Silver City Enterprise — 1888-1890 (full OCR, Internet Archive) — 1888-07-06
source date: 1888
availability: public-domain

Pete Jensen In Trouble Last week Pete Jensen, formerly a Bear Creek cowman, was arrested and placed in jail at Tucson, Arizona, at the instance of Zecken- dorf & Company of that place, who claim that Jensen has swindled that firm to the amount of about $2200. After selling out here Jensen went to Nogales, Arizona, to engage in the mercan- tile business with his father in law, Wm. Smith, and was reported as doing well for some time. On leaving this county he received letters of introduction and credit from Lindauer & Co., which he seems to have used to good advantage in his new location. He bought goods by the car load and Zeckendorf & Co., had such confi- dence in Jensen that they went so far as to advance the freight charges to Nogales, where upon the arrival of a particular car load of flour Jensen immediately proceeded to smuggle it across the line into old Mexico, his creditors contend for the purpose of swindling them. He was arrested and now languishes in durance charged with embezzlement and other crimes, and thus far he has been unable to obtain bail.

lour Jensen immediately proceeded to smuggle it across the line into old Mexico, his creditors contend for the purpose of swindling them. He was arrested and now languishes in durance charged with embezzlement and other crimes, and thus far he has been unable to obtain bail. A stabbing affray that came near result- ing badly for Willis King, a well-known cow- boy, occurred here on the glorious day we cele- brated. King and a party of friends were en- joying themselves in the Board of Trade when a man named Charles Tate undertook to ring in on the crowd. A racket started in which Tate pulled his knife and cut King in the right side. Tate was arrested. ( 16 ) Pilar Perez Pays The Penalty The Murderer of Thomas Hall Expiates His Crime on the Scaffold The condemned man passed his last night as though he had a long life still before him. He slept well, ate a hearty breakfast, and when asked by Sheriff Laird at 9 o’clock whether there was anything he wanted, replied, “No, I have had plenty.” He confessed to Father Girard on Wednesday and on Thursday re- ceived the sacrament.

had a long life still before him. He slept well, ate a hearty breakfast, and when asked by Sheriff Laird at 9 o’clock whether there was anything he wanted, replied, “No, I have had plenty.” He confessed to Father Girard on Wednesday and on Thursday re- ceived the sacrament. He seemed to have lost none of his bravado style notwithstanding his religious professions. The evening previous a woman peddling candy and fruits called at his cell and inquired as to whether he wanted any fruits or candy. He replied that if she would call for her money today after four o’clock that he would make some purchases merely to patronize her. He seemed the least concerned of any per- son about the jail, except, possibly, the darky Wilson, who pulled the rope that let the fatal drop fall. Wilson felt honored to be allowed to pull the rope and would not have missed the opportunity to thus distinguish himself for many dollars.

least concerned of any per- son about the jail, except, possibly, the darky Wilson, who pulled the rope that let the fatal drop fall. Wilson felt honored to be allowed to pull the rope and would not have missed the opportunity to thus distinguish himself for many dollars. Sheriff Laird gave the signal by a dropped handkerchief at 9:58, and Wilson, who was inclosed in a box out of sight of the spectators, pulled the rope. The drop was nearly seven feet. Pilar’s neck was broken in the fall. Thus the law is vindicated and the death of Thomas Hall is avenged by the hanging of one of the most desperate young murderers ever known in the southwest. There was one thing remark- able about the spectators present, not a single expression of sympathy was manifested for the condemned man during the breathless moments preceding the hanging. It was evident that the murderer had no real friends among the spec- tators. The detailed history of the murder of Deputy Sheriff Hall two years ago by Pilar Perez, has been published so often of late in connection with the trial and sentence, that no extensive account will here be given. Pilar and his sweetheart were coming to Silver City, on the Pinos Altos road, when they were overtaken by Hall. Pilar and other Mexi- cans had engaged in a fatal shooting affray on the Mimbres river because of the abducting or

that no extensive account will here be given. Pilar and his sweetheart were coming to Silver City, on the Pinos Altos road, when they were overtaken by Hall. Pilar and other Mexi- cans had engaged in a fatal shooting affray on the Mimbres river because of the abducting orelopement of the girl. The officer had been notified and had gone on a trip to intercept the shooting party. Not finding them he was re- turning to Silver City, and was just above town when he encountered Pilar and the girl and rode along with them a short distance. He was prob- ably recognized by the fugitive but did not not know Pilar, who watched for an oppor- tunity and shot the officer in the back, fatally. The murderer fled to Socorro, then to Albu- querque, next to Arizona. The girl, who came to the city, had promptly told who did the kill- ing. For nearly two years Pilar was at large. Shriff Lairde had been given a pointer and em- ployed a colored acquaintance of the murderer to shadow the fugitive. When Pilar went into Flagstaff one day from a sheep ranch where he was employed he met the colored man and recognized him. The frightened fellow had saved $100 and concluded to use it in fleeing to California. However, the colored man gave a deputy sheriff proper information. It was arranged to invite Pilar to a baile and while he was there his capture was easily affected.

and recognized him. The frightened fellow had saved $100 and concluded to use it in fleeing to California. However, the colored man gave a deputy sheriff proper information. It was arranged to invite Pilar to a baile and while he was there his capture was easily affected. While in jail at Flagstaff, he acknowledged the killing, saying that Hall shot twice at him. This was easily disproved by the condition of Hall’s revolver when found and the testimony of the Mexican maiden. However, the accused has stuck to his story and accused the girl of false- hood. At the last term of court the trial took place, there was practically no defense, and in a few minutes a verdict was given that sealed his doom.

found and the testimony of the Mexican maiden. However, the accused has stuck to his story and accused the girl of false- hood. At the last term of court the trial took place, there was practically no defense, and in a few minutes a verdict was given that sealed his doom. At the time of conviction and sentence the prisoner showed no particular excitement, and subsequently in the jail he talked about the matter dispassionately and fearlessly. He claim- ed that instead of abducting the girl he had won her away by love. Pilar was only about 27 years of age, rather short of stature, but fairly good looking, and by no means stupid. The shape of his head indicated a preponderance of animal nature, and one could easily tell that the mental faculties were not likely to be greatly excited by the prospect of disgrace and death, and that physical fear would not come unless at the last moment. He joked with the other prisoners, said he would return in spirit to see them hung, remarked that as a man was not born to live always he had as well die one day as another. He jocularly said he wanted to “go to hell on a black horse.” Early this week he gave up a ( 17 ) game of solitaire long enough to have a talk with Father Girard, but did not show great interest in religious matters.

live always he had as well die one day as another. He jocularly said he wanted to “go to hell on a black horse.” Early this week he gave up a ( 17 ) game of solitaire long enough to have a talk with Father Girard, but did not show great interest in religious matters. On Monday last the death warrant was read in Spanish to Pilar by John Patton, of the Enterprise office. Several days ago carpenters erected a scaffold on the north side of the court house and built around it a high board fence reaching to such a height that people on the hilltops and neighboring houses could not see anyone upon the scaffold. About 60 tickets of admission to the enclosure or to offices commanding a view were issued. Birt Carter, of the Mangas, caught a mon- ster female mountain lion last week at his ranch. It was brought into town and put into the same cage with the male lion captured by “Uncle Jim Metcalf” some weeks ago. The two play together like kittens.