Basalires Martinez
Obituaries
Eagle Valley Enterpirse page 1 - July 19, 1956
Eagle Valley Enterprise page P 1 - September 6, 1956
Martinez to Die in Gas Chamber
Besalires Martinez, 44-year old Red Cliff man will pay with his life, tomorrow, for the 1955 slaying of Perfecto Cruz, Red Cliff tavern owner. Martinez, father of eight children, barring a last minute reprieve from Gov. Johnson, will be the first victim of the new gas chamber in the State Penitentiary at Canon City. Martinez was convicted in January 1955, of fatally wounding Cruz in the latter’s tavern, as the victim’s wife and customers looked on. For the first time in Eagle County’s history, the jury recommended the death penalty. An appeal bv Martinez was rejected last July by the Colorado Supreme Court, which set the execution for the week ending Sept. 8. The new $lO,OOO chamber replaces one which has been In use for 20 years and eliminates the long last walk from death row. It Is onlv a few steps from death-row cells. Martinez mav become the 69th to be executed bv the state.
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