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Show 512 LEADING FACTS OF NEW MEXICAN HISTORY em ee te ee cer ee aS er Pe 8 rs Re a ee ee te et ee Pa ee on, in front of the residence of the archbishop, Juan Pablo Gallegos, been a deputy under Sheriff Chavez, was shot and killed by Francisco who had Gonzales y Borrego, while in company with Laureano Alarid, Antonio Gonzales y Borrego, and another. Gallegos was lying in wait for Gonzales y Borrego; at the time entire territory; by reason of his personal er en ee ieee e a presence, his -« i a 7 sae 7 C= a . a eeTe Mb! . Te paeee es ph. Cok be keene na eer Pa ee PhO et AS Soo Oe PIP FO tH er a ee Set eet er ee eb, ee ern tek Re oR Ree a® ee Fe oes) eer » a a eee a a eee San ener ne en Pie district, to preside. each found guilty. if generous disposition, and other commendable traits of character, Chavez had many friends and followers. His prominence and the cowardly character of his murder aroused intense public feeling and indignation. Investigation, during the administration of Governor Thornton, who succeeded L. Bradford Prince in the office, led to the arrest of Francisco Gonzales y Borrego, his brother, Antonio Gonzales y Borrego, Laureano Alarid, Hypolito Vigil, and Patricio Valencia. At the time of the arrests, Vigil was killed while resisting the officers. At the June term, 1894, of the district court, Santa Fé county, they were indicted for the murder of Chavez. At the March term, 1895, a special term was called by N. B. Laughlin, associate justice; Judge Laughlin deemed himself disqualified to sit and asked Associate Justice H. B. Hamilton, of the 5th The trial began April 28, 1895, and the defendants were A motion for a new trial was overruled. An appeal was taken to the supreme court, but the judgment was affirmed. Other proceedings were had in the supreme court of the United States, but without result favorable to the defendants. Efforts were made with the president of the United States to secure a commutation of the sentence. They were unavailing. The principal counsel for the accused was Thomas B. Catron, who, on account of the vigorous manner in which he had conducted the defense, the money which been expended, and the malicious statements and insinuations of and enemies, was charged with having more than a professional outcome of the case. The defendants were finally hanged. necessarily had political rivals interest in the Prior to their execution they confessed their guilt, but denied that Mr. Catron or any other with the crime had been con- spiracy owing to his intimacy with a woman with whom Chavez was also 0D friendly terms. Laureano Alarid was a relative by marriage of the Borregos. A desire for political supremacy may possibly have been a motive, but at the time Chavez was assassinated he had ceased to be county; the effort on the part of designing persons publican politicians with this infamous a political to connect * EE Pt eon ad Revenge was the controlling 8 charged Courtesy LT TES } of nf ITenry Dp. Pa) A I-A Pe PP rrr ere a PO AP Cotas Pt ee ee “2° oe eee ee abe toe ee eee ote Oe BR pane ee erie a“ PS ON formally Macdona Battle of San Juan power in the prominent ord crime was born of malice and a sels desire to discredit and effectually silence the really in control of the republican party. powerful men at that time Re been Pe had Teal of those who motive in this great crime. The mother of Faustin Ortiz, at whose residence these men were accustomed to meet at times, exerted an influence over them 0” account of the murder of her son. Hipolito Vigil became a party to the con Pw outside nected with the murder in any capacity whatever. r3 and throughout the he 2 areewre =e e +‘-a-4 OS™yy of . the mother et ps Chavez, ae Sheriff TPO of PP IES YF (tho Sins ee ee ee ee eek ae the murder I After pl acquitted. Faustin Ortiz no longer insisted that the murderers of her son should be punished. Prior to that time her demands upon the governor and the prosecuting officers had been most vigorous, but no evidence was available which would justify an indictment, and the trial of any one would have resulted in an acquittal. The murder of Sheriff Chavez created a great sensation in Santa Fé aed ee ee ee Se ek eee ioe, eine i ee oe oor Pe eee Sk er ak. Cee ae “ rans BR APE. and ere 4 eee ee of his death he was endeavoring to fire his own pistol; a knife and a sling-shot or ‘billy’? were found on his person. Gonzales y Borrego was tried for this killing ee ee city to his residence across the Rio Santa Fé, at a point on the Denver and Rio Grande railway bridge, almost in front of the Guadalupe church, Francisco Chavez, who had resigned his office of sheriff, was brutally assassinated. Later ee ber mee tragedy resulting from the killing of Sylvestre Gallegos was the assassination of Francisco Chavez, ex-sheriff of Santa Fé county, one of the most prominent men in the community, and the hanging |