San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-04-11
CADENA To DIE 4
FOR MURDER Of
GIRL HE LOVED.
Convicted Man Calmly
Hears Death Sentence
Passed Upon Him.
MAKES NO COMMENT
Women Weep as SLAYER Of
Pablita Jimenez Told
His Fate.
MAKES NO COMMENT

THE sentence of this court is that
you be taken by the sheriff to Hunts
vile and there on May 80, 1924, before
the hour OF sunrise. the warden there
of cause TO be passed through your
body current of electricity q suffi-
cient intensity TO cause death. May
God have mercy on YOUR soal.'
In these solemn words did Judge
W. $. Anderson of the Thirty seventh
District Court at 10 so Friday morn
ing sentence TO death Frank Cadena.
convicted in the same court OF the
crime of numbering his sister-in-law.
Pableta Jiminez. Unless the sem
tencc of Judge Anderson is committed
by Governor Neff, Cadena will be
elec;rocuted on the date set.
CadeIa, standing before til, Thirty
seventh bench. received his sentence
without show Of emotion. TO those
standing close to him. slight nervous
.twitching Of the face was the only
evidence that he realized what was
happening. ~
Have you anything TO say as 10
why this sentence should not me
passed. Judge Anderson asked.
NO, Judge Cadena spoke up in a
clear. firm voice. almost before the
Question was answered.
Women Weep as Sentence Passed.
Judge Anderson had prefaced this
question with a statement TO the con
demned man that he had been given a
fair and impartial trial. had been de-
Tended by two of the ablest lawyers
at the bar who had done everything in
their power. by carrying his case to
the highest courts. to save his life.
1T now becomes my duty to per-
form one of the most solemn and try
ing ordeals that befall judge in his
various and sundry duties" Judge An
derson said. that of pronouncihg the
death sentence on n fellow man."
The judge evidently was deeply
moved by the unpleasant task which
he was called upon to perform.
AS Cadena stood upright. listening
TO his sentence. Father L. ]. Crane
of st. Leo's Church stood close by -
side. Father Crane has ministered TO
the man for several months. 4 few
feet away, four women. friends of Ca.
dena. sat weeping. Their sobs could
be heard above the voice of the judge.
None of Cadena's relatives were
present to hear the sentence pro-
nOunced He has three brothers. two
ut Laredo and one at San Antonio. and
three sisters. one of whom is an in
valid. Friends present said Cadena's
brothers and sisters did not care TO
witness the sad spectacle.
Killed Because He Loved.
As soon as sentence was pronounced
Deputy Sheriff f. n Flores hurried
Cadena back to the death cell in the
Bexar county Jail which has been wait
ing for week. when il became known
that Judge Anderson planned to pass
sentence. Charles Ryan and Tony
NORM. the death watch" Immediately
took up their task of guarding the
prisoner until his transfer to the
Huntsville penitentiary.
Deputy A. W. Harlos. clerk. Of the
Thirty-seventh. Immediately began the
preparation of the transcript which
must be ready before Cadena can he
sent away. Chief Deputy Alphonse
Newton Jr. has assigned Jailer Charles
Peters and Deputy +. y. Flores. and
possibly Deputy Holloway to conduct
Cadena to his place of execution. This
will be done as soon as the transcript
is delivered to the sheriff
Cadena was tried and convicted Of
the murder of Pableta Jimipez his
1S-ycar-old sister-in-law. He said aft
er the killing that he had shot her
because he loved her. and could NOT
have her. He was given the death
sentence and his case appealed 10 the
Court of Criminal Appeals where it
was affirmed.
Seek q Communication.
Since that time petitions have been
circulated asking Governor Neff TO
commute the sentence TO life imprison-
ment. The Sons of America. of whom
James Tafolla is president. have sent
in. a long petition. asking for COM
mutation on the ground that Cadena
had an excellent war record.
Since his return from the war. 1t is
claimed. his mind has been affected.
Friends of the condemned man talked
to JUDGE Anderson AT noon Friday and
sought information as TO what might
be done to have the sentence com.
muted.