Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1881-08-10
A Millionaire Brigand.

tntrt are many Interesting luClCcutS It,
lated of Lerado, the remarkable Indian
who for eighteen years ruled the Tepic
part of the Mexican Republic. When a
boy he engaged in herding sheep and cat
tie on a rancho near Jallsco. Every day
there passed on her way to and from
school a very pretty girl, of good family,
and an acquaintance 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 bis 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 recog-
niZed among other Indians as superior to
them. His master often ill-treated him
and Lerado was often heard to say he
wonld revenged himself. The acquaint-
ance with the girl ripened into love, which
was reciprocaied. de had asked of her
parents that he might marry her, a propo-
sitiOn that was scorned, the family calling
him beggar. But he one day killed his
master and then fed to the mountains,
taking number of Indians with him. AT
ter 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 who he deemed had in-
suited him. He forced the cura of JalIsco
to go with him TO the camp on the noun
tains. and when there made him marry
him 10 the gIrl.
Lerado afterward took to the road as a
bngand and was terror for miles around.
Many times troops were sent after him
that never returned. About this time came
the French. who, hearing of his many ex-
ploits and influence with the Indians, made
Overtures TO him 10 join them, promising
Ss0, 900 per month to pay his men. Lera-
do accepted and went, with s, 900 men, to
Mazatan. received the first instalment,
came back TO TepIc, .disbanded them and
put the money in his pocket. He after
ward 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 his en-
deavors for complete control of the gov
eminent of this section of the Republic.
He appears TO have been terrible revenge
fui man, and any one that he imagined had
done HIM any injury lived but little time.
after. On one occasion at a ball IN Tepic.
be observed an official of the government
in conversation with a senorita with whom
he was enamOred. lie directed one of his
own officers to go to him and tell him to
leave the house. Lerado, seeing the Off
cisl still conversing with the young lady,
again called his officer and asked if he
obeyed him, and at the same time pointed
to the pistol which the officer carried,
asking if he was aware to what use such
an instrument,was put. ''Now 90 to that
man." he said, ''and take him by the
beard and lead him from the house" The
officer, well-knOwipg that If he disobeyed
his own life would be forfeited, did as he
was told. On another occasion he sent an
IEdIan with watch and sum of money
from his place at San LUIS to Teplc. The
Indian stole both, pawnlng the watch. He
was apprehended and shot, and SO, too, the
poor pawnbroker and the innocent purcha-
ser Of the watch from the latter-both
were arrested. and shot by order of Lerado
But his ambition for extended power ruined |
HIM. His frequent successes had led him |
to believe that he COULD capture Qua
dalajara, and with 5000 Indians he started |
for that city, when, after well fought
battle he was routed and obliged to return
to Tepic, having lost the prestige he had i
gained in eighteen years, as well as the |
confidence OF his officers. The latter
''went back on him." and one ''gave him
away" receiving, it is said, a considera-
ble sum for the information; and so at
last Lerado was captured and soon after
was shot rear the bridge crossing the river
passing this city. He begged earnestly for
his life, one person assuring me- that he
Offered to liquidate the American debt If
But it was of no use his death
was inevitable, and while protesting that
his actions had been for the good of the
Indians, whose chef he was, the drums
were rolled, d volley of musketry was
heard, and lhe career of Lerado was at
an end.
As to his wealth, during his lifetime,
there are many stories. One that barrels
Of gold and silver wee carried at his Or
der to the mountains and there deposited
by four men, who, after finishing the
work were, of course, shot, that it might
not be diyulged. There is at Santiago an
Old man Who tells that he, in company /
with another Ateiro, came to Topic in the
night time, escorting LeraGO and SIX mules
heavily ladened with gold and silver bars
brought from the mountains in the vicin-
ity of Santiago, and which were deposi-
ted in Lerados house: that after their
arrival, he was sent out TO buy mescal,
and as he had a weakness for the "vine
celestial he drank too much, got drunk
and did not return to the house. IN the
the mu es were found astray,
Lerado was on his way to Guadalajaro
and the other man, his companion, never
Was heard of again His ideas of discip-
line were as severe as his ideas on many
other things. 1t was his custom to review
his 24,C00 Indians on the first Sunday of
every month at aclock A. NJ. and it
was expected that every man would be
present or with a sufficient excuse. As
they had to come for many leagues away
il would not seem strange if there were many
delmquents. On one occasion, at one of
these review when those present were
in line, one unfortunate arrived ten MN
utes lste. He was called before the chief,
and, after being reprlmanded before the
whole army, was led to a tree and shot.
The family of Derado, his wife ard two
daughters, reside at San Luis. She is in
very comfortable circumstances and IS
represented as very lady-like and amiable
person.