The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1881-08-23
A MILLIONAIRE BRIGAND.
Offering to Pay the American Debt
as the Price of His Life.

A Remarkable Example of the Tvn-
1cal lBravado-Unscrupulous Dar-
ing, Revengeful and Valuing no
Life But His Own-A Violent Life
and a Violent Death.
lhere are many Interesting incidents re-
lated by the Atta- California;, and never be;
fore published, Of Lerado, the remarkable
Indian, who for eighteen years ruled the
Iepic part of the Mexican Republic. When
boy he was engaged in Lerding sheep and
cattle Oh ranch near the town of Jalisco.
Every day there p ssed on her way to and
lro'n school very pretty girl, of good fam
lly, and an acquaintance began between
them. She always had her books and Oh her
return from school the two would retire to
some quiet place where she would teach him
to read and give him his first ideas of arth
metlc and geography. He was exceedingly
apt in learning and anxious to acquire knowl-
edge, and be improved it in such manner
that he soon became recognized among other
Indians as superior to them.
His master often ill 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 beggar. But he one
day killed Ills master and then fled to the
mountains, taking a 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 in
suited him. He forced the cura of Jalisco to
go with him to the camp on the mountains,
and when there made him mary him to the
girl.
Lerada af. erward took to the road as a
brigand and was terror for miles around
Many times troops were sent after him that
never returned. About this ime came tue
French, who hearing Of his many exploits
and influences with the Indians, made over
lures to him to join them promising $4,000
per month to pay his men. Lerada accepted
and went with 5000 men to Mazatlan, re-
ceved the first instalment came back to Tep-
ic, 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 po litcal prom
jnence, and he rapidly made advancement in
his endeavOrs for complete control of the
government of this section of the republic
He appears to have been terribly revenge.
full man, and any one that he imagined had
done him ALI injury lived but little time at
ter.
On one occasion, at ball in Topic, he OBJ.
served ALI official of the government in con
versation with a senoGita with whom he was
enamored. He directed one of his own Off
GERS to 60 to him and tell him to leave the
house. Lerada, seeing the official still con-
versing with the young lady, again called his
officer and asked if lie obeyed him, and at
the same time pointed to the pistol which the
officer carried, asking il he was aware to
what use such an instrument was put. "Now
70 to that man." lie said, ''and take him by
the beard and lead him from the house" The
officer, wel!-knowing, that if he disobeyed
his own life would be forfeited, did a. he
was told.
On a-other occasion he sent an Indian
with watch aud a sum of money from his
place at San Luis to Topic. The Indian stole
both, pawning the watch. He was appre-
hended and shot, and so, too, the poor pawn.
broker, aud the Innocent purchaser of the
watch from the latter-bOth were arrested
and shot by order of Lerada. But his ambi-
tion for extended power ruined him. His
frequent successes had led him to blieve that
lie could capture Guadalajara, and with 5000
Indians, he started for that city, and after
we'll fought battle hc was routed and COM
pelled to return to Tepic, having lost the
prestige he had gained in eighteen years, as
we'll as the confidence of his officers
The latter "went back on him." and one
"gave him away" receiving, it is said, a con-
siderable sum ofmoney for the information;
and SO at last Lerada was captured and soon |
after was shot near the bridge crossing the |
river near this city. He begged earnestly for
his life, one person assuring me that he OIL
fereL to lquidate the American debt II re-
leased. But it was no use; his death was ln-
.,jtable. and while protesting that his actions |
lad beeu for the GOOD Of the Indians, whose
,l,nn,S wera rollpN yUlIeS !