Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-10-03
THE KILLING OF GEN. JORDAN.

A Violent Man, and the Sudden Death
That Overlook Him at Last.
A dramatic sequence Of events lay be-
hind the recent assassination Of Gen.
Lopez Jordan in the streets of Buenos
Ayres Jordan was a violent, venture
some, unscrupulous man, who had ex-
perienced all the ups and downs Of an
adventurers career. He was born in
Conception, Uruguay, in 1922. He was
educated in the Jesuit college, in Busnos
Ayres, and in 1841 entered the Argen-
tine army as lieutenant In the rcvo-
lutionary times of 1S49 he was command
ant Of his native town He was unpop-
ular, even among his own people. He
was quarrelsome, imperious and inso-
lent, and always ready to meet any re-
sentiment which his conduct excited with
q challenge to a duel. In the disturb
ances Of 1851 he took sides with the
tyrant Rosas against the rebellious Gen.
Uqurila-
Under the protection of his chief he
committed all sorts of misdeeds. His
most atrocious crime was the murder of
Maj. Casas. In the shadow Of this crime
he passed the last years of his life, and
in consequence of it he met violent
death. Casas was the prefect of the city
of Palmas, in the province of Entire Rios.
He was landed proprietor and cattle
man of great wealth. In 1878 he made
a trip through the province for the pur-
pose of selling 1000 sheep and large
strip of woodland. In returning home
with the proceeds of the sales in his
pockets he passed through the region
held by Jordan's troops. Jordan heard
Of his presence, and ordered that he
should be arrested. 1t was done. Jor-
dan received Casas in his tent, questioned
him as to his possessions, and then, with
out word of accusation, complaint or
explanation, commanded that he should
be executed. Casas was tied to a tree
and slaughtered like sheep. Jordan
seized all the money found on the dead
mans body, and afterward stripped his
victims family of all their property.
Justice is pretty leaden footed in the
Argentine Republic, especially when she
is after generals; nevertheless, she be-
gan to overhaul Jordan almost immedi-
ately after the despoliation of the Ca
sases. One by one his crimes were
turned against him until in 1878 he was
imprisoned in Parana on the charge of
numbering Casas and Gen. Urquiza. By
bribing the guards he made his escape
from Jail and left Parana in the disguise
of a beggar on the arm of his daughter.
He concealed himself over the border for
ten years. After the amnesty of 1883 he
returned to Buenos Ayres.
In the meantime the young son of
Maj. Casas had become man. He had
seen many black days since the despolia-
tion of his family. His mother had died
Of a broken heart, in extreme poverty.
On her deathbed she made him swear to
avenge his fathers murder. A keen
struggle with the world to obtain food
and clothes for his sister and himself
kept this oath fresh in young Casas'
memory. He knew that Jordan would
come back to Buenos Ayres some day,
and he watched carefully for news of
his return. A few weeks ago news of
Jordan's temperance came to Monte
video, where young Casas, as a reporter,
was making fair living for his sister
and himself Casas went at once to
Buenos Ayres.
One Saturday noon Gen. Lopez Jordan
stepped from his house into the most
crowded street of Buenos Ayres for his
midday stroll. Some hundred steps
from his door young man sprang be-
fore him and asked:
care you Gen. Lopez Jordan?"
"Yes."
81 am Aurelio Casas, son of Maj.
Casas, whom you murdered sixteen
years ago. am come to shoot you."
Gen. Jordan stood quite still and spoke
few words of apology. Aurelio Casas
did not heed them. He motioned back
the gathering crowd, drew revolver
a1d shot Gen. Jordan in the throat. Gen.
Jordan did not move. Casas fired Sec
ond shot. 1t passed into Gen. Jordan's
heart, and he fell dead to the ground.
Some one shouted "Murder"
II am no murderer" shouted back
Casas, who remained beside his victims
body. 81 have merely killed the man
who killed my father" Then he threw
down his revolver and walked away.
Subsequently he surrendered himself to
the police. The body of Gen. Lopez Jor-
dan was carried to his palace, which had
been built and furnished with the pro-
ceeds of the crime just avenged.-New
York Sun,