Western History/Genealogy Department, Denver Public Library--X-7526 Sherriff J. Amarante Garcia, Ortiz, and Deputy Jack Eels

Ortiz Hung
Antonito, Colo. July 16.
Jose Abram Ortiz, who murdered O.E. La Due, paid the penalty of his crime today. Promptly at 10 o’clock he ascended the steps leading up to the scaffold led by Sheriff Garcia and Deputy EE. Else(?). He appeared perfectly calm and collected and did not move a muscle while the death warrant was being read.  Upon being asked if he had anything to say, he acknowledged the ----- and asked the forgiveness of all who were present. He held his head to one side when the noose was adjusted. Father Tomasin then offered a short prayer and while thus engaged the rope was cut and Ortiz fell eight feet. His neck was broke by the fall and no struggling was noticeable. At 1:25 p.m. he was pronounced dead and cut down. The remains were delivered to his brother.
     O.E. La Due was a miner. He had ---- the winter of 1889 at the Conejos camp in ------- the development of his claims. Early last March he started on show shoes from camp to go to Conejos, the county seat, where he was arranging a business project. The mail carrier reported to his fellow miners that he had passed him on the trail on the mountain side. At Eames’ saw mill above Cockrell he was again heard from as he stopped to exchange the customary ------ among friends and acquaintances in the mountains and told all the late news of the mines. From there was received the last word from him. Searching parties started from the mines and others from the valley. Days were spent in fruitless hunting. At length Sheriff Garcia and George Reekers(?), who was a partner of Le Due’s, found the body in the rear of the cabin of Jose Abram Ortiz partly buried. This cabin is in the canon of the Alam---, four miles from Gaines’ saw mill on one side and seven above the Mexican settlement of Capulin(?). The day after the body was found Sheriff Garcia arrested Ortiz on Hot Creek Capulin. When found he had on La Due’s jean overalls and shoes. La Due’s foot required a No. 9  shoe, while Ortiz’s needed only a No. 5. The discrepancy was remedied by large rolls of rags and paper.
     It was made evident at the trial at Conejos that La Due came to the cabin after dark, tired out after an all day’s hard tramp. He asked for supper and lodging Ortiz told him to stay and take pot luck immediately after eating La Due tumbled off to sleep, breathing hard Ortiz examined his clothes and found three handsome gold nuggets ---- in money, a heavy silver watch, a knife and a few trinkets. Ortiz again eyed the treasure. Going to a corner of the room he brought out an axe and calmly butchered his sleeping guest. Afterwards he dragged the body out of doors ------------------------------------ and covered it over with dirt, leaves and sticks. Marks of blood in the cabin were what led to the finding of the body. Most of the bedding that was stained, was burned. Taking the clothes and the pittance of treasure from his victim and doing up a small bundle of his own effects the assassin started for La Jara and from there went to Antonito. At the trial, Senator Adair Wilson, who had been appointed to defend Ortiz, made a gallant effort to show that the killing was done itself (rest of article is unreadable.)

Colorado Spring Gazette, Colorado Springs, July 17, 1889  

©Shauna Williams