The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-05-06
TERRORIZED BY BANDITS.
MANUEL GARcIA's GANG OF FIENDs.
A Cuban Story OF Crime and PiIlage That
Reads Like n Dime NoveI-An EnOr.
NOUS Reward offered for the
Head OF the Outlaw.

New York, April 30.-Havana CORE
spondence of April % says that no one
has yet claimed the S90,0l0 reward offered
for the capture of Manuel Garcia, the cele-
breted Cuban bandit. Robberies, muir
ders and abductiOns-all attributed TO the
great chief and his band-have been fire.
quent Of late, and active measures for his
capture have been forced upon the gov
ernment. An ambush was prepared
April 10 and elaborate plans laid to capt.
ure the robbers. The band had recently
been operating in the vicinity of Matan-
zas and had accumulated considerable
booty, chiefly Spanish. Among the
bandits, besides the leader, were such
eminent members of the brigand frater-
nifty as Antonio Mayol, Victor Jose and
Antonio Cruze, Gallo Sosa and B. Pla-
sencia.
The officers took up a position on the
plantation Esperansa and awaited the COM
ny OF the robbers who were known to be
travelling in that direction. They had not
waited long before nine horsemen came
around a curve OF the road and entered
the plantation. They were ordered 10
halt, but did not reply. The officer in
command was about TO give the order TO
shoot when a vollev Of rifle balls were fired
into the midst of the soldiers. The troops
replied at once. The bandits fired again
and then galloped of rs fast as their horses
could travel. The troops being on foot
could not pursue them, but fired several
times. 1t was then found that Antonio
Mayol, one of the bandits, lay dead on the
road. A trail of blood was discovered
leading from the plantation 10 a rocky
hillock and to a small stream, where il was
lost, proving that one of the bandits is
wounded. OF the soldiers, one was killed
and several wounded seriously. MayoPs
death relieves the residents oil the Matanzas
OF the outrages of one of the bandits most
feared. His death also partially avenged
the brutal murder by bandits on March
81 of Dionoso Menendez and his wife.
The old couple lived on the outskirts of
the small village of Santa Rosa. 1t was
generally known that they had consider
able money in their house, as they did not
trust banks. On the night OF March 81 Mr..
and Mrs. MenendeZ were aroused by loud
rapping on the back door. Jumping out
OF bed Menendez inquired who it was. I'VE
are the police and must see you at once"
answered a voice from the ground. Mr..
Menendez hastily threw on some clothing
and opened the door. He was confronted
by three men, who at once entered the
house, closing the door after them. 1--WE
want all the money you have and be quick
about it, too" said the one who appeared
= be the leader Of the men, vino proved
% be bandits. not police Calling 10 his
wife to bring down the key, Menendez
walked over TO his writing-desk, closely
followed by the leader OF the brigands.
BE quick about it." said the ruffian, and
he struck the old man across the head
with his revolver, telling him with a
gaping wound in his head. At this
moment Mrs. MenendeZ came into the
ROOM Tearing the keys out of her hands,
the robber opened and ransacked
the writing desk. Nothing was found ex-
cept documents to the value of several
thousand dollars and 500 in Spanish
gold. This angered the chief, and turning
to the old man, who had wound hand
kerchief around his head, he said: IF
YOU don't give me all your money I'll kill
you, piece bv piece" Turning to the other
men, who had ransacked the house, he
said: "Tie him." This done. the bandit
turned to one of the men, and pointing TO
Mrs. Menendez, said: ATTEND to her."
The bandit, whose name Is Jose Diaz,
ing out knife, drew IL lightly across her
throat and said: "Now, you old bag, just
give US that money or I'll make a corpse
OF YOU" The poor woman. half dead
with fright, fell on her knees, and clasp
ing her hands, begged piteously for her
lie, swearing she had no more money
IAN what they had taken already.
or seemingly endless half hour
re torture was continued except at
intervals, when the robber pricked her
skin with the sharp point of his knife.
Seeing that he had obtained no satisfaction
he dragged the old lady, half-clad as she
was, to q little wood about fifty feet from
the house. Drawing from his pocket q
strong leather strap, he tied Mrs. Menen-
dez's wrists together. To the thong he tied
a rope which he had brought from the
house on his way out. Throwing the end
of the rope over the branch OF n tree be
pulled Mrs. Menendez up until her feet
were about six or ten inches from the
ground. Tieing the rope around the tree
he cut several switches, and, after care
fully taking all the leaves of, he braided
them together and began to lash the ems-
ciated form of the aged woman.
A ghastlier scene could not be imagined.
The white hair OF the aged lady, clotted
with blood, fell over her head and
shoulders as the robber piled
his whip. Human strength has its
limit, and as the robber was about
to lift his whip to add one more wound
to those he had already inflicted, he
noticed that she had turned a death-like
white. He united the rope and let her
fall to the ground. The pain had been too
much and she had tainted. Picking up
the body, the bandit walked a few steps
and let her fall among some thorn shrub
berry which grew along the roadside.
Then he re-entered the house, where his
COMPANIONS had been at work on poor
Mr.. Menendez. On the floor lay Menen-
DEE, bound and gagged. His shirt had
been torn away, leaving his breast bare.
The other two Bandits had amused them
selves during Diaz's absence by sticking
the points OF their sharp knives into the
old mans breast at the same time asking
him where the money was.
Again and again the cold, pitiless steel
was thrust into his form. At last, with
blood streaming from a dozen or more
wounds and with gaping hole in his
head, the old man swooned away. The
robbers, believing they had killed him,
hastily gathered all there was in the house
and rode away. When the two colored
men who were employed by Menendez
came to their work they found the old
lady in mass OF blood and dirt. She was
c,,-r;ad into tho ho,ca HarH the old ruo.