The herald., 1897-04-30
coLD-BLooDED MURDER

COLD-BLOODED MURDER
Among other crimes scored up against
Lugo is one of murder, for which he has
been wanted in Mono county for several
years. On Sept. 8, 1892, while working
on the N. Evans ranch, near Bridge
port, the county seat of Mono county,
he became involved with quarrel with
L. j. Leahy, the foreman of the ranch.
He nursed his grievance, and when op-
portunity offered shot the man, infiicting
two mortal wounds In the breast. He
stood off the man who was with Leahy
at the time and sent two bullets whiz-
zlng after him. but they flew wide of the
mark. Lugo then mounted horse and
rode away. He didn't go far, however,
for posse of officers took up the trail
and captured him. But he was shrewd
and desperate, and, watching a favorable
chance, he contrived to make his es-
cape on the horse he had been riding
That portion of Mono county is DESC
late and isolated> and so far favored his
escape. Rewards were offered by the
sheriff of the county and also the gov
ernor of the state, for the murder was
without any extenuating circumstances
whatever, and provoked great indigna-
tion.
A SLIPPERY CUSTOMER
For time Lugo disappeared from the
knowledge of everyone who knew him,
but Constable Newman of Chino was
aware that ne was wanted for crime.
and on the 2Sth of March had the for
tune to effect his arrest near Spadra.
He and a companion started with their
prisoner for Chino, and upon reaching
Pomona Lugo asked that he be per-
mitted to visit his mother for few
moments before being taken from the
town. Newman unsuspiciously allowed
him to get out of the buggy and enter
a house. He went in at one door and
disappeared through another, and that
was the last seen of him for some time.
1t developed, however, that Lugo went
tc Fullerton, and about April 9th stole
race horse belonging to Jean Cos
cerrat. Notices of the theft were circu-
lated and the officers kept weather.
eye open.
THE DESPERATE SEEN
1t was known to Deputy Sheriff
Sianker, who had an excellent descrip-
ton of Lugo, that the latter was in the
habit of moving back and forth be-
tween Chino, Pomona and Spadra, hav-
| ing friend at each of the places named.
Juan Manso, the friend of Lugo at Chino.
was arrested by an officer from San
Diego charged with felony. When
that arrest took place Slanker shrewdly
suspected that Lugo would visit Pomo-
ma, nor was he mistaken
A little after 10 o'clock on Wednesday
night Lugo rode into town on the horse
stolen from the Frenchman at Fullerton.
Slanker stalked his man and saw Lugo
so to the house of his brother-in-law, Fe-
| lipe VeJar, on South Geary avenue,
put up his horse in the stable and then
walk rapidly away. The officer there
upon slipped into the stable, unhitched
the horse and took it away; then went
back and awaited Lugos return. He
knew there would be fight, so he braced
himself for the occasion, and arranged
so as to reduce the chances Of escape to
minimum, for at all hazards he de-
termined to make the desperado his
prisoner.
THE CAPTURE
Not for long did Slanker remain hid
den by the darkness, for soon Lugo re-
turned. AS he approached the barn, the
deputy sheriff soon saw that he carried
In his left hand a long dirk knife, and,
not taking any chances of that kind, he
struck Lugo as he entered heavy blow
on the left side of the neck with his re-
volver. AS Lugo staggered and fell
Slanker threw his weapon aside and
grappled with him. Though some Of the
strength had been knocked out of Lugo,
he was nervy and a desperate struggle
ensued. Slanker was on top and reach
ing around grabbed Lugo's gun from his
pocket and with this he beat him into
submission. A moment later the hand
cuffs clicked over his wrists.
When Lugo was first struck he drop