored truth. Not only did
Governor Mcdonald desire to secure
further ght on the guilt or inno-
cence of the prisoners, but also, at
ne gent req lest Of Washington,
he sought TO learn whether any OF
the prisoners knew anything OF the
Santa GSabel massacre, where 10
American mining men were murder
ed and butohered.
After a conference with promin-
ent southwestern detective, a Mex
4 h.
of Mex co, was employed for The
trying and dangerous work This
Mexican detective was brought TO
the peniteniiary here. at night, As
a prisoner. Given a number and a
ccnvict's suit, he was put into the
cellhouse. The office force, hand
| ng the record OF convicts, had no
lnowledQe that this man was a
plant" Governor Mcdonald the
etr rintcr1ent and assistant SUPER
i.'endent and the chief clerk, at the
pen entiary. and the American de-
tective, were the only persons who
haI the slightest inkling Of the plan.
Those who have any knowledge
OF penitent airy convicts' highly cul-
iva eI love for detectives viii ap-
preciate how hazardous in the e.
femc was this detective-prisoner's
undertaking. II the prisoners had
ever uncovered the plant they
would have torn the man TO pieces.
The seven kfll sta5, almost liter
ally shot to pieces, were confined
in the hospital. under special guard.
How TO transfer this detective
prisoner from the cellhouse 10 The
hospital, without exciting susp cion,
,as matter presenting new diff
cities and calling for strategy Then
ore night guard went running into
the quarters OF the superintendent
and reported that the detective
prisoner, all dressed, was sitting on
tie edge OF his bunk, kicking and
yelling. The superintendent and
chief clerk had been tting for some
hours, waiting for this report. The
guard was ordered to transfer the
"cutup" to the hospital. and to tell
9 the special guard 10 watch him close
iv. Thus the transfer was effect
ed.
The detective prisoner spent be
tween 10 davs and two weeks in
the hospital with the wounded Viz s.
tas During the exchanges OF con-
fidences extending over this period.
he secured the information that was
needed. In the wee small hours
of one night he was taken out Of
the prison walls. He reported to
Governor Mcdonald that six OF the
seven men were gu itv beyond even
the shadow of q doubt. They had
come from the interior Of Mexico.
they told him. and knew they were
going to raid Columbus, an American
town just across the border. Each
man in the raiders band had been
promised as a reward an American
woman 20 take back TO Mexico with
b m. Villa planned the raid. but was
no, present. The raiders were
under command OF one Of his trust
ed lieutenants. The srven.h man.
Tcse Rodriguez, the detective re-
ported. was not guilty IN the same
decree as the others. He had been
picked up no. so far from fhs ho-A-
e. and possibly was not fully ad
vised as 70 the mans. On this re-
rort. Governor Mcdonald COMMITTED
Rodriguez death sentence 10 i'm
pr sonnnent for Fife
Two of the six men. the detective
said, were present and took part
r. 30 Santa Nssbei massacre. They
described the scenes for him. and
tod him that Villa planned this mas
sscre. b-rt was not himself present
As az Coirrnb-s. the murder bsts-