Thomas J. Mabry
Encyclopedia
Thomas Jewett Mabry was a New Mexico
politician and judge, who was Chief Justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court
(1939–46) and the 14th Governor of New Mexico (1947–51).
Mabry attended the University of Oklahoma
and the University of New Mexico School of Law
. He settled in Clovis, New Mexico
, where he practiced law and published the local newspaper. He was a member of the New Mexico Constitutional Convention in 1910.
Mabry held numerous political and judicial posts, including serving in the New Mexico Senate
(1912–17); on the Albuquerque
City Commission (1926–27); as District Attorney
of Albuquerque (1932–36); and as a state district judge (1937–39). From 1939 to 1946, he was Chief Justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court. He was elected Governor as a Democrat
in 1946 and reelected in 1948.
Mabry is most famous for his involvement in the "Brushy" Bill Roberts hearing. "Brushy" Bill Roberts claimed to be the notorious outlaw William H. Bonney, a.k.a. Billy the Kid. A petition for the pardon of Billy the Kid was filed by William V. Morrison, a probate investigator, on November 15, 1950. Mabry agreed to a private hearing with Morrison and Brushy, along with one or two historians of Mabry‘s choosing, to be held on November 29.
On the morning of the 29th, as Morrison and Brushy ate breakfast at a Santa Fe diner, Morrison read in a local newspaper that Mabry had publicly announced his meeting with a Billy the Kid claimant. Morrison immediately telephoned Mabry, who apologized for making the announcement, but reassured him that the meeting would still be kept private. A few hours later, Brushy and Morrison arrived at Mabry's mansion. Upon entering the conference room, they were shocked at what they saw. Present in the room were several photographers and reporters, armed policemen, Oscar and Jarvis Garrett (Pat's sons), Cliff McKinney (Kip McKinney's son), Arcadio Brady (William Brady's grandson), and historians William Keleher, E. B. Mann, and Will Robinson. In short, the private meeting had developed into a media circus. Badly frightened, Brushy apparently suffered a mild stroke, and when the questioning began, he failed miserably. However, the men asking the questions seemed to treat the affair as something as a joke, some ridiculed him and refused to ask questions while others primarily asked meaningless questions (i.e. how many girlfriends he had, did he enjoy stealing livestock, etc.). He completely forgot basic information about himself and, when asked a question regarding the past of Billy the Kid, he couldn't remember Pat Garrett's name. Stating he felt ill, he was eventually taken to another room to lie down. Shortly thereafter, Governor Mabry made an announcement that he was not going to pardon Brushy, because he did not believe him to be Billy the Kid. Disappointed, Morrison took Brushy to a local doctor, Stan Lloyd, and when he was well enough, he took him home to Hico.
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
politician and judge, who was Chief Justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court
New Mexico Supreme Court
The New Mexico Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is established and its powers defined by Article VI of the New Mexico Constitution...
(1939–46) and the 14th Governor of New Mexico (1947–51).
Mabry attended the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
and the University of New Mexico School of Law
University of New Mexico School of Law
The University of New Mexico School of Law is the law school of the University of New Mexico, located in Albuquerque. It is the only law school in the state of New Mexico. Approximately 350 students attend the school, with approximately 115 enrolled in the first-year class...
. He settled in Clovis, New Mexico
Clovis, New Mexico
Clovis is the county seat of Curry County, New Mexico, United States. Its population was 32,667 at the 2000 census; according to 2010 Census Bureau estimates, the population had risen to 37,775....
, where he practiced law and published the local newspaper. He was a member of the New Mexico Constitutional Convention in 1910.
Mabry held numerous political and judicial posts, including serving in the New Mexico Senate
New Mexico Senate
The New Mexico Senate is the upper house of the New Mexico State Legislature. The Senate consists of 42 members, with each senator representing an equal amount of single-member constituent districts across the state. All senatorial districts are divided to contain a population on average of 43,300...
(1912–17); on the Albuquerque
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
City Commission (1926–27); as District Attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
of Albuquerque (1932–36); and as a state district judge (1937–39). From 1939 to 1946, he was Chief Justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court. He was elected Governor as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
in 1946 and reelected in 1948.
Mabry is most famous for his involvement in the "Brushy" Bill Roberts hearing. "Brushy" Bill Roberts claimed to be the notorious outlaw William H. Bonney, a.k.a. Billy the Kid. A petition for the pardon of Billy the Kid was filed by William V. Morrison, a probate investigator, on November 15, 1950. Mabry agreed to a private hearing with Morrison and Brushy, along with one or two historians of Mabry‘s choosing, to be held on November 29.
On the morning of the 29th, as Morrison and Brushy ate breakfast at a Santa Fe diner, Morrison read in a local newspaper that Mabry had publicly announced his meeting with a Billy the Kid claimant. Morrison immediately telephoned Mabry, who apologized for making the announcement, but reassured him that the meeting would still be kept private. A few hours later, Brushy and Morrison arrived at Mabry's mansion. Upon entering the conference room, they were shocked at what they saw. Present in the room were several photographers and reporters, armed policemen, Oscar and Jarvis Garrett (Pat's sons), Cliff McKinney (Kip McKinney's son), Arcadio Brady (William Brady's grandson), and historians William Keleher, E. B. Mann, and Will Robinson. In short, the private meeting had developed into a media circus. Badly frightened, Brushy apparently suffered a mild stroke, and when the questioning began, he failed miserably. However, the men asking the questions seemed to treat the affair as something as a joke, some ridiculed him and refused to ask questions while others primarily asked meaningless questions (i.e. how many girlfriends he had, did he enjoy stealing livestock, etc.). He completely forgot basic information about himself and, when asked a question regarding the past of Billy the Kid, he couldn't remember Pat Garrett's name. Stating he felt ill, he was eventually taken to another room to lie down. Shortly thereafter, Governor Mabry made an announcement that he was not going to pardon Brushy, because he did not believe him to be Billy the Kid. Disappointed, Morrison took Brushy to a local doctor, Stan Lloyd, and when he was well enough, he took him home to Hico.