The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-02-26

The Leader of Notorious Cuban kidnappers
Executed.

Modesto Rodriguez. the notorious Cuban
bandit and kidnapper, was executed az oahla
| Clara recently. He is said to be one OF the
last. il not the last of the celebrated Dand
which for ten years or more infested the
mountain Businesses Of Cuba and kept the IN
| habitants in terror by the boldness and une1-
nectedpess of their doings For years they
appeared and disappeared without warning,
and without leaving the slightest traces by
which they could be followed. WITHIN the
last two years the authorities have succeeded
IN running them down. Carlos AgueTo Was
the first to be surprised and captured. lie
was executed, and after him. one Dy one;
mos. of the others were caught and submitted
to the same fate.
The bandits confined their work almost
wholly to kidnapping. Their method wa 70
pick out some man OF wealth and carry nun
of 10 their mountain retreat. linen tney
would force him 10 write letter for tle sum
of money they demanded as "A ransom. Wnlch
was dispatched by one If their number. II
the money was not forthcoming by the stated
time nothing more was ever heard OF the
victim The province OF Santa Clara, where
Rodriguez was caught. has been favorlte
field OF the bands. From that province alone
during the last ten years fOrty-fOur victims
were carried OIL.
One of the most audacious acts IN that
neighb0rh0od in which Rodriguez - sup
posed TO have been engaged, was the capture
and assassination of Don Manuel hosete
BlancO. The last that was seen Of him was
on his stock farm about Of clock in the morn
ing. when his son Frederick, about twenty
five yards away, saw him talking TO q strange
man in field Don Rosete BlancO had Just
come ont of his house. and was apparently on
his way 70 look at the stock. when he was
met by the stranger and walked OF with him.
The son thought nothing OF that at the time,
IL. LOT. ha ~
peared and presented this letter, directed o.
the Young mans mother and written by his
father
Il am prisoner since this morning For
my liberty they ask $4,000. Send 10 Santa
Clara 10 Don Manuel Fernandez Lioreda. and
also send at once % Don Nlncente Perez IN
order that they may help you get me out of
this condition IN which j am placed. Your
affectionate husband, kOsFTF'
The bearer of the note wore whiskers and
was apparently disguised. He announced
that a reply was expected Immediately at
spot he designated on a neighbOrlng road
The wife at once set about obtaining the
ransom. She sought loans Of money from
every one she could reach al such short NO.
tice. What money she could gather she sent
ar once, bit IL was short Of the sum nalne1.
The next news she received was that the
bandits had gone of with her husband and
she never heard Of him again. His body was
son Frederick and a sOn-in-law were also
murdered by the bandits.
The bandits were often capricious in their
demands. and would specify articles of CON-
fort and luxury. which they insisted upon
having with as much relentessness az they
displayed in the case OF money. On one occa-
sion Don Manuel Carreno was on his way
from Key West by way of Havana 10 visit a
relative IN the interior. He was accompanied
by two friends but got separated from
them and was pursuing his way on q lonely
road. when lie was confronted by an armed
bandit The bandit called him by name and
showed himself thoroughly posted as 10 Car
seno's business and destination Carreno
was ordered 10 follow the bandit into tie
woods. where he was made 20 write q letter
for a ransom. This was dictated 10 him a. a
postscript.
You will be kind enough TO give me three
hats. two pairs of shoes smoking articles. all
kinds Of sweets. lunches of cigarettes. five
rolls of tobacco cigars. four kinds OF pre-
served fruits one cheese odd. two bars of
sweet gum"
In this case the bandits were successful in
obtaining all these articles in addition 10
81 900 III gold. Then Carreno was politely
told that he could 60.