Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1884-07-19
TERMS: S2.G0 PER YEAR.
A WOMAN BANDIT.
La Caramboda Killed Alter an Extraor-
dinarv Career ~ Crime.
Mexico Letter in N Y SIM
leo Letter in N. Y. sun.

La Caramboda, the woman bricand,
long terror to travellers in this region.
is dead ut last, With bullet through her
heart. Her operations extended over
many years and were of the most daring
description. For a long time the author
tiles found it very difficult to trace or
even TO explain the crimes which she
committed, for no one suspected that
woman was the guilty person. No two
of her robberies were committed in the
same manner. Sometimes she was a
passenger and at other times she was
with the bandits, and took part in the
shooting, if any there was to be done. A
woman of sope personal charms, when
appropriately dressed, she was Gend
when about her business of murder and
pillage whom very few cared to encount-
er. Her male assistants were many and
devoted.
One of her schemes, it has been learn
ed, 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 take passage with
them. 1t is suspected that on more than
one occasion she took the driver into her
confidence, but when this could not be
done she readily deceived him or quiet
ed him with bullet. A perfect mistress
Of the art of dissimulation and possess
ing soft and Insinuating hammer, she
had no difficulty in worming herself in
TO the good graces of travellers who did
not look for Mexican bandit under her
attractive guise. In this way she easily
discovered who had money and vaiua-
bles and who had rot. If she found
man who appeared to be of some conse-
quence, but who did not have much mo-
ney, she betrayed him into the hands of
her confederates, who held him Tor a ran
som. If her victim appeared to be well
supplied with cash ne usually met vio-
lent Geath within twenty-four hours.
Leaving a town before daybreak in
company with two trave.ers whom she
had marked for robbery she would royly
accept the customary innocent attention
at their hands, and perhaps indulge in a
little conversation with them. An hour
later, when well on the journey, watch
ing her opportunity, she would draw two
revolvers, and before they could detect
her movement, lodge bullet in the back
of each of them. The driver, busy with
his team, and perhaps paid not 10 be too
attentive to what was going on behind
him, would not disturb her. With her
booty secure she would take her own
time about leaving the stage, always
waiting until a point convenient to the
fastnesS of some of her confederates was
reached.
1t was known that the highways were
infested by robbers, and it was not
thought strange that an occasional mur-
der was perpeuated, but the similarity
between several cases soon attracted at
tention and various experiments led to
the discovery that a woman, operating
was at the bottom of them. The plausi-
bic stories told by the drivers served to
mystify the offirers more than any thing
else. They always asserted that high
waymen had done the work, and if in
curry was made at one end of the rouet
for the woman who started il was always
said that she arrived at her destination
unmolested. The absence of telegraphs
| and Of any regular means of communica-
ton made it possible to keep up this de-
| ception for long time.
When the woman found that she was
suspected she abandoned this plan of
operations, and, remaining with the rob-
ber band TO which she was attached, de.
voted the greater part of her time to the
abduction OF wealthy agricultuIists. Her
plan in these cases was very much the
same as in her stage robbery enterprises.
First winning the confidence of her IN
| tended 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 he busy setting her net for a
fresh victim hundred miles away.
La Carambodas latest exploit was un-
successful. She was lowering about the
| San Juanico hacienda with the intention
of securing the abdnction or Don Ciyclo
| VasqueZ ;,r one Of his sons, when a fel-
low, who had long served in her train,
deserted and communicated her secret TO
the authorities. They made elabC rate
preparations to capture her entire party
but, failing in this, they made sure Of her
and soon had her in irons. Hearing of
fate, her followers determined on a res.
cue. They pursued the officers for twen-
ty miles, and, overtakiDe them at Con-
nindad, opened fire at on G. The troops
returned the shots and lively engage
ment ensued, in the course of which
three of the bandits were killed and the
others put t. fight. When The troops
approached their prisoner after the fight
they found her dead, presumably from a
bullet fired bv her own friends. The
chains were removed from her limbs
and she was buried by the roadside.
One of her captors describes her as a
beautiful woman, not more than 80 wears
ola, with clear complexion and long and
abundant hair, but with a wicked eye
and cruel mouth when in repOse.