Probably one of the most remarkable as well…
source date: 1889
availability: public-domain

hat matter, in the southwest, was that of the trial of Ada Humes, charged with the murder of Jack V. Brown, of this place, last winter. The case was taken to Las Cruces from Grant County on a change of venue. The trial took place last week, occupying nearly five days. Counsel for the prosecution were Messrs. Rynerson & Wade; those for the defense were Messrs. Fountain, Fielder & Fielder and Bantz. What lent so much interest to the case was that in the first place she was looked upon as a good looking, well-developed young woman of 30 years, with a bright and intelligent countenance, and pos- sessed a very high nervous temperament. Those who knew nothing about the circumstances of the killing, lost sight of the fact that a murder had been committed, and with heroic and true western magnanimity, all sympathy was creat- ed in favor of the good looking defendant. Those who lived in Silver City at the time of the occurrence, looked upon it as a cold- blooded and unprovoked murder. Two minutes before the death of Brown he had no idea that he was going to be killed, or indeed, that any assault would be made upon him. The prisoner left her room with the pistol concealed in the bosom of her dress, wrapped in a silk hand- kerchief; from there she went to the saloon where she ascertained Brown was.

idea that he was going to be killed, or indeed, that any assault would be made upon him. The prisoner left her room with the pistol concealed in the bosom of her dress, wrapped in a silk hand- kerchief; from there she went to the saloon where she ascertained Brown was. She passed through the bar-room of the saloon, entering the gambling department. Brown, her victim, wras dreamily or lazily looking on a game of cards. She made some remark to him about killing him which attracted his attention, and losing his presence of mind for the time being, instead of grasping and taking hold of the prisoner, he retreated; it was this retreat that cost him his life. While in the act of running around the stove, thinking that he could place the stove between himself and the danger, and throwing up his hands as though to ward off the shot, the bullet struck the left side, passing between the ribs and imbedded itself in the flesh on the opposite side of the body, producing almost instant death. ( 23 )jealousy existing between her and a woman known as Claude Lewis. Immeditely before the killing a little boy by the name of Rosecranse was requested to bring two notes sealed in en- velopes, one to the woman Claude, and the other to the prisoner. These notes were written by the deceased, Brown, from the Centennial saloon.