Sierra County, New Mexico
Court Records
 

BUSY COURT TERM IN PROGRESS AT HILLSBORO

Grand Jury Returns Total of Twenty-Three Indictments;
Owens Murder Case Now Being Tried.

The first week of the regular May term of the Sierra county court resulted in the return of twenty-three indictments by the grand jury and seven no bills. The grand jury in their final report referred to two investigations they had made into two deaths alleged to have been caused by violence. One was that of the death of Adolfo Garcia at the Elephant Butte dam site last Christmas, as to which the jury stated that their unanimous opinion was that the deceased came to his death from exposure induced by intoxication. The other case was that of the death of Jeremiah Ribera, near Los Polomas, last summer. Their opinion as to this was that death was caused by lightning. These cases had already been investigated by the state authorities, but set all discussion at rest the grand jury made thorough inquiry into the facts, and after examining many witnesses reported their unanimous opinion as above stated.

W. H. Rahn, one of Orozco's gunners, who attempted to force his way onto a Santa Fe freight train with the use of a revolver, was indicated, and pleaded guilty, but has not yet been sentenced.

Ezra Miller, charged with unlawful cohabitation, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to one year in the penitentiary.

Gregorio Gallegos, indicted for carrying deadly weapons in a settlement, was sentenced to pay a fine of $125 and costs, on a plea of guilty.

The court tried a number of civil cases during the first week, and was very busily occupied.

The case of state against William Owens, the Santa Fe special officer, charged by indictment with causing the death of an Old Mexico native at Belen, last December, was taken up for trial today. This cause is brought here on a change of venue from Valencia county. Col. E. W. Dobson, of Albuquerque, appears for the defendant.

Albuquerque Morning Journal, May 16, 1912

 

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