Perfecto Cruz
Marriages
Lena Cruz
Burial Details
Obituaries
Eagle Valley Enterprise page 1 - December 2, 1954
PERFECTO CRUZ KILLED SUNDAY NITE.
Perfecto CRUZ, prominent Red Cliff businessman was killed by a 30.30 bullet as he stood in his tavern in Red Cliff early Sunday evening, as his wife looked on helplessly.
According to reports received here, MARTINEZ entered the building around 8 o'clock carrying a 30.30 rifle, which he held pointed in front of him, as he seemed to be searching for a certain person. Mr. CRUZ stood at the end of a bar in the room, and as he made a move, the gun was turned on him and fired. Other reports were that MARTINEZ said,"I'll get you this time."
Three shots were fired, but according to Coroner Todd BOWMAN of Eagle, only one bullet entered Mr. CRUZ's body. He had turned, as if to leave the room, when one bullet fired, lodged in the wall, and another entered in the left side of the victims back, shattering his liver and left kidney, before tearing through the stomach.
When Sheriff W. M. WILSON and his deputies arrived, Red Cliff's town marshal, Frank McDONALD, had Martinez in custody.
The fatal shooting climaxed trouble that started in January 1953, when MARTINEZ attacked Mr. CRUZ, slashing his arm with a sharp weapon on the tavern premises. MARTINEZ was charged at that time with assault with a deadly weapon, and served a sentence in the county jail.
Mr. CRUZ, who was about 40 years old, was one of Red Cliff's leading citizens, and had operated his place of business there for several years. He is survived by his wife and two daughters.
A coroner's inquest will be held in Eagle today.
Eagle Valley Enterprise page 1 - December 9, 1954
PERFECTO CRUZ BURIED IN RED CLIFF THURSDAY.
Funeral services were held at Red Cliff last Thursday for Perfecto CRUZ, who was killed Nov.28 by a 30.30 bullet fired at him in his place of business in Red Cliff. Besalines MARTINEZ, of Red Cliff is being held in the shooting.
The services were held at Mt. Carmel Church by Father Joseph LEBERER Thursday morning. The funeral Mass was sung by Mrs. Marguerite KNOTT, Minturn.
Burial services were directed by Moynahan and O'Malia, Leadville and burial was in Greenwood cemetery, Red Cliff.
Pall bearers were Sam GARCIA, Onev DURAN, Ben CHAVEZ, Eddie VIGIL, Abie CISNEROS and Michael RODRIGUEZ.
Mr. CRUZ is survived by his wife, Lena, and two daughters, Virginia and Cecilia.
Eagle Valley Enterprise page 1 - January 27, 1955
MARTINEZ GUILTY--DEATH PENALTY ASKED.
Besalires MARTINEZ, father of eight children was found guilty of first degree murder by an all male jury in District Court in Eagle Wednesday, after only three hours of deliberation.
For the first time in the history of court in Eagle County, the death penalty was recommended.
MARTINEZ was charged with premeditated murder of Perfecto CRUZ the night of Nov. 28, as CRUZ stood in his Red Cliff tavern. The shooting was witnessed by Mrs. CRUZ.
Witnesses testified that MARTINEZ entered the tavern around 8 o'clock, carrying a gun. He stepped toward the center of the front end of the building and shot at CRUZ, standing toward the back of the far end of the bar. CRUZ fell, or ducked down behind the bar. Testimony was that MARTINEZ then leaned over the bar and shot CRUZ again as horrified patrons looked on. CRUZ got up and ran toward a back room, followed by MARTINEZ,who hot the third bullet through the open rear door, fatally wounding CRUZ.
MARTINEZ left the building and went to his home 300 yards from the tavern, where he was arrested by Red Cliff marshal Frank McDONALD, a short time later. McDONALD testified that as he went to the MARTINEZ home, MARTINEZ opened the door, with his small children clinging to him, begging him to "stay home--don't go out anymore."
The defense council failed to establish proof that MARTINEZ was intoxicated at the time and unable to mentally plan the killing.
MARTINEZ was charged and convicted two years ago of assault on Cruz, when the latter was cut up, outside the tavern's front entrance. MARTINEZ had contended since then that he had not been guilty of the knifing, and the resulting disgrace and loss of employment had caused his family and himself to suffer.
CRUZ is survived by his wife and two grown daughters.
Marcellino GUTIERREZ, Santa Fe New Mex., attorney defended MARTINEZ. The state was represented by District Attorney Harold GRANT and A. J. LAING both of Leadville. The jury was instructed to find the prisoner guilty of first degree murder; or, guilty of second degree murder; or not guilty. With the first, penalty was to be either life imprisonment at hard labor or death.
MARTINEZ' attorney was granted 20 days in which to file motion for a new trial.
Serving on the jury were Jack JOHNSON, Earl NELSON, Mike BONOMO, Ellery BURFORD, . LEWIS, Kelly GRANGE, Stanley HORACEK, Stanley HERWICK, John BRIDGES, Art STREMME, Joe ALBERTSON, Adelbert BOWLES. Ralph BELDING was the 13th juryman.
Bill WELLINGTON, who was convicted of first degree murder three weeks ago, for the fatal shooting of his brother-in-law, Benny KLATT of Edwards last April, is in the county jail awaiting sentence. The jury had recommended life imprisonment in the WELLINGTON case.
