The morning call., 1893-11-11
FIENDISH DEEDS.
The Terrible Acts of Two
Desperadoes.
ASSAULT MADE ON WOMEN
Crimes of a Noted Mexican Bandit
and Murderer and an Unknown
American.

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 10--Calistro Melen-
drez. the noted horsethef. bandit and
murderer, was caught a; Juarez. Lower
California, with drove of stolen horses
about the middle of October. The horses
were from San Bernardino County, and an
effort was made to extradite MelendreZ,
but the Mexican authorities wanted MIN
for crimes previously committed on the
peninsula, and he was sentenced to serve
a long term In the Mexican army. accord
ing to the common practice for disposiDg
OF dangerous criminals.
News was received from Juarez via
Campo yesterday that Melendrez ESCAPED
a few days ago from Ensenada Quartet
with an army rifle and belt full Of car
tridges and made his way back 10 Juarez.
He was accompanied by an American des-
perado whose name was not learned. The
latter was also heavily armed, carrying a
pistol and knife. MelendreZ was perfectly
at home, and found no difficulty in eludlng
pursuit. He and his companion headed
for the American line. keeping low in the
daytime and travelling by trails at night.
They lived freely upon every prospector
they ran across, and did not suffer tor
food. At placer camp at Juarez the two
desperadoes entered the cabin of Next
can miner, finding the wife and daughter
at home.
Melendrez proposed an assault upon the
defen seless women and his companion
agreed. Though the mother and daughter
struggled and made terrible outcry the
villains succeeded in their fendish pur-
pose A number of Santa Catalina H.
dams working some hundred yards distant
in the placers finally noticed the cutlery and
ran 10 the house.
The American saw them approaching
and ran for Melendrez's rifle, which he
brought to bear upon the first Indian, then
in the doorway, and aimed to kill, but the
Indian was too quick, and knocked the rifle
barrel upward. the bullet grazing his head.
A terrible battle then followed. Melen-
drez sprang to aid his companion and the
room became full of fighting men. Me-
lendrez managed to get hold OF the rife,
while the American and Indian were
clinched. and using it as club struck at
the Americans foe. rolling him over the
floor. but was himself knocked over. The
gun struck the Indian hard enough to daZe
him. The Indian released his hold from
the American, when the latter instantly
reached for knife, and before the other
Indians could prevent it he rolled the half
stunne antagonist over, sat astride of
him and plunged the knife into his heart.
Other Indians closed upon the desperadoes
aud finally secured them after receiving
several stabs from the American.
Melendrez fought like demon. and the
combined efforts Of five stalwart Santa
Catalinas we're necessary to hold him while
another secured a lariat and tied him.
The American was roughly handled and
unconscious by the time Melendrez was
secured.
The women had run shrieking to the
gulch, where the miners are at work. and
the whole population returned to the
house. When the story was learned
preparations were made for Immediate
lynching. The Justice of the Peace or
dered three big rurales to stand guard, how
ever, with instructions to shoot the first
intruder. No further violence resulted.
A courier was Immediately dispatched to
Real del Castillo TO notify the authorities
at Ensenada. and asking assistance. A
from Ensenada to take MelendreZ and the
American to the capital. They are now
at Ensenada. 1t is not known what pun
ishment is in store for the desperadoes.
but deserters from the army, like
MelendreZ are frequently court-martialed
hnf