The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-09-10
Lerada, the Famous Bandit Of Mexico.

There are many interesting incidents
related of Lerada, the remarkable In
dian who for eighteen years ruled the
Topic part of the Mexican Republic.
When q boy he was engaged in herding
sheep and cattle on q ranch near the
town of Jalisco. Every day there passed
on her way to and from school very
pretty girl, of q good family, and an ac-
duaintance began between them. She
always had her books, and on her re-
turn from school the two would retire to
some quiet place, where she would teach
him to read and give him his first ideas
Of arithmetic and geography. He was ex.
ceedingly apt in learning and anxious to
acquire knowledge, and he improved it
In such . manner that he soon became
recognized among other Indians as SUI
perior to them. His master often H.
treated him, and Lerada was often
heard to say he would revenge himself.
The acquaintance with the girl ripened
into love, which was reciprocated. He
had asked of her parents that he might
marry her, proposition that was
scorned, the family calling him beg
gar. But he one day killed his master
and then fed to the mountains, taking
. number OF Indians with him. After
increasing the number to eighty men,
he one night entered Jalisco, went to
the house Of the girl, took her out, and
killed those Of the family whom he
deemed had insulted him. He forced
the cure Of Jalisco to 90 with him to
the camp on the mountains, and when
! there made him marry him to the girl.
Lerada afterward took to the road Is
. brigand and was : terror for miles
around. Many times troops were sent
after him that never returned. About
this time came the French, who, hear
ing Of bis many exploits and influence
with the Indians, made overtures to him
to join them, promising $4,000 per
month to pay his men. Lerada accept
ed and went, with eight thousand men,
to Mazatlan, received the first install.
ment, came back to Topic, disbanded
them, and put the money in his pocket.
He afterward received the same sum
regularly, and as regularly he
pocketed it. This was the
beginning Of his political prominence,
and he rapidly made advancement in
bis endeavors for q complete control of
the government Of this sec.
ton Of the Republic. He ap-
pears to have been q terribly revengeful
man, and anyone that he imagined had
done him any injury lived but . little
time after. On one occasion, at . ball
in Topic, he observed an official Of the
Government h conversation with q sen.
0rita with whom be was enatnored. He
directed one Of his own officers to 70 to
him and tall him to leave tho house.
Lerada, seeing the Official still convers-
ling with the young lady, again called his
officer and asked & he obeyed him, and
at tho same time pointed % t6s pistol
which Tho officer carried, asking Il hewas
aware to what use iiuch q instrument
WAS put. Nov 80, to that
man, !, = said, .and take him
b. - heard and LEAD / him
from ~ hpuoe. y The Officer, we'll
knowing that i - disobsysd his own
lns would b forfeited, did q he was
told. On another ocoasion As sent an
lndfah viii : w,al4ch md : sum 81 mon.
! O.. from his place q 'San Init q Tepic.
! The Indian 6bOIo both, b4Mnin9 thG