The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-01-06
TWO MEXICANS HANGED.
ley Made 40 Attack on the officers and
Severely Wounded a RANGER
fRE ovfRpOWfRED AND SWUNG OFF
Arra's Head Was Nearly Jerked
from His Shoulders by the Rope.
u Stories of the Crimes.

$El Paso, Texas, January 5.---Geronimc
IRA and Antonio Flores were executed
M4re today for murder. They made de..
Derate effort to kill some Of the officers
9# spectators this afternoon when their
!, al door was unlocked. II had been de-
3 led to hang Flores first for fear that he
K fpu:d break down; wien the officers IN
&. {ccked the cell door to convey him to the
1o&lows, both prisoners dashed out and
II b&obbed right and left among The crowd
.tx1th dirks made OF coarse steel wire. A
desperate struggle followed, and the most
}nt<nse excitement was precipitated. A
constable showed PARA into the cell and
n 6o1ted the door and Eve Rangers and dep
MY sheriffs sprang upon Flores, disarm-
ing him and bearing him to the floor. He
fW6e handcuffed and his feet were bound
ann he was then conveyed to the scaffold
and swung off, death was instantaneous.
Ranger Ed Bryant was wounded in the
Stomach by dagger thrust
The sheriff then declared that no citizen
or officer should be injured by PARA and
called on the prisoner to throw up his
hands; II have decided 10 shoot him il
he resists,' said he. as he opened the cell
door Five officers drew their sixshoot-
ers and covered the prisoner. He was re-
moved without difficulty but dirk was
found at his feet He kissed a crucihx and
declared bis innocence on the scaffold.
The trap door swung open as the sheriff
pulled the lever and Geronimo Parra's
head was almost severed from his body
by the rope. Both died in the Catholic
faith
Geronimo Para, who paid the penalty
rShis crime on the gallows today, had
led "a band of cattle and horse thieves
along the southern border during the past
dfteen years.
Ill He was Mexican far above the average
~ intelligence, courage and energy. and
mana ged to commit various crimes for
many years and elude the officers His
gang was organized and operated between
morenci Ariz,, and Fort Hancock, Texas,
1t was composed OF desperate men who are
charged with having committed a num-
her Of cold blooded murders. in connection
with their operations. The members OF
the gang were as ruthless as pirates on
the high seas and counted human life as
nothing
The most notable crime committed by
the gang was the murder of Ranger George
Fusselman. more than nine years ago.
One day news was brought to Ell Paso
that settler twelve miles north OF the
city. beyond Mount Franklin, had been
robbed OF his horses and cattle by the
Para gang. That was In April, 1890, when
iawlessness In this section was rampant.
posse was Immediately organized. 1t
was beaded by Ranger Fusselman and
ueorge Herald. then a Ranger. now a
member of the police force in this city
The posse went in pursuit of the outlaws.
* In the deiiles of mountain fifteen
miles north OF town, they encountered
the thieves, who had taken refuge behind
huge rocks, little way above the Trail
in those days capture meant death to
the horse thief, and Psra's gang was pre-
pared for the worst. At the first voliey
fired at. distance OF fifty yards. Fussel-
man fell from his horse and rollei down
4 rayine shot through the head and body
George Heald's rife refused to work and
ne threw It aside, drawing his sixshooter
He and the other members OF the posse
retreated, firing as they Went. and made
tbeir way back to town. Before leaving
however, Herald saw Geronimo Para raise
his body from behind rock, some dis
ta1ec up the hill, and shoot at Fusselman.
Attic trial of Para. more than nine years
later Herald was able TO fully identify
frR as one OF the murderers OF the
Ranxer.
\ A8second posse was quickly organized
Aha sent from FL Paso when Herald told
the news. The members of 1t recovered
Fuseelman's body and the stolen horses
ana cattle, but the Para gang had van
lshed
Nine years later Captain ]. r. Hughes
"a the State Rangers, now stationed In
Weet Texas. discovered that Geronimo
f&yh Was serving Ave years sentence
a. the Santa Fe penitentiary for cattle
tneft and assault to commit murder Para
waeSat once reindicted by the Ell Paso
county grand jury and 1t was an easy mat
ter % procure his surrender at the expira-
tton of his term. He was convicted by
q Jury in this city and sentenced to be
hung
Para's capture in New Mexico was due
70 the vigilance OF Pat CARROTS noted
deputy. Ben Williams, OF Las Cruces, Dona
Ana county. who undertook 10 arrest the
fugitiye for cattle theft. Para resisted
and bred several shots at Williams, but
WIS cverpowered and captured. He was
subsequently, given a Ave years term.
After being sentenced to hang In this
county, Para addressed the court protest
ing his innocence of the muredr Of George
Fusselman. Later he told reporter that
he was innocent OF the Fusselman murder
but was guilty OF other similar crimes |
and hat his sentence was doubtless Just. |
Another member OF the Para gang. now
IN the Santa Fe penitentiary, has been
indicted for tie murder OF Fusselman since
Psrs was sentenced This man was also |
arrested by Williams Of Las Cruces
Antonio Flores. the other man hung to-
isy. = quite distinct in haracter from
Para
Flores murdered woman In most |
raw3vdly manner, His crime was COM
niued on March 10. 1892, on the Southern |
Pncldc railway track. west OF the city. |
M bryan Briefs.
Rrysn. Texas, January Alderman W. !
Wiprrecht entertained number Of his
Iriends last night az an elegant dinner In |