The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1905-09-14

Who had sat throughout the ts5ing
scene up to that time 40 II they had
been petrifled, suddenly found their
voices At seeing me about to be taken
away from them. and they fell on
their knees crying to the bandits not
to take me away, and for me to salts
fly their demand with what money !
could. You can imagine how des-
perate I felt at being myself so pow
erless to a!lay the grief of my family.
I'VE were ON the point of leaving
when the chief hesitated a moment
and gave signal with whistle
which he had tied about his neck. AT
the signal three more. men appeared,
and all withdrew to one side, where
they exchanged some sentences, the
import of which could not make out.
when the bandits had finished talk
ing the pleadings and tears of my wife
and children determined me to make
some effort to satisfy the villains, for
feared they might attempt violence
to my family. l perceived that they
were men who would stoop to any
thing, and the possibilities to my fam.
lily If did not satisfy their thirst for
money filled me with dread. Of
fered the chief $4,000, which told him
was all the money could possibly
obtain in cash. One of the bandits
exclaimed:
"'Such q sum means only trouble
for eight men to bother themselves
with
1.-THE chief then said:
"'Give us little more, AMI We will
leave you in peace
impossible replied; this is the
last cent can get, and IL it does not
satisfy you l will have to 60 with
YOU
Every WE'LL replied the chief; we
will take the money. but you must give
us some guarantee that you will de-
liver the money
cat this my 15-year-old boy spoke
up and said:
"'My fathers word is sacred
"The bandits held another confer
ence, and then it was that I recog-
nized one of them as drunken Span
lard named Pineiro. whom had seen
around for years. Finally the chief
returned to me and said that they had
decided to accept the $1,000, and l was
instructed to go in boat with my
wife and Oldest son the next day at
II o'clock in the morning to a swamp
called Cojimar, where they would be
| awaiting me. Death was threatened
the family If mentioned the matter
to the police or brought anyone
armed with me when l delivered the
money.
"Then the men backed out of the
house and quickly disappeared. I
Immediately went out on the porch to
see where they had gone. / then
called my servants, and found that
the bandits had locked them up in
the kitchen.
1.-THE next day took my entire fam
lily and went from my pretty little
summer home across the bay from
Santiago to the city. 1t is needless
to tell you of the sleepless night we
spent while waiting for the dawn. But
with the coming of the day our spirits
rose, and we went to the city with
lighter hearts. I secured tho money,
and with my wife and Oldest son We
took small launch and went to the
Cojimar swamp. AS we neared the
shore we saw some one signaling to
us and approached as near as possible.
The man whom I recognized as the
chief of the night before waded out to
us, and to him delivered the money.
AS he took tho money my wife ex-
claimed:
CHOW you have money. Don't como
back To this the chief replied:
emo tenga cuidado. sonora Don't
worry, sonora"
Mr.. Cendoya on returning to the city
notified the police. He had recognized
the man Pineiro, and the police lost
no time in hunting for him. They
finally found him. A search Of his
clothes revealed but few cents, but
a search of the place where he was
stopping uncovered little over 5000.
Under the severe cross-examination of
| the police he broke down and admitted
that he was one Of the robbers, aud
that he was with the man who waded
out and received the money from Mr..
Cendoya. =.
No amount Of persuasion Of threats
could, however, induce him to tell who
his accomplices were or where they
could be found. He says he does not
know who the other parties with him
were. He also claims that he had NJ
gun when he called on Mr.. Cendoys,
although a revolver was found on
his person when he was arrested. The
gun he says he bought after the rob-
berry. The police believe that the
confession of the man will be followed
by still further weakening, and that
the rest of the band will be secured
soon.
A Spaniard was arrested on the 18th
just as he was about to embark for
New York, and Julian Cendoya, Jra,
declared that he was one of the ban
dts, but the senior Cendoya and an
other brother disagreed, and the man
was released. Pineiro was positively
identified by the three male Cendoyas.
each picking him out of row of six
Spaniards. This was the cause OF
Pineiro's breakdown. PineirO former
1u oo1d broco ond copper tn Mr. Cen.