The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1907-06-06

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DEATH OF oIJTLAw GoRnnN

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DEATH OF OUTLAW GORDON.
Arthur Staringer, the novelist, who
has just returned to New York after
two months visit in Central Amer
lea, brings the news that Joseph Cor
don, the Jamaican half-caste outlaw
who won for himself in the tropics a
reputation equal to that of Tracey
in the United States, and who for
some months had been terrorizing
Costa RIGA, was captured and killed
on March 80.
i was knocking about the eastern
end OF Costa Rica," said Mr.. Stringer,
yesterday, when this man Gordon
was trying to shoot up the republic.
In fact, was one of party of eight
which left Lima with yard engine
and an observation car in search Of
him, after Gordon had shot down
two railway employees and telephoned
his dramatic challenge in to Mr.. Null
lens, the general manager of the rail-
way. He had been daringly active
for weeks. When he got hungry he
rifed United Fruit Company's COM
missariat When he found himself
getting cornered he dropped back
into the thick growth of the banana
plantations and bobbed up at some
new point. When he was interfered
with he simply shot down his man.
This sort of thing had continued
until the natives, who are usually
quiet and law-abiding, were in state
OF ridiculous terror. A detachment of
colored troops that had been sent out
In a banana car bolted back to the
coast on foot. The man had become
q sort of myth. He had all the east
ern half of that nation terrorized.
AOn the same morning that our
special went up into his stamping
ground handcar came down from
the hills carrying three bodies, those
of three soldiers shot by Gordon. The
handcar had to be lifted off the rails
to let us pass. 1t was gruesome
enough sight. and things began to
look interesting as we got further up
country. Half an hour later, how
ever, were were told that Gordon
had been shot from ambush by one
of the Costa Rican regulars.
HE was taken to Limon, wounded
by shot through the lungs. There
Is no capital punishment in Costa
Rica. 1t is against the constitution.
Spanish-American justice has it's own
peculiar ways of working. The sec
ond day after Gordon was shot I OBJ
tanned an official permit from the
Governor to visit the prisoner. In
doing so I found this proud gentle
man issuing tickets of admission to a
select few hundred of his friends,
very much rs you would hand out
cards to charity bazaar
with a Captain Gibson, an ex-
naval officer, and DR.. Gebhardt,
went to the jail with my permit
There we were kept waiting for an
hour and half. Then we were let
into the room where the prisoner lay.
We were told, with much formality
and many regrets, that in the mean
time the honorable prisoner had I'M
fortunately died. This we found to
be true. He had died in agony, in
q filthy, unlighted pen, with his soiled
and mud-stained clothing still on, and
nothing but a dirty blanket thrown
over him. In other words he had
been held there for two days, without
medical attendance, and, Of course,
without any hope or intention that
he should ever recover.
when DR.. Gebhardt asked if he
might. examine the wound, covered
with its beautiful septic bandages,
there was more ceremonial and court
ly regret, and the blanket was put
back and we were put out. Before
daybreak the next morning, the morn
ing Of Easter Sunday, Gordon was
buried. New York Press.