The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1890-09-02
A BORDER OUTLAWS LIFI
The Mexican Bandit, Espinoss, and Hill
Afrocities-How He Was Killed.


Atrocities-How He Was Killed.
Kansas City Star.
At the time of the acquisition of New
Mexico by the Gnadaloupe-Hidalgo treaty
in 1913 there lived on the COnejos river a
reputable Mexican named Espinosa, who,
by a wicked episode in Ills life, became a
notorious bandit. upon whose head price
was fixed by the government He resided
upon his ancestral hacienda In q sort of
luxurious ease. He raised sheep and cattle,
as did the other wealthy dons. 20 called. of
his class nearly all of whom. however. are
army-the rank and fle-wbO married the
Aztec women of the country. and therefore
are mixture of Indian and Spanish.
They are very sensitive on the subject OF
of the noblemen of the famous army that
conquered Mexico. by which Spain was
made a first-rate power.
Espinosa. in 1913, made the acquaintance
of an American adventurer who, with
States to seek their fortunes In the newly
acquired territory. The Mexican and the
American became fast friends, the latter
making his home at the formers beautiful
ranch in the mountains. There lived with
her brother a dark-eyed. bewitchingly
lovely young girl, with whom the suscepti-
BILE American fell deeply in love. His af-
lection was reciprocated by the maiden to
degree that only the women of the race
The young American had brought with
him to the new country large amount of
gold and silver and. soon making the Span
lard his confidant. told him of the wealth
OF which he was possessed. One night
after the American had gone to bed in
room adjoining that of his host. he was sur
priSed TO see man standing over him,
whose hand had already grasped the buck
skin bag under his pillow containing his
gold and silver He sprang from his couch
rad at
would be robber Espinosa, for it was he,
was wounded slightly, and, either enraged
or frightened, stabbed with his Keen
pointed stilletto at the young man whom
he had invited to his house as his guest,
the sharp blade entering his heart and kill
ing him instantly. The report of the pistol
shot awakened the other members of the
household, who came into the room in ct as
them was the sister of Espinosa. Throwing
herself ON the Americans dead body she
poured forth bitter curses on her brother.
EspnOsa saw at once the terri bic position
in which he stood, aud then determined to
become an outlaw, III fact. as he could think
of no excuse or palliation for his dreadful
act. He thereupon hid himself in the
mountains, carrying with him, however,
the sack containing the Americans money.
Seine years passed before he could gather
together a sufficient number of outlaws to
enable him to defy the authorities. but
when he had succeeded III mastering them,
for long while he was the terror of the
whole region of New Mexico. He made his
headquarters in the almost impenetrable
fasfness of the Sangre de Christie mount
aims, from which point he made his raids,
and there was nothing that was too
bloody for him to shrink from. He robbed,
inditferently, the overland stage-coaches,
the freight caravans. or the ranches OF the
wealthy Mexicaus. He stole horses. cattle
and anything that he could utilize. If
murder was necessary to complete his
work. he never for moment hesitated.
kidnapping was favOrlte pastime. hut he
never carried off any other than the most
beautiful of the young Mexican girls. He
kept them in his mountain den for ransom
or for a terrible fate.
In 1864 the bandit. after nearly ten years
of unbrided outlawry, was killed by Tom
Tobin, who followed him To temporary
camp in the mountains, which he discov-
cred i'll q grove of cOttonwoods by tho
smoke that curled above the trees
He had been trailing" him for some
days and knew that he had but one
companion with him. To capture the
| two men alive never entered the cautious
| brain of Tobin; to get them dead was much
| safer and easier TObin crept up to the
| grove. and lying behind friendly log.
| waited until the notorious chief stood up,
| then he pulled the trigger and Espinosa
| fell dead! A second shot quickly disposed
| of his companion. and TObin had accom-
| plisbed his missOnl To be able TO claim
| the reward, he had to prove beyond the
| possibility Of a doubt that those whom he
| had killed were the dreaded bandit aud one
| of his followers. TObln thought it best to
| cut of their heads, which he deliberately
| did, and packing the,a on his mule in a
| sack, he took them to old Fort Massachu-
| setts-afterwards Fort Garland. The two
| CHASTITY heads were speedily recognized,
but whether he ever received the reward is