Silver City Enterprise — 1888-1890 (full OCR, Internet Archive) — 1890-10-17
source date: 1890
availability: public-domain

Numerous Shooting Scrapes The last week has been prolific of shooting scrapes. The first one occurring last Saturday. It appears from the best information obtainable, that a deputy sheriff of Sierra County named Taylor had followed a Mexican horse* thief from Hillsboro to Separ and had arrested him, but not before the thief had disposed of part of the stolen stock. During the evening after the arrest the deputy being in a saloon at Separ

that a deputy sheriff of Sierra County named Taylor had followed a Mexican horse* thief from Hillsboro to Separ and had arrested him, but not before the thief had disposed of part of the stolen stock. During the evening after the arrest the deputy being in a saloon at Separ with the prisoner and somewhat remiss in his attention to the latter, the horse thief stepped out doors and disappeared in the darkness. The deputy next morning while trailing up his prisoner of the night before, met a Mexican named Chacon about one mile from Separ rid- ing one of the stolen horses toward town. The deputy accosted him and demanded the sur- render of the animal. Chacon demurred unless he were paid $30 which he had paid for the horse. The deputy took the horse by the bridle as also did the Mexican who had dismounted. During the wrangle the deputy fired two shots at Chacon, one taking effect, making slight flesh wounds through left breast and muscle of left arm. Chacon grasped his pistol which was hanging at the pommel of his saddle, returned the fire, shooting the officer through the right breast. The officer lies at Lordsburg in a pre- carious condition, his entire right side being paralyzed. The opinion seems to be that the officer was too previous with his pistol. No arrests. Another At Pinos Altos

e, returned the fire, shooting the officer through the right breast. The officer lies at Lordsburg in a pre- carious condition, his entire right side being paralyzed. The opinion seems to be that the officer was too previous with his pistol. No arrests. Another At Pinos Altos About 2 o’clock on Sunday morning last a shot was heard outside of a Mexican saloon at Pinos Altos. Those inside of the saloon on going out found Lucas Payan dying from a gun shot wound in the back. Two Mexicans who were found looking on were arrested and are now confined in the county jail. They deny any part in the shooting but say that Ramon Gon- zalez, a former partner of the deceased, was the one who did the shooting. Gonzalez cannot be found. From the October 24 f 1890, Issue of The Enterprise Tidings For Tax-Payers Read carefully the facts and figures taken from the report of the investigating committee soon to be published. Total amounts of warrants issued from April 10, 1888, to June 30, 1889 $91,514.08 Amount of raised warrants bonded 4,122.76 Warrants bonded more than once— - 788.63 TAX-PAYERS, think of it, $91,514.08 of your money expended in thirteen months and twenty days, or nearly $7000 per month. Of this sum $54,424.72 was paid out and the items never published in the printed proceedings of the board of commissioners. No wonder the ( 41 )

788.63 TAX-PAYERS, think of it, $91,514.08 of your money expended in thirteen months and twenty days, or nearly $7000 per month. Of this sum $54,424.72 was paid out and the items never published in the printed proceedings of the board of commissioners. No wonder the ( 41 ) people were not aware of the way in which their finances were being managed. And what have you to show for it? No public improve- ments, no roads, no bridges or school houses belonging to the county; absolutely nothing — not even a receipted bill or voucher to tell for what your money has been spent. All that is left to show for it is your bonded indebtedness of $219,900. — Think of it, and say at the coming election if you want a change in the administra- tion of county affairs. Murder Most FoulTuesday last J. P. Ownby arrived in Silver City having in charge Jonetas Chaves, a Mexi- can charged with the murder of a Chinaman at summit section house twenty-one miles from Lordsburg on the narrow gauge railroad be- tween Lordsburg and Clifton. The section men on their way home for supper passed the ac- cused about 400 yards from the section house. At the house they found the supper all ready and the food on the table warm but the Chinese cook missing.

the narrow gauge railroad be- tween Lordsburg and Clifton. The section men on their way home for supper passed the ac- cused about 400 yards from the section house. At the house they found the supper all ready and the food on the table warm but the Chinese cook missing. Groans were heard proceeding from the bottom of the well which is 140 feet deep and the unconscious Chinaman discovered at the bottom. Being hoisted to the surface he was found to be fatally wounded by a blow of an ax on the side of the head. He never recov- ered consciousness but died in a few hours. The Mexican was followed, arrested, and taken before Justice Titus, at Lordsburg, who sent him to jail to await the action of the grand jury. A new pair of blankets which were in the sec- tion house and about $40 in money which the Chinaman had were missing, but neither of these nor any other incriminating evidence was found with Chavez. A few small drops of blood were found upon his clothing which he says came from his nose bleeding. The evidence so far adduced is not in any way conclusive as to the Mexican’s guilt. One theory in regard to the murder is that it may have been com- mitted by an American section hand who was discharged the day before and who knew the Chinaman had the money.

bleeding. The evidence so far adduced is not in any way conclusive as to the Mexican’s guilt. One theory in regard to the murder is that it may have been com- mitted by an American section hand who was discharged the day before and who knew the Chinaman had the money. When the section hands met Chavez on their way home he acted in a natural and unsuspicious manner, this to- gether with the absence of the missing property makes it very probable that he is innocent. Chavez says he was born and raised in Las Cruces where he has many relatives and friends. Separ ShootingThe little railroad station of Separ is fast gaining notoriety for shooters and shooting scrapes. The latest up to date occurring on Thursday of last week, being a most atrocious and dastardly piece of business. During the day several miners had been discharged at Hachita and being paid off went to Separ, the nearest railroad point. Among the miners was one named Jackson who was supposed to have $480 in his possession. Two hard characters named William Walters, alias Broncho Bill, and Mike McGinnis, who had been laying around Hachita, followed the miners to Separ for the purpose of robbing them; more especially Jackson. Ar- riving at Separ the miners put up at Armstrong’s boarding house as also did the rustlers. Mr. Armstrong having gone to the ranch and Mr.

McGinnis, who had been laying around Hachita, followed the miners to Separ for the purpose of robbing them; more especially Jackson. Ar- riving at Separ the miners put up at Armstrong’s boarding house as also did the rustlers. Mr. Armstrong having gone to the ranch and Mr. Weems being out at the hay camp there was nobody to protect the home and family. The cowardly rustlers taking advantage of the sit- uation, and after all had retired for the night, commenced shooting up the house with the in- tention of scaring the miner Jackson out of the house and getting his money which they sup- posed to be in his grip sack. They did scare him and he ran out of the house in his shirt sleeves without hat or coat but took his money with him. The robbers then took his gripsack and hid it in a pile of ties, where it was found by the officers. Finding their prey escaped, they became maddened and furious, going to the telegraph office dressed only in their night clothes, they tried to kill a miner there await- ing the train and inaugurated a reign of terror at the depot, much to the annoyance of the lady operator, who during all this time had been wiring dispatch after dispatch to Lords- burg for aid.

dressed only in their night clothes, they tried to kill a miner there await- ing the train and inaugurated a reign of terror at the depot, much to the annoyance of the lady operator, who during all this time had been wiring dispatch after dispatch to Lords- burg for aid. Sheriff Whitehill and Robert Black, who happened to be in Lordsburg, took the first train for Separ and found every one hid out except the desperadoes who were sound asleep in bed. They awakened to look into the muzzle of two shot guns in the hands of the officers. Broncho Bill tried to draw his revolver which was in bed alongside of him, but had slid out of his reach. He reviled the officers saying they had taken a sneaking advantage of them and could not have arrested him in any other way. ( 42 ) deserts. Brutes who will terrorize defenseless women and children, destroying their furniture and home belongings, deserve the severest pen- alty within bounds of law. Fine grades of playing cards, Monte and Faro cards at Luke Bros. Murder And Suicide The Sad Termination of Two Rash PeopleThe startling information was flashed over the wires from El Paso to the Marshal of Silver City that Chas. Baine, better known as “Frenchy”, who had been the gardener at Hud- son’s for the past year, had killed Lucy Croenne and then suicided at the St. Charles Hotel. Mrs.

he startling information was flashed over the wires from El Paso to the Marshal of Silver City that Chas. Baine, better known as “Frenchy”, who had been the gardener at Hud- son’s for the past year, had killed Lucy Croenne and then suicided at the St. Charles Hotel. Mrs. Croenne for the past year has been in charge of “Nettie’s Place’’ on Hudson street. She was a tall, stylish, good looking dame of French extraction and was always demure and modest in appearance. Charles Baine, alias ‘“French’’, whose real name was G. Blane, was a man of pleasent address and agreeable manners, having been educated by the French government as a scientific farmer. He was then sent to some French colonies near the Suez canal but as he knew nothing of irrigation he made a failure there and afterward entered the French army. He soon tired of army life and came to America. About ten years ago he came to Silver City and at one time was well acquainted with nearly all the citizens here. He next turned up with Geronimo and was the Frenchman who supplied Geronimo with cartridges. He came near being captured and killed near the Mexican line dur- ing Geronimo’s raid but managed to make his escape. Soon after this he got into trouble with the Mexican government for smuggling. At this time he had about $15,000 which was spent to get out of the scrape.

came near being captured and killed near the Mexican line dur- ing Geronimo’s raid but managed to make his escape. Soon after this he got into trouble with the Mexican government for smuggling. At this time he had about $15,000 which was spent to get out of the scrape. He came to Hudson’s about two years ago and made the gardens a paradise. He was certainly the most scientific gardener and horticulturist who ever came to this country. “Frenchy” had spent some days in this city before the tragedy and seemed to be under a mental stress. To several friends h^ showed a pistol and said he had an enemy whom he ex- pected to kill. He had considerable money and was drinking heavily. On Friday last in com- pany with Lucy Croenne he left for El Paso. The following from the Times gives an ac- count of the murder and suicide :

ends h^ showed a pistol and said he had an enemy whom he ex- pected to kill. He had considerable money and was drinking heavily. On Friday last in com- pany with Lucy Croenne he left for El Paso. The following from the Times gives an ac- count of the murder and suicide : “It was on Friday evening on the arrival of the Silver City local,’ said Mrs. Moore, “That the dead parties registered at my house. They seemed quiet and were very good lodgers. At about five o’clock this morning two pistol shots were heard. I looked out my window thinking it was in the street but was told that it sounded as if the shots were fired inside my house. Thereupon I went into the hall and found noth- ing and so returned to my room. About 9 o’clock yesterday morning in answer to a spirit of un- easiness I knocked at the door of No. 3. As I have since found out the next door lodger asked “Who is there?” I mistook the voice for Blane’s and so thought it was all right.

- ing and so returned to my room. About 9 o’clock yesterday morning in answer to a spirit of un- easiness I knocked at the door of No. 3. As I have since found out the next door lodger asked “Who is there?” I mistook the voice for Blane’s and so thought it was all right. However at about 11 o’clock the chamber- maid came to me and said that the parties in No. 3 had not got up yet. At this moment it happened that Chief Lyons came up to enquire about the shots. We knocked at the door and received no answer. Upon this the chamber- maid procured a ladder and looked over the transom and she almost fell down as she gasped “both the man and the woman were dead in bed.” The chief then opened the transom and assisted Mr. Moore through and he opened the door on the inside. The sight was a terrible one. On the bed were stretched the dead bodies of the two people, she with a large bullet hole in the center of her forehead and he with the brains oozing from his skull. Both were in their night clothes and his left hand held her right by the wrist as if he was feeling her pulse, and a pistol lay just between them. Her head was hanging slightly over the edge of the bed and she had bled terribly as the bed clothes were saturated and there was a large pool of blood on the floor. The bodies were immediately re- moved to Dolan’s undertaking parlors.

e, and a pistol lay just between them. Her head was hanging slightly over the edge of the bed and she had bled terribly as the bed clothes were saturated and there was a large pool of blood on the floor. The bodies were immediately re- moved to Dolan’s undertaking parlors. A search of their joint possessions revealed about 77 dollars in cash. They evidently ex- pected to remain here but a short time as their effects were very few and contained in a hand bag. The revolver was a Colt’s 41 caliber and when seen had two empty chambers, two loaded and the two empty shells. There were a great many empty champagne bottles in the room sufficient to leave no doubt but that they both had been drinking very heavily. The only papers left were a bill of sale of a log cabin in ( 43 ) Silver Creek to Victor Croenne by Joe Britton, also a slip of paper bearing the name of Nevei Perea.” The husband of the murdered woman, Vic- tor Croenne, left for El Paso Tuesday. Arrest And Escape Of A Notorious Rustler

left were a bill of sale of a log cabin in ( 43 ) Silver Creek to Victor Croenne by Joe Britton, also a slip of paper bearing the name of Nevei Perea.” The husband of the murdered woman, Vic- tor Croenne, left for El Paso Tuesday. Arrest And Escape Of A Notorious Rustler For some time a band of Mexican horse thieves under the leadership of the notorious Santiago Montez, alias Jim Kirk, have infested the big Hatchet mountains. On Wednesday of last week the deputy sheriff at Hachita accom- panied by Andy Price of that place succeeded in capturing Montez, who was riding around the town drunk and flourishing a pistol. Montez told the officers that he would lead them to the rendezvous of the band which was com- posed of four or five Mexicans and one Ameri- can. Under one pretext or another he deferred going until near nightfall when they started for the camp of the outlaws. They were accom- panied by a detail of soldiers who were scouting for Indians and rode along together. Montez watched his opportunity and putting spurs to the quick little mustang he was riding, got away from the party. The officers fired several shots at close range but missed him. It is said the soldiers joined in the fusillade but did no better shooting than the civil officers and the fugitive escaped. Indians At Alma Two Men Killed

ttle mustang he was riding, got away from the party. The officers fired several shots at close range but missed him. It is said the soldiers joined in the fusillade but did no better shooting than the civil officers and the fugitive escaped. Indians At Alma Two Men Killed Captain Wm. French, manager of the W. S. ranch at Alma, arrived in Silver City last Mon- day and gives the following particulars of the killing by Indians on the ’Frisco river about 25 miles above Alma. On Thursday of last week Juan Jose Barrera accompanied by his two sons, Avaran and Manuel Barrera, left their home at the ’Frisco plaza with an ox team to bring a load of vegetables from their garden in the box canon of the ’Frisco river some five or six miles below. After getting their load they started on their road home. They had proceeded but a short distance when they were attacked by Indians, who fired at them from rocks on the west side of the canon. Avaran Barrera was killed at the first fire, being shot downward through the body. The father jumped from the

tarted on their road home. They had proceeded but a short distance when they were attacked by Indians, who fired at them from rocks on the west side of the canon. Avaran Barrera was killed at the first fire, being shot downward through the body. The father jumped from the wagon and ran thirty or forty yards when he was shot down. The other son, Manuel, who was behind on horseback, ran as fast as his horse would carry him to where he was hidden from view when he dismounted and escaped in the heavy underbrush. The fiends dragged the body of the old man from where it fell and threw it into the ’Frisco river. The boy Manuel ran to the house of Mr. Robeson, owner of the Box O brand of cattle about two miles down the river, where he found Mrs. Robeson and Mrs. Golden alone in the house, Mr. Robeson and Mrs. Golden’s son having gone to the plaza but a short time before, and making a narrow escape from the Indians as they were only a quarter of a mile ahead of the Barrera family. Manuel Barrera reported the killing of his father and brother by the Indians, and the terri- fied women barricaded the house the best they could and awaited in suspense the return of their husband and son. Manuel Barrera, bor- rowing one of the two rifles which were at the house, ran down the river about one mile to the house of a Mexican named Gerone.

the terri- fied women barricaded the house the best they could and awaited in suspense the return of their husband and son. Manuel Barrera, bor- rowing one of the two rifles which were at the house, ran down the river about one mile to the house of a Mexican named Gerone. Mr. Robeson and his companion on their return from the plaza came across the bodies of the two Mexicans in the canon but could not account for the murder as they had no thought of Indians being in the vicinity. Sending the boy to the house and passing his own home by a side trail Robeson proceeded down the river to the house of the Mexican Gerone, intending to tell him of the murder of his friends. Here the affair was explained to him by the son and brother of the murdered men. It was needless to say he reached home as quickly as possible. Not knowing in what number the Indians might be present they all remained hidden throughout the day. After nightfall Robeson, accompanied by his family and Mrs. Golden, went to the lower ’Frisco to give the alarm, arriving at the W S ranch between 3 and 4 o’clock in the morn- ing on Friday. A volunteer party was soon made up and repaired to the scene of the butchery, arriving there about 11 o’clock a.m., twenty-four hours after the men were killed. The trail showed three barefooted and one shod horse. Where the Indians had dragged the body of Juan Jose and where they had stood around while beating Avaran on the head, were found the tracks of two with moccasins and one bare- footed Indian. The trail was followed across the Salise mountains for several miles toward

horse. Where the Indians had dragged the body of Juan Jose and where they had stood around while beating Avaran on the head, were found the tracks of two with moccasins and one bare- footed Indian. The trail was followed across the Salise mountains for several miles toward ( 44 )

Where the Indians had dragged the body of Juan Jose and where they had stood around while beating Avaran on the head, were found the tracks of two with moccasins and one bare- footed Indian. The trail was followed across the Salise mountains for several miles toward ( 44 ) the reservation until lost among the rocks. Avaran Barrera, after being shot, was beaten about the head with an axe taken from the wagon and which was found near the body cov- ered with blood. Manuel Barrera owes his escape to having dropped a glove which he had turned back to look for. He heard the shots but supposed it to be somebody shooting at game or for amusement coming down the canon. When he came in sight one Indian was on top of the wagon looking for what he could steal. The Indian on top of the wagon immediately fired at him, the others then fired from the brush. He was so terrified that after dismount- ing he threw away nearly all his clothing in- cluding boots and hat and in this way ran to the houses below. The murder was one of pure wantonness, there being no arms or anything else in possession of the victims to tempt the cupidity of these monsters. The question occurs to us, of what use are U. S. troops at ornamental barracks of the interior states? Could they be of more service on this frontier? They might at least do picket duty around the reservation and let citizens know when the fiends were going out for a raid, if they could not intercept them.

use are U. S. troops at ornamental barracks of the interior states? Could they be of more service on this frontier? They might at least do picket duty around the reservation and let citizens know when the fiends were going out for a raid, if they could not intercept them. Mr. Lee, the owner of the stage line from Silver City to Cooney, who arrived last night, bringing the report of still another killing of two Mexicans above Alma. This makes four which have been killed in that section during the last few days. MOGOLLON MINES The Little Fanny reported on deck at the Wells Fargo’s express office last Monday with a gold and silver brick, weighing 100 pounds and valued at $1500. Fresh oysters received three times a week. Fresh fish twice a week and Brighton creamery butter constantly on hand, at McEwen’s.