The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1884-08-06
QUEEN OF THE BANDITS.
SHOT DEAD AFTER AN ExTRAoRpI.
MARY CARRIER OF CRIME.
How she Murdered Fellow stage Pas
sengcrs and Held wealthy men
Prisoners for Ransom.


the New York Sun, says La Caram-
boda, the woman brigand, long terror |
to travellers in this region, is dead at
last with a bullet ;n her heart. Her !
operations extended over q number of |
years, and were of the most daring de-
scription. For long time the authori- |
ties found it very difficult to trace or
even to explain the crimes which she
committed, for no one suspected that a
woman was the guilty person. No two
of her robberies were committed in the
same manner. Sometimes she was pas
senger and at other times she was with
the bandits, and took part in the shoot
ing if any was to be DONE A woman of
some personal charms when appropriate
ly dressed, she was fiend 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 dis
tant 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 deceived him or quieted
him with a bullet. A perfect mistress of
the art of dissimulation and possess
ing soft and insinuating manner,
she had no difficulty in working
herself into 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 valuables and who
had not. If she found a man who APP
peared to be of some consequence, but
who did not have much money, she be-
trayed him into the hands of her confed-
crates, who held him for a ransom. If
her victim proved to be we'll supplied
with cash, 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 coyly
accept the customary innocent attentions
at their hands, and perhaps indulge in
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 a
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 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 muir
der was perpetrated, but the similarity
between several cases soon attracted at
tention, and various experiments led to
the discovery that a woman, operating
first on one road and then on
another was at the bottom OF
them. The plausible stories told
by the drivers served to mystify the Off
GERS 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 ar
rived at her destination unmolested. The
absence of telegraphs and of any regular
means of communication made it possible
to keep up this deception for a long
time.
When the woman found that she was
l suspected she abandoned this plan oi
7 operations, and, remaining with the rob
s Der band to which she was attached
, devoted the greater part of her time tC
e the abduction of wealthy agriculturists
: Her plan in these cases was very mucl
the same as in her stage robbery enter
: prises. First winning the confidence o
y her intended victim, she would betral
: him at the proper time into the hands o.
L her associates, who would spirit hin
i away ard presently open negotiations
/ for his return. While these were in pro
/ gress she would be busy setting her ne
/ for fresh victim hundred miles away
!, La Caramboda's latest exploit was un
Z, successful. She was lowering about tn
n San Juanico hacienda with the intention
!, of securing the abduction of Don Civel
J. Vasquez, or one of his sons, when
,: fellow, who had long served in he
II train, deserted and communicated he
le secret to the authorities. They mad
x elaborate preparations to capture tn
II entire party, but failing in this, the
II made sure of her. and soon had her i
le irons. Hearing of her fate, her follow
II ers determined on a rescue. They pun
sued the officers for twenty miles, and
Is overtaking them at Connindad, opene
Is fire at once. The troops returned tn
d shots and lively engagement ensued
y in the course of which three of the ban
<, dts were killed and the others put t
1t flight. When the troops approache
9t their prisoner after the fight they foun
ie her dead, presumably from bullet fire
ID by her own friends. The chains wei
ne removed from her limbs. and she wi
IS buried by the roadside. One of her cal
ct tors describes her as a beautiful woma
is not more than thirty years old, with clei
as complexion and long and abundant hal
er but with a wicked eye and a cruel-lool
w ing mouth when in repose.
The Watcher In Church.
- His neck is fitted on a globe sock