The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-02-29

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! a young man, Is one of the most fearless and
daring despeIadoes that has ever figured in
| the criminal annals of our State. He was
born in Sonora, Lower California, in 1871.
His parents were of mixed Spanish origin,
and were, like a number Of Others Of the
same class, of rowing habits. His father was
rdqsero, and Tomaso at an early age was
| taught the same business. Being of a reck-
less nature, lie soon distinguished himself in
| that avocation. His mother was sister of
| the notorious Joaquin Murieta, whose deeds
Of violence have classed him rs the most no.
torious Desperate on the Pacifccoast. Early
| in the year 1853 bis parents left Sonora.
Getting their effects together, the family
travelled northward, finally settling in Los
| Angeles county. Young Rodendo soon be-
| came familiarized with daily stories of crime.
He had not been long in his new home be-
fore he gained the reputation of being a
fearless rider and reckless youth. When
but mere boy, in the year 1859, he muir
dercd a man named John Raines on the Gu
camungo Ranch, in the southwestern section
Of Los Angeles county. A short time after
| this he removed into the northern counties
of our State, and finally settled in Alameda
county. He associated himself with daring
gang of desperadoes whose headquarters
were in Livcrmore Valley. Here his wild
and reckless disposition became known to
the members Of the gang, and in short
time he assumed the control OF. the despera-
does and acted as their leader. The farmers
| in that section of the country remem-
Der distinctly the nocturnal visits Of
! these marauders, and the deeds Of violence
which were perpetrated daily about the year
| 1850. Shortly after he assumed control of
Al 1>x-{ I>a nf
| who lived in Corral Hollow, were murdered.
The family consisted of Golden and his wife
| and two children, all Of whom were brutally
assassinated. A cattle-herder "a MeXican)
stated that he had witnessed the murder, and
said that Procopio (the name Rodendo was
known by in that vicinity was the guilty
party. The herder's story was unheeded,
and he himself persisted on the scatfold for
crime of which he was innocent. Procopio
associated himself after this affair with Mar
cisse Bojorques and Charo Ortego, the latter
Of whom is now in Mexico. These three
men were arrested in 1862 for the murder,
but were finally liberated, there being no
evidence against them sufficient to convict.
In the year 1868 Procopio, Narcisse, and
another man, were suspected Of having stolen
a lot of cattle from farmer by the name of
Pope, whose ranch was on the Arroyo Vaya.
Pope went to San Leandro, procured a war
rant, and placed it in the hands of Constable
| o. i. Wood, who had been informed that
Procopio was in Alvarado. He proceeded
thither, and caught his man in the act Of re-
ceiying money from August Maye, 4 butcher
in that place. Wood, seeing his man, drew
his pistol and covered him with it, at the
same time telling him to throw up his hands.
Procopio said he was unarmed, and Wood
returned the pistol to his pocket. No sooner
had he done so than Procopio drew his pis-
tol and fired at Wood, the ball striking him
in the arm. The effect Of the shot was so
great As to cause Wood to stlgger, and before
he could recover himself Procopio started to
run through the main street Of the town,
at the same time flourishing his pistol
\ number Of people followed him, and
others observing he was running in
the direction of the bridge. took pos
session of it, thus preventing all escape
in that quarter. Finding he was blocked,
Procopio took his pistol between his teeth,
leapcd into the water, and swan across. The
stream at the place he plunged in was about
fifty or sixty feet wide. After gaining the
opposite bank he started to run in the direc-
ton of the salt marsh, closely followed by tile
officers and citizens. Finding that he was
run down, lie turned on his pursuers and
began firing at them. They returned the
fire, but he escaped injury. Finally, his am
munition being expended, he gave himself
ND. He was taken to San Icandro and tried
for the robbery OF pope's cattle. During his
trial he assumed all the responsibility of his
accompices' guilt. IIe was convicted and
sentenced to the State prison for the term Of
nine wears. Last March his term of sentence
expired, and he was accordingly liberated.
Last April he returned to the old stamp
ing-ground at Livermorc Valley, and remain
ed Juict for about six weeks; but his thiev-
ing propensities were so strongly developed
that he had to return to his old manner Of
living. He began his career second time by
driving OF Il number of cattle belonging to
John Arnott, and drove them to that portion
Of Livcrmorc known rs Sonora. 1t was sus-
pectcd that he was the party engaged in steal
ing the cattle, and a warrant was issued for
his arrest and placed in the hands Of Deputy
Shcritls Ralph Faville and j. NJ. Smith. They
proceeded to Livcrmore, where Favillc found
4 head, hide, and horns of one of the missing
cattle in the yard Of Juan CamargO, covered
with ashes. They arrested Calnargo and
brought him to Pieasauton. The same night
they arrived there party Of armed men,
about fifty in number seized the deputies,
locked them in their rooms, and took Camar
go to 4 place in the woods about three miles
distant from Plcasanton, where, placing a
rope around his neck and then throwing it
over limb of tree, they began to " lift "
him. They hung him number Of times,
and extortcd q confession from him relative
to the cattle-thieves in that vicinity. Proco.
bio heard of this affair and made his way out
of the county, travelling south. lie made
With number Of others, he robbed stage
station on the Salinas river, and soon after
robbed the Visalia stage and made himself
generally obnoxious to residents in that
county. He afterward went to Calave-
ras county. A few days ago Sheriff Har.
nv Morse, Of Alameda county, received
a telegram from Chief Crowley, III
forming him that Procopio had been
seen in this city, and that the detec-
tivcs had struck his trail, and were hunting
him up. Sheriff Morse came over last Friday
evening, accompanied by Lee G. Morehouse,
one of his deputies. Detectives Stone and
Bohen were detailed to cooperate with the
San Lcandro officials and the party started
at once in search Of the bold Procopio. They
had information that he frequented house
on st. Marks place, hut failed to find him
there Oh Friday night. A watch was kept
on the premises, however, and yesterday
afternoon about l o'clock descent was
made on the establishment. Morehouse,
Stone, and Bohcn, entered at the front
door, while Morse went around to the
rear entrance. Looking in at the back door
; the sheriff saw Procopio seated at the table
facing the front door. As the officers entered
from the street, the desperate sprang from
his seat and was about to draw his revolver,
when Morse rushed up behind, seized him