Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-09-26

Four of the members of the
state penitentiary commission, in
a report submitted to Governor
Mechem last week and made public
Monday, recommend the removal
of superintendent Placido Jara-
milo. The report declares that in
taking this action the board is re-
iterating it's report of July 27, in
which it recommended the remov-
al of Jaramillo, whom it charac-
terIzed as temperamentally unfit
for the position.
Those who signed the majority
report are Levi A. Hughes, War
rem Graham, Thomas Hughes, and
Robert Ormsbee.
The report is the result of inves-
LEGATIONS held following trouble at
the penitentiary on July l9, when
one convict was shot and killed and
five were injured.
The Majority Report.
Following is the report of the
majority members:
His Excellency, NJ. c. Mechem,
Governor State OF New Mexico,
Santa Fe, N. M.
instructions of August 8, the
board of penitentiary commission
ers met on August % to make a
further investigation of the cir
cumstances at the prison on July
10, resulting in the death OF one
and the wounding of five convicts.
The state was represented by AS
sistant Attorney General A. Nj. Ed
wards.
The superintendent OF the peni-
tentiary was represented by Mr.. A.
B. Renehan.
The board sought, under your
instructions, to confine its investi-
CATION to two questions, to-wit:
One: Were the prisoners in ac-
tive rebellion; trying to escape, or
destroying property?
Two: Did the superintendent
notify the prisoners that unless his
orders were promptly obeyed the
guards would be ordered to fire
upon them?
The answer to both these ques-
tions in the opinion of the board
must be in the negative.
Therefore, the board reiterateS
and emphasizes its recommenda-
tions made to you on July 27 as
a result of its previous investiga-
ton and in addition to those rec
concentrations is of the opinion
that the superintendent is tenn
poramentally unfit for the position
he holds and should be removed.
The investigation continued for
four DAYS, during which time more
l.
med. A transcript Of the testimony
has been previously handed you by
the chairman of the board for your
examination.
Respectfully yours,
(Signed) LEVI A. HUGHES,
WARREN GRAHAM,
THOMAS HUGHES,
ROBERT ORMSBEE.
Dissenting: j. T.. TORRES, Member.
Following is the report which
followed the second investigations:
Santa Fe, New Mexico, August
25, 1922. Hon. NJ. c. Mechem, gov
ernor of New Mexico, Santa Fe,
New Mexico. Sir: In pursuance OF
your request to make second In
vestigation in connection with the
mutiny on the part of the conVicts
at the state penitentiary on July l9,
1922. the subscribing members OF
YOUR board of penitentiary COM
missioners respectfully report as
follows:
The board met at the peniten"
tiary on the morning of August ~,
1922. and have been in continuous
session for four days, three days OF
- "A
testimony offered by Superintend-
ent Jaramillo, while on the last day
a number Of witnesses called by the
assistant attorney general testified
before the board
The board endeavored to re-
strict the investigation, under your
instructions, to the single question
as to whether the superintendent
was justified in ordering the prison
ers to be fired upon on the day OF
the mutiny. Counsel for Superin-
tendent Jaramillo, through the tes-
timony of the witnesses produced
bv him, injected many collateral
issues which the board did not In
lend to investigate, but which have
thrown much light upon conditions
Existing in the penitentiary under
its present management.
MIR. Torres, one Of the members
of the board, was obliged to leave
on the afternoon of the second day
and did not hear all of the testi-
mony on that account. Both the
members of the board and the at
torney for Mr.. Jaranillo deeply re-
pretted the urgent necessity for the
absence Of Mr.. Torres, and the
board caused to be entered in the
record, the following resolution.
whereas, Commissioner j. r.
Torres has advised the board that.
owing to urgent business, he would