Silver City Enterprise — 1888-1890 (full OCR, Internet Archive) — 1890-08-29
source date: 1890
availability: public-domain

Court Proceedings Fifth Day Friday The trial of Frank Murray and Geo. West, indicted for stealing three horses from Davies and Lesinskey’s ranch at San Augustine, Dona Ana county, was concluded at noon today. The jury were out only a short time and brought in a verdict of guilty. This afternoon the trial of the territory vs. Walter Birchfield took place. The defend- ant with four others was charged with flourish- ing and firing a pistol at Hachita on the 25th of December last. Defendant’s counsel objected to the indictment on the ground that four or five persons could not be guilty of firing the same pistol at the same time, and if they fired the same weapon at different times or fired different pistols at the same time this would constitute separate crimes for which each should be indicted separately. The court held the point well taken. The district attorney then dismissed as to all but Walter Birchfield. The jury returned a verdict of guilty and assessed the punishment at $50 fine for which Birchfield felt quite thankful. Charley Wing, the Chinaman who was in- dicted for burglarizing Mrs. Shepards hard- ( 26 ) ware store and stealing a lot of watches from John Foley who kept his jewelry shop in part of the same building, was tried by a jury and found guilty. He will go to the penitentiary for three years.

e Chinaman who was in- dicted for burglarizing Mrs. Shepards hard- ( 26 ) ware store and stealing a lot of watches from John Foley who kept his jewelry shop in part of the same building, was tried by a jury and found guilty. He will go to the penitentiary for three years. The case of the territory vs. Richard Hay- wood, the negro soldier who shot up the town of Central City last May, was convicted by the jury and given three years in the pen. He kept up a fusillade on the town with a Springfield rifle from 1 o’clock in the morning till 8 o’clock. He continued firing promiscuously at houses, and defied the officers of the law to arrest him. Every time an officer tried to take him he turned his weapon loose on him, fortunately without shooting any one, although he came very near hitting the peace officer on several occasions. He was finally overpowered by a squad of soldiers from the fort. Haywood evi- dently got his deserts. Drowned

tried to take him he turned his weapon loose on him, fortunately without shooting any one, although he came very near hitting the peace officer on several occasions. He was finally overpowered by a squad of soldiers from the fort. Haywood evi- dently got his deserts. Drowned On Tuesday last Thomas Moore of the Mimbres started for home with a large load of supplies valued at over $200. He was accom- panied by George Rickets. When they reached the Mimbres crossing at Hicks ranch they found the river a raging torrent overflowing the banks. The rapid flow of the water together with the rumbling of large boulders which were being carried down from the mountains above, created an appalling noise. They did not appre- ciate the danger and attempted to cross. When near the middle of the stream the mules were lifted from their feet and their floundering, to- gether with the rapid current upset the wagon, precipitating both men into the angry water. The mules freed themselves from the wagon and reached the bank.

attempted to cross. When near the middle of the stream the mules were lifted from their feet and their floundering, to- gether with the rapid current upset the wagon, precipitating both men into the angry water. The mules freed themselves from the wagon and reached the bank. Geo. Rickets attempted to save some ar- ticles in the wagon and in doing so became en- tangled in the bushes and brush with which the river is lined, he was drawn beneath the water by the force of the current and drowned. The body was carried down the strpam about one and one-half miles and lodged against a fence on Anthony’s ranch. After a severe struggle Tom Moore reached the bank in safety. The wagon has not yet been found and has probably been broken to pieces. Indian Depredations Carl Ehrman and Peter Rigg Added to the Long List of Killed In addition to the killing of Hal Williams, reported as having occurred near Hachita in last week’s Enterprise, we have again to chronicle the sad and tragic taking off of other pioneer citizens of this county, namely, Carl Ehrman and Peter Rigg, who met their fate in the big Hatchet mountains on the day following the killing of Hal Williams.

near Hachita in last week’s Enterprise, we have again to chronicle the sad and tragic taking off of other pioneer citizens of this county, namely, Carl Ehrman and Peter Rigg, who met their fate in the big Hatchet mountains on the day following the killing of Hal Williams. Captains Keys, who was camped at Lords- burg, on hearing of the killing of Williams, made a night march to the scene of the murder, took up the trail and followed it to Emery springs, where the body of Peter Riggs was found, with two bullet holes through the heart. Riggs was given a hasty burial when the trail was again followed, and on the west side of the big Hatchet, the mangled remains of Carl Ehrman, one of the pioneer citizens of Deming, was found. He had been shot and his head mashed in with a large stone. Ehrman knew that the Indians were in the country but had gone prospecting, and was doubtless surprised and killed. Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert of Alamo Hueco ranch assisted at the burial. Captain Keys followed the trail still further towards the Mexican border, but a heavy rain came on and completely obliterated the trail. The country is still flooded with water, and is so boggy as to be almost impassable.

Gilbert of Alamo Hueco ranch assisted at the burial. Captain Keys followed the trail still further towards the Mexican border, but a heavy rain came on and completely obliterated the trail. The country is still flooded with water, and is so boggy as to be almost impassable. Captain Keys has had many years experi- ence in Indian campaigns on the frontier, and it is said that he was thoroughly convinced that the depredations had been committed by Apaches, notwithstanding the official report from the war department that there is only one Indian, a Mr. Kidd, off the reservation. A rumor to the effect that seven Indians were seen near Cook’s Peak by four different men comes to us through apparently reliable channels. If this is correct it would seem that there is more than one band of marauding Apaches abroad in the land, consequently other depredations may be looked for in the future. In fact the season is propitious for Indian troubles, and it is well for people who have much mountain work to do to be on their guard. The southwestern part of this county has not been free of Indian raids for only a few months ( 27 )

may be looked for in the future. In fact the season is propitious for Indian troubles, and it is well for people who have much mountain work to do to be on their guard. The southwestern part of this county has not been free of Indian raids for only a few months ( 27 ) at a time since 1883. Not a season has passed but horses have been stolen and cattle killed by them, and on several occasions they have been seen by as reputable men as reside in this county. At one time Oscar Roberts with a band of followers overtook and exchanged shots with them just as night was coming on, and yet in the very face of all this the war department deems it necessary to inform the citizens that there is but one lone, solitary Indian off the reservation, and he in Mexico. How long, oh Lord, are the people of Ari- zona and New Mexico, and especially of Grant county, going to be set up as targets for these fiends to shoot at? How long will the philan- thropists of the seat be allowed to dictate the policy of the government of these curses of civilization, these cowardly murderers of hard working citizens and tortures of innocent women and children? Echo answers, and the people grow weary waiting.

How long will the philan- thropists of the seat be allowed to dictate the policy of the government of these curses of civilization, these cowardly murderers of hard working citizens and tortures of innocent women and children? Echo answers, and the people grow weary waiting. There are plenty of troops in the east and middle states whose principal occupation is shooting at inanimate targets. Why can’t they be sent to the border to protect the lives and property of the pioneers who are struggling against many adversities, to reclaim a desert country and build up a home for themselves? Here is where they are needed for real business. There is no sense in leaving hundreds of American citizens at the mercy of such mon- sters. They are emboldened in their deviltry by the knowledge that even if they are captured they will be returned to the reservation, and will be cared for at the indirect expense of the relatives and friends of their unfortunate vic- tims. It is a ruinous policy, and until it is changed Indian troubles may be looked for in this section of the west. They should be removed from San Carlos or exterminated.

nd will be cared for at the indirect expense of the relatives and friends of their unfortunate vic- tims. It is a ruinous policy, and until it is changed Indian troubles may be looked for in this section of the west. They should be removed from San Carlos or exterminated. Warrants have been served on Sheriff Chaves, Ex-U. S. marshal, R. Martines, probate judge, Baca, justice of the peace, Rodriguez, the chief of police and eleven others for the murder of Faustin Ortiz, in Santa Fe in March last. The sheriff has also been indicted for the non-compliance with the law in turning over funds belonging to the territory. Nice set of county officials! Court Clatter Grinding Right Lively. — Good, Long Sentences, Monday — Seventh DayJose Dominguez and Desidoria Ochoa were tried today for burglarizing Ed Dicken- son’s house and stealing therefrom a suit of clothes, rifle and double-barrelled shot gun. The crime was committed in May last. The criminals were captured by a Deming officer a few days afterwards. When captured they had a large assortment of door keys in their possession — skeleton keys among the lot as well as pincers, nippers, screw drivers, and a motley collection of traps of various kinds. They were shown to be the very worst class of sneaking, low down, skulking house thieves.

ey had a large assortment of door keys in their possession — skeleton keys among the lot as well as pincers, nippers, screw drivers, and a motley collection of traps of various kinds. They were shown to be the very worst class of sneaking, low down, skulking house thieves. The property was found in their possession and the way they accounted for it was humorous. They claimed they met another Mexican on the railroad six miles this side of Whitewater at a bridge. They were entire strangers to each other. Being tired they all stopped to rest, the sun being quite hot. The Mexican stranger seemed to have fallen in love with a hat worn by one of the defendants — an ungainly looking sombrero. The stranger had the rifle, shot-gun, clothes and a lot of other tricks and bantered one of the defendants to play cards, offering to put up the rifle against the hat; each one by chance having three decks of cards. They played monte, and the defendants won. The stranger then put up the shot gun, the defend- ants won again. Next was put up the suit of clothes, the defendants won again. Finally the stranger staked all he had left to his new friends. The two defendants then went their way and the stranger came on toward Silver City, stripped of all his property. He was never seen after he parted from the defendants.

of clothes, the defendants won again. Finally the stranger staked all he had left to his new friends. The two defendants then went their way and the stranger came on toward Silver City, stripped of all his property. He was never seen after he parted from the defendants. It is thought by some that his losses so preyed upon his mind that he committed suicide in some gulch. Inasmuch as the defendants couldn’t produce the man whom they won the goods from, the jury brought in a verdict of guilty, and the judge to clinch the verdict gave them four years in the penitentiary. Moral : Never stop to gamble with a stranger on the lonely plains, even if you do win you are liable to get the worst of it. ( 28 ) Population Of Towns It is not possible from the census figures, at present, to give the population of all county seats, but the following are correct : Santa Fe, 6,038 (within one and one- quarter miles of plaza); Albuquerque, 3,794; Old Albuquerque, Los Griegos and Los Cande- larios, 2,265; Las Vegas, east, north and south towns, 4,693; Silver City, 2,252; Las Cruces, 2,416; Tierra Amarilla and Ranchos, 1,812; Los Lunas, Los Lentas and Los Chaves, 1,140; Lincoln, 1,000. — Albuquerque Citizen.

querque, 3,794; Old Albuquerque, Los Griegos and Los Cande- larios, 2,265; Las Vegas, east, north and south towns, 4,693; Silver City, 2,252; Las Cruces, 2,416; Tierra Amarilla and Ranchos, 1,812; Los Lunas, Los Lentas and Los Chaves, 1,140; Lincoln, 1,000. — Albuquerque Citizen. Pat Devine, who is now held under $10,000 bonds for the killing of Pat Hines at Hachita, was the hero of an Indian fight near Hachita in 1883 which is worthy of note even at this late date. Bob Anderson, then foreman for Head and Hearst, and Pat Devine were traveling across the country in a wagon when they were attacked by Indians. Devine was knocked out of the wagon by the force of a ball, but the wound proved to be slight. Anderson was shot through the leg and fell in the wagon. Devine quickly recovered himself and under a heavy fire ran and overtook the wagon. Anderson was able to hold the horses and Devine made it so lively for the Apaches that they soon took shelter behind a knoll some distance away. Devine tied the horses to the wagon, got An- derson on his back and carried him to an open space some two hundred yards away, where he built a stone barricade around him. He then returned to the team, which he led to the barricade, being fired on several times by the Indians. From that time on until dark every time an Indian showed his head a bullet from Devine’s Winchester landed in that im- mediate vicinity. After dark Devine made a scout around, then hitched up and brought An- derson to Hachita in safety. Anderson laid at Deming for several weeks under medical treat- ment, and is now mining arounud Hachita.

ead a bullet from Devine’s Winchester landed in that im- mediate vicinity. After dark Devine made a scout around, then hitched up and brought An- derson to Hachita in safety. Anderson laid at Deming for several weeks under medical treat- ment, and is now mining arounud Hachita. In the afternoon the case of the territory vs. Dick Huber and Albert Mayfield was called for trial. Huber concluded it would.be better for him to plead guilty, which he did. He will receive his sentence tomorrow. Albert Mayfield stood his trial. A jury was empaneled. Huber came to his rescue and tried to swear him out of the attempted robbery. Mayfield denied having

trial. Huber concluded it would.be better for him to plead guilty, which he did. He will receive his sentence tomorrow. Albert Mayfield stood his trial. A jury was empaneled. Huber came to his rescue and tried to swear him out of the attempted robbery. Mayfield denied having any hand in it also each of them testified that Charles Fetterly and Henry Gray were in the conspiracy to rob although they took no part in the assault. Fetterly and Gray were arrested on this same testimony a few months ago and a full hearing was had before justice of the peace Givens. They completely broke down the evidence of Huber and his pal and estab- lished their innocence by an overwhelming number of witnesses. The justice discharged them. The defendant Mayfield was proven guilty beyond all doubt. The jury were out but a few minutes and brought in a verdict of guilty. Both of the amateur highwaymen will go to the pen. Several motions were disposed of and a number of indictments were brought in by the grand jury. I passed Uncle Billy Wilson’s the other day and let me tell you, Mr. Editor, that place needs a woman awful bad. So many lone widows in the country and so many places going to rack. If Uncle Bill should call at your office you might give him the address of the Widow Snodgrass.

Uncle Billy Wilson’s the other day and let me tell you, Mr. Editor, that place needs a woman awful bad. So many lone widows in the country and so many places going to rack. If Uncle Bill should call at your office you might give him the address of the Widow Snodgrass. In the morning when you are not feeling just right call at the Commercial and Wes will give you something that will straighten you out.