SIR: In compliance with your recent request I submit herewith the following report of the business of this office for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1902: I invite perusal of the appended reports covering the five judicial districts of the Territory by the prosecuting attorneys thereof. The protection accorded life and property to-day under the law in New Mexico is a s ur e of pride to our people. All personal rights are as secure here and as much respected generally as in any of the old established States. In themselves our laws are of high character. The general assembly has of late years taken advanced ground on all SAN JUAN COUNTY, There has been no term of court held in San Juan County during the year ending June 30, 1902. There has not been sufficient business to justify the expense of a term of court. San Juan is the most peaceful county of the entire district. The so-called Sunday law is enforced throughout the entire first judicial district owing to the hearty cooperation and firm position taken by the judge of this district, Hon. John R. McFie. Owing to the fact that this law is not enforced in the neighboring cities of Albuquerque and Las Vegas there is much complaint from the business men of the city of Santa Fe that a great deal of trade is lost to them. There is therefore some foundation for complaint and their demand that this law be enforced over the entire Territory. The officers and grand juries of this district find that the Sunday law is as readily observed and easily enforced as any other law. The business men of the district generally favor the enforcement of the Sunday law provided that it is enforced in the neighboring cities of the other judicial districts. I would therefore recommend that the next legislature regulate this matter so that the operation of the law be made uniform throughout the entire Territory. I would also recommend the passage of a law allowing the governor of the Territory the power of offering rewards for the arrest of criminals and fugitives, as crime could then be made still more unpopular. There is one defendant indicted in this district for whom a liberal reward should be offered for his arrest and he could be captured. The petit juries of this district are largely composed of citizens of Spanish descent, and they are to be commended for their adherence to the law and the facts as shown by their verdicts. Very respectfully, E. C. ABBOTT, District Attorney for the First Judicial District of New Mexico. Hon. MIGUEL A. OTERO, ALBUQUERQUE, N. MEX., August 21, 1902. SIR: As district attorney for the counties of Bernalillo, Valencia, and McKinley, in accordance with your direction, I submit this report as to the business of my office during the year which ended June 30, 1902. In the county of Bernalillo the criminal business can be summarized as follows: Cases pending June 30, 1901 New cases during year....... Disposed of: Dismissed or stricken from docket with leave to reinstate.... In Valencia County the business is summarized as follows: Disposed of: Dismissed or stricken from docket with leave to reinstate Acquittals Pending June 30, 1902... The 29 new cases are classified as follows: Murder.... Crimes against persons, felonies Crimes against property, felonies Other minor offenses In McKinley County no court was held prior to June 30, 1902, the legislature having failed to fix any regular time for courts in that newly created county. It should be noted that while there appear to be 4 new murder cases in Valencia County, as a matter of fact there was but 1. Of the 4 cases, 2 were new indictments for offenses committed long before, the earlier indictments having been found faulty. so that the court was compelled to dismiss them. The 2 other cases were both for the same killing against 2 defendants, drawn so as to charge them differently and to meet any possible variation in the evidence. I invite special attention to the fact that these figures, when we consider the large area and population of the counties, indicate a very small amount of crime, especially in Valencia County. In Bernalillo County a large proportion of the crimes against property were committed by transient people passing through or staying temporarily in the city of Albuquerque, and not members of our resident population. At the time when I took charge of the office of district attorney, in the early part of 1901, there were 126 criminal cases on the dockets of Bernalillo and Valencia counties, and on June 30, 1902, there were but 33 such cases pending. Very respectfully, Hon. MIGUEL A. OTERO, Governor of New Mexico. F. W. CLANCY, District Attorney. LASCRUCES, N. MEX., August 8, 1902. SIR: I have the honor to submit herewith my annual report as district attorney for the third judicial district, comprising the counties of Otero, Donna Ana, Sierra, Luna, and Grant, covering a period from July 1, 1901, to July 1, 1902. The cases in which conviction were had were for the following offenses: The cases in which dismissals were had were for the following classes of crimes: Appeal cases from justice courts, dismissed on account imperfect pleadings and proceedings. Forgery (conviction on one indictment) Murder (defendant convicted on other indictment). Permitting minors to enter saloon Selling liquor to minors.. Obtaining money by false pretenses.. Total Cases dropped with leave were for following offenses: Larceny of sheep (defendant convicted on other indictment for same offense) Obtaining money by false pretenses (defendant convicted for same offense under other indictment). 512212 13 1 1 2 32 118 150 1 3 51 5 38 98 52 1 1 1 2 20 15520 |