The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-06-25
A Woman Bandit

La Caramboda, the woman bri
gand, long terror to travellers il
this region, is dead at last, with ;
bullet in her heart. Her operation.
extend over many years and were o
the most daring description. For 3
long time the authorities found i
very difficult to trace or even to ex-
plain the crimes which she commit
ted, for no one suspected that a
woman was the guilty person. Nc
two of her robberies were commit
ted 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 was
to be done. A woman of some per
sonal charms when appropriately
dressed, she was fend when about
her business of murder and pillsge,
whom very few cared to encounter
Her male assistants were many and
devoted.
One Of the schemes, it has been
learned, was to bide her time in
some town until she found one OF
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 on more
than one occasion she took the driver
into her confidence. but when this
could not be done she readily de-
ceived him or quieted him with a
bullet. a perfect mistress of the
art of dissimulation and possessing
a soft and insinuating manner, she
had no difficulty in working herseli
into the good graces Of travellers who
did not look for a Mexican 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 ap-
peared to be of some consequence,
but who did not have much money.
she betrayed him into the hands of
her cenfederates, who held him for
a ransom. If her victim proved to
be well supplied with cash he usual
ly met a violent death within twenty
four hours.
Leaving a town before davbreak
in company with two travellers whom
she had marked for robbery. she
would coolly accept the customary
innocent attentions at their hands,
and perhaps indulge in little con-
versation with them. An hour later,
when well on the journey, watching
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 per-
haps paid not to 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 conyen-
lent to the fastness ofsome of her con-
federates was reached.
1t was known that the highways
were infested by robbers and it was
not thought strange that an occa-
sional murder was perpetrated, 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 on another, was at
the bottom of them, The plausible
stories teld by the drivers served TO
mystify the officers more than any,
thing else. They always asserted
that highwaynaen had done the work
and if inquiry was made at one end
of the route for the woman who
started ii was always said that she
arrived at her destination unmolest-
ed. The absence Of telegrap's and
of any regular means of communi-
cation made it possible to keep up
this deception for a long time.
When the woman found that she
was suspected she abandoned this
plan of operations and, remaining
with the robber band to which she
was attached, devoted the greater
part of her time TO the abduction of
agriculturists. Her plan in
these cases was very much the same
as in her stage robbery enterprises.
First winning the confidence OF her
intended victim and getting him in
volved in some intrigue, she would
betray him at the proper time into
the hands of her associates. who
would spirit him away and present
ly open negotiations for his return.
While these were in progress she
she would be busy setting her net
foa fresh victim a hundred miles
away.
La Carambeda's last exploit was
unsuccessful, She was lowering
lbout the San Juanico hacienda with |
.he intention of securing the abduc-
ion of Don Civelo Vasquez or one of
MS SONS, when a fellow, who had /
ong served in her train. deserted /
and communicated her secret to the
They made elaborate
to capture her entire
Dut, failing in this, they made sure
Of her and soon bad her in irons.
Hearing of her fate, her followers
determined on rescue. They pur-
sued the officers for twenty miles,
md, overtaking them at Cannidad,
opened fire at snce. The troops re-
turned the shots and lively en-i
yagement ensued, in the course of
which three af the bandits were kill
ed and the others put to fight.
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
md she was buried by the roadside.
)ne of her captors describes her as a
woman. not more than 80
7ears old, with clear complexion and
ong and abundant hair, but with
wicked eye and cruel-looking mouth
when in repose.
Lawyers Opinion of Interest to all.
]. A. Tawney, Esq, a leading at
orney of Winona; | take great pleas
Ire in stating that l regard DIR.