Biography
T. R. Montoya was a New Mexico labor leader held on contempt-of-court charges for speaking at Gallup defense meetings and otherwise aiding the miners’ defense. The October 20 Santa Fe report says $5,000 bond was demanded for him, with the defense committee seeking release on recognizance or reduced bail. The requested release is not reported as completed. He is not identified with the later Empire Zinc prisoner Cipriano Montoya or Brighton defendant Candelario Montoya. Source: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/dailyworker/1935/v12-n253-NAT-oct-21-1935-DW-Q.pdf#page=4
The October 10 Gallup trial report in the October 11, 1935 Daily Worker identifies T. R. Montoya of Albuquerque as vice-chairman of the newly formed Labor Party and says he was arrested yesterday, October 9, on a contempt-of-court warrant for participating in a protest meeting. It reports him held in Farmington jail and alleges Judge McGhee denied access to his attorney. This is the existing Gallup-defense contempt case; the later report seeking reduced bail does not establish release. The article mentions warrants for twelve people including Frank Spector, but does not report Spector arrested. No physical jail-admission date, release day or complete actual custody total is supplied.
