The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-06-18
MEx1co's WOMAN BANDIT.
How She Murdered Stage Passengers, and
! Held Wealthy Men for Ransom.

Queretaro Letter.
La Caramboda the woman brigand, long a
terror to travellers m this region, is dead at last
with bullet in her heart Her operations ex
tended over number of years, and were of the
most daring description. For long time the
authorities found it very difficult to trace or
even to explain the crimes which she committed
for no one suspected that. a woman was the gull
ty person. No two of her robberies were COM
mitted in the same manner. Sometimes she
passenger, and at other times she was
with the bandits, and took part in the shooting
if any was to be done. woman of some per
sonal chaFms, when appropriately dressed, she
was hend when about her business of murder
and pillage whom very few cared to encounter.
Her male assistants were many and devoted.
One of her schemes it has been learned, was
to bide her time in some town until she found
one or two men of means who were going by the
diligence to some distant point, and then to take
passage with them. 1t is suspected that
more than occasion she took the driver into
her confidence, but when this could not be done,
she readily deceived him or quieted HIM with a
bullet A perfect mistress of assimilation and
possessing soft and insinuating manner, she
had no difficulty in working herself into the good
graees of travellers, who did not look for Next
can bandit under her attractive guise. In this
way she easily discovered who had money and
valuables and who had not. IF she found a man
who appeared to be of some consequence. but
who did not have much money, she betrayed
him into the hands of her e0nfederates, who held
him for ransom. If her victim proved to be
we'll supplied with casil he usually met a violent
death within twenty four hours.
Leaving town before daybreak in company
with two travellers whom she had marked for
robbery. she would eoyly accept the customary
innocent attentions at their hands. and perhaps
indulge IN. a little conversation with them. An
hour later, when well on their journey, watching
her opportunity, she would draw two revolvers,
and, before they could detect her movement
lodge q bullet in the back of each of them. The
driver, busy with his team, and perhaps paidnot
20 ho to that
him. would not disturb her. With her booty Sc
cure, she would take her own time about IeaV-
ing the stage, always waiting until point con
venient to the fastness Of some of her confeder
ates was reached.
1t was known that the highways were infested
by robbers, ana 1T was not thought strange that
an occasional murder was perpetPated, but the
similarity between several cases soon attracted
attention, and various experiments led to the
discovery that woman, operating first on one
road and then another, was at the bottom of
them. The plausible stories told by the drivers
seem to mystify the officers more than anything
else. They always asserted that highwaymen
had done the work, and if inquiry was made at
one end of the route for the woman who started
it was always said that she arrived at her
destination unmoested- The absence of
of communication made it possible to
keep up this deception for u long time
When the woman found that she was suspect
ed, she abandoned this plan of operations and.
remaining VIII the FODDer panu 10 winch she
was attached, devoted the greater part of her
time to the abduction of wealthy agriculturists
Her plan in these cases was very much the same
as in her stage robbery enterprises. First win
ming the confidence of her intended victim, and
getting him involved in some intrigue she
would betray him at the proper time into the
hands of her associates, who would spirit him
away, and presently open negotiations for his
return. While these were in progress. she
would be busy setting her net for Il fresh victim
a hundred miles away.
La CarambOdas latest exploit was unsuecess-
full She was lowering about the San Juanic0
hacienda, with the intention of securing the
abduction of DON Civelo Vasquez, or one of his
sons, when fellow who had long served in her
train, deserted, and communicated her secret
to the authorities. They made elaborate prep
arations to capture her entire party but fail
ing in this they made sure of her, and soon had
her in irons Hearing of her fate her followers
determined on a rescue. They pursued the
officers for twenty miles, and, overtaking them
at Connindad, opened fire at once. The troops
returned the shots, and lively engagement en-
sued, in the course of which three of the bandits
We're killed and the others put to flight When
the troops approached their prisoner after the
fight they found her dead, presumably from a
bullet fired by her own friends The chains
were removed from her limbs, and she was bur
led by the roadside One of her eapters described
her as beautiful woman, not more than thirty
years old, with clear complexion and long
and abundant hair. but with wicked eye and
crueElooking mouth when in repose.