Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1858-01-29
PUNISHMENT OF JUANgLA YACA

PUNISHMENT OF JUAN,LA YACA.
One morning while going the rounds
of my patients. Ireceived message from
Capt. DELAY. requesting my attendance
at tbecamp Of the Mississippiaus to ex-
anime the body of one of his men found
murdered in the town. The body was
found by a woman, hanging from an Or
ange tree in her garden. with hair lasso
about the neck. found the body lying
in front of the tent the man while living
had occupied. The rope was still attach
ed to the neck, and the assassin had re-.
sorted to no other means than strangula-
ton to accomplish his purpose. We re-
paired to the place where the woman had
discovered the body, and on examination
found that the man had been lassoed at
an unoccupied house, whence he was
dragged a number Of rods to the garden,
and had been suspended from the tree.
While the investigation was going on,
the people of the place were gathered
around US, and offering their assistance
to detect the murderer. One present de-
clared that he recognized the lasso as the
property of Juan Lavaca. Others then
asserted that the deceased bad been seen
gambling on the day previous with La
Vaca, and had won several dollars from
him; that the latter had been heard to
threaten, that if he could not recover the
amount at cards, he would take it from
the dead body of the 'Maldlto America
no. -a
This Juan La Vaca was an outlawed
rob5er, and most notorious thief who
during the possession of the town by US,
had ventured to present himself among
the citizens occasionally. without fear Of
arrest by the Alcalde, whose functions as
a magistrate had been partially suspen-
ded.
From all the circumstances and testi-
mony we could gather, no doubt remain
ed that this fellow was guilty of the MUIR
der, and search was immediately y institu-
ted through the town for him. But he
had left not having been seen since early
in the morning. 1t taPPeared that he had
stolen a horse from friend, at whose
house he had been entertained, and had
escaped. "'| .1f
The excitement, in the mean time, be-
came great amongst the citizens, who
were loud in their expressions of horror
at the deed. All were ready to give tes.
timony against La Vaca as a worthless
vagabond and heartless cut throat, for
whom hanging was far too good. =
At length after reward had been
promised for the apprehension of the
murderer. La Vaca was captured and
brought in by party of his own coun-
trymcn. -"
He was villainous looking scoundrel.
and the very one, of all others, that a
physiognomist would have selected as an
assassin at cheap bribe. 2"i
The fellow was delivered to the com.
rades of the murdered man. who that his
examination might be conducted with al
due .propriety, without offending the
sense of Justice entertained by the citi
zens brought him before the alcalde.-
The Mexican, however, waving all for
malities of legal investigation. confessed
his crime-avowed that he had taken the
life of soldier to recover the amount o
five dollars the latter had won from him
at the gaming table. The Mississippian'
now returned to their quarters with the
prisoner in charge, who was confined tt
the stocks to await execution.
l called on him and found him smoking
his cigarette. His poor old mothe
stood by his side-she was faithful tt
him to the last-for mother will cling
with affection to her child, no matter how
deeply stepped IN crime and infamy he
may be. 1t was many months since they
had met, He had been an ungratefu
son, having neglected his aged parent
and left her a mendicant in the streets
while he was leading life of dissipation
and crime.
AS entered the court he was in con
versa,iou with his mother, who had Wis.
tied him with flod.
odd woman said he, why don't yot
go to the Americanos, and bay me off
The tears of whining old woman migh
move them to let me Off b.
oh, Juan!' cried the poor woman. .
have no heart to ask any favor for you
for know that you murdered the probre
Americana. You are bad wicked man
and have no right to hope for pity from
his friends. You must die! your broken
hearted mother cannot save you
'Esta buena! (all tightly returned The
hardened brlgand; and turning his head
from his weeping mother, commenced
whistling La Caohucha;' when pelIceiv
ing me standing near him, he stopped
and carelessly remarked:-.. ..,.tT -" - T
.,'Senor, the old woman tells me tha
your people are going to choke me te
DO you think you deserve it?' I en-
CURED. -
'9uien sabor be replied, with 'shru.
OF the shoulders. which express SO mucE
With the spanish race, and is an inyaria