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ROPER A FREE MAN.itclfitKfri on Account of the Failure of tin* Territory l« !aii«h the Trial.Judge Dante, holding a term of the District Court in Sierra county has discharged John A. Roper from custody and dismissed all the indictments against him. The action of the court is equivalent to acquittal, und Roper may not he put In jeopardy again. The charges against Roper were murder, attempt to roh and carrying a concealed weapon.In February, 1898* Roper, who was employed as a cowboy on a round-up across the river, came into Las Cruces und got drunk. Toward evening ho rode out toward camp, and it was alleged that he held up and attempted to rob a Mexican whom he met on the road. Samuel Steele, a young student at the college, was driving to town along the Same road, and it was supposed that he also met Roper ami that the latter attempted to “run a blaze” on him with a six shooter and pulled the trigger, possibly without intending to do ho. Steele was found dying in the mad, where he had fallen from the buggy, with a bullet in his brain.Roper was pursued, arrested and charged with the limrder of young Steele. The community was greatly excited, and a meeting was held to organize a vigilance committee. Some of the citizens present wanted to hang Roper at once, hut Sheriff Lohinftn informed them that he should protect the prisoner at all hazards. and the meeting contented itself with resolving that a change of venue should not he granted, that the citizens would hang Ro|»er if lie should not Im* tried here and that counsel should he employed to defend him. The commit tee hired a drunken lawyer, and the trial was had at once. Roper complained in court of the condition of his attorney, and at the last moment other counsel came into the case.Within nine dayg after the killing of Steele, ItopOr was indicted, tried ami sentenced to he hanged. Application was made to the supreme court for a new trial and was granted, and a change of venue was taken fo Sierra county. Three terms of court were held without bringing Uo|*er to trial, there U*ing no money in the court fund of Dona Ana county to pay the excises «»f a trial. Roper wan ready for trial at all times, hut was kept in the county jail for two years. It is the law that the territory cannot posl|one trial over two terms without the consent oi the defendant, and at the recent term of court in Sierra, Rojkt’s counsel applied for a writ of habeas corpus and demanded his release. Arguments were made by Messrs. Ferguson. Young and Rtdl for Uojmt. and the court held that Roper was entitled tu his liberty.Roper was released from jail yesterday.and went to Silver City. He is a bright, intelligent young man, and never has given the sheriff any trouble while in jail. If he fired the shot that killed young S’.eele, and it is generally believed that he did, although there is no direct evidence, it is admitted that the shooting was the act of a drunken lunatic and not the outcome of delil»orate purpose.— Independent Democrat.
Newspaper Details
The Eagle
Silver City, New Mexico, US
Wed, May 08, 1895
Page 14
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 12 Nov 2024
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