Imperial Valley press., 1921-09-28
MANR|QUEz
is D { n |E D
NEW I TRIAL
FOR MURDER
Defense Attorney Harry B.
Ellison Files Notice of Ap-
peal to State Supreme
Court in San Francisco.

SANFRANCISCO, CAL, Sept. 2S-
Teiegrams were received at the office
OF Governor Stephens today from
Chinese Companies of San Francisco,
and the Chinese mission in Los An
geles and San Francisco, protesting
against clemency for Miguel Manri-
quez, confessed accomplice in the
slaying of two chinese in Ell Centro.
Judge M. W. Conkling in department
z of the Superior court, and before
whom Manriquez was tried and SEN
fenced, this morning denied a motion
filled by Attorney Harry B. Ellison, to
set aside the sentence and judgment
passed upon Miguel Manriquez, self
confessed murderer of Chinese gro
Ger here July Is last.
The plea presented to the court was
based upon the claim that the defen-
dant did not enter plea to the charge
of murder and that any purported plea
entered for him was entered through
mistake and inadvertance and with the
belief that sentence of life imprison-
ment would be imposed in place of the
extreme penalty. .oni s,,.,.,
A lengthy argument ensued during
which the case was reviewed from BE-
ginning to end and with the result
that the Judge denied the plea.
The defense attorney Immediately
filed notice of appeal to the state SUI.
preme court in San Francisco. This
appeal automatically postpones the ex-
ecution of Manriquez. until after the
appeal is heard, and if refused by the
higher court, it then becomes neces-
sary to bring Manriquez back to the
Superior court here for Judgment and
resentence.
ment of the Superior court establish
es precedent in that this is the, first
time in the legal history of that de-
partment that such procedure has
been instituted by defendant in a
criminal action after judgment and
sentence have been pronounced.
Various societies throughout the
state including the Mexican consulate
at San Francisco, have interested them
selves in behalf of Manriquez and are
endeavoring to intercede with the
governor that clemency be shown. The
following letter was received by At
torney Harry B. Ellison several days
ago.
H. B. Ellison, Attorney,
Ell Centre, Calf.
Dear Sir: Our attention has been
called by the Mexican consular 1ffi-
clals of our city to the apparently ir-
regular methods employed in the trial
of the defendant, Miguel Manriauez.
now awaiting the death sentence at
San. Quentin imposed upon him by the
courts of your town. We women feel
that you are manifesting the proper
spirit as we have read an excerpt
from your letter to Consul Paredes in
Calexico, and we are sure that you
are going to help us to correct this
unfortunate error. We will await
your information directly to us of the
facts in the case; also please give us
the name of the Judge who sentenced
Manriquez, of the district attorney, of
the Spanish interpreter, of the Jurors
and principally, who instructed Man
rlquez during the preliminary hearing.
We women are supporting Consul Gen.
eral Ruiz in his request for a re-trial.
We feel that it should in all commo1
deeency and to be consistent with our
laws, be granted. This man, Just the
same as any other unfortunate crca-
lures who commit crime, is entitled
to the protection of our laws in their
purest meaning and sense Of mercy
and justice. We women feel that there
is too much of this practice Of in
structing ignorant defendants, who
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