Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-28
0UTLAWRY IN MEXICO
Reiqn of Terror in Durango
and Along the Border.
MURDERS AND ROBBERIES
Diaz Government Finally Aroused to
Action.
AMERICAN AMONG VICTIMS
Large Reward for Capture Of Ell
Chapo Anselmo, Supposed
Leader.
MURDERS AND ROBBERIES
AMERICAN AMONG Y
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
TORREON. Mex, October 2a.-The ter
ror which has reigned for fortnight
or more in the mining camps of 1nde.
state of Durango, and all along the
American border. as a result of the con-
tinued lawless attacks of bandits on the
camps and haciendas there. was brought
to a climax late last night by the muir
der of two prominent Mexican miners.
The Mexican governor. aroused by
the repeated protests of influential citi-
zens and the official action of the Ameri-
can ambassador, has decided to act with
all the force at his command, and has
called out several companies of the
militia to run down the bandits. That
the punishment of any who are caught
will be summary is indicated by the
statement of the authorities.
The lawless element has been growing
more and more bold for month or
more, and the authorities have been ap-
parently unable to control 1t. Both the
civil authorities and the gendarmes have
been active for several weeks. but rob-
berry after robbery and murder after
murder has been committed and rev ar
rests have been made.
Ringleader of Outlaws.
AS to the ringleader of the outlawry,
there is not a suspicion pointing to any
one unless it is to a certain noted
desperate and bandit known as Ell Chapo
Anselmo who is believed to be in the
district He is one Of the last of many
who have operated in the mining re-
gions of Mexico for years, most of his
followers having been killed or i'm
prfsoned. The last one to go was
notorious robber, who was killed near
this city. about three months ago @ os
his own followers, whom he had cheated
out of their share of the spolls and
who waylaid him.
"El Chapo" is known to be in the VI
cinity Of Inde and the rurales are arter
him. Six murders have occurred within
fortnight that have attracted the atten-
ton even of the federal authorities and
one of them caused the America ambas-
sador to protest.
The government. as result, ordered the
rurales into the field. and ever since they
took up the work three more murders
have been added to the series of crime.
Fourth Death in Camp.
Information came today that Jose
Agoolguin, foreman at the Majada mine
in the Inde district, and a man who was
supposed to have considerable wealth
in his cabin, was found there with his
throat cut when Investigations were
made at his home after he had failed to
appear at the mine
This was the fourth death in this camp
The first was that of Barney Towns. a
well known American machinist Evi-
dence led to the opinion that Towns was
killed in the most cold-blooded manner
and robbed Suspicion fell upon man
whose baggage Towns had taken charge
of and whom he had fed on the road to
Santa Barbara, Chihuahua, but this was
not proved.
Other murders followed and the author
tiles began looking for a new clue. A
few days later Francisco Arriola of Du-
range was killed by an unknown assail-
ant And now comes the report that
Senior Cruz Gandarilla a well known mer-
chant of that locality, has been found
murdered
Captured, But Escaped.
Suspicion rested on Ell Chapo Anselmo,
the desperate. Anselmo was captured re-
Gently, but made his escape from the
authorities, and still continues to terrorze
the inhabitants of Inde. The government
has offered a large reward for his capture
or that of the other bandits who infest
that portion of the state of Durango.
When Towns. the American. was killed,
the authorities ascertained, from the ap-
pearance of the body, that he was shot
while asleep. Only one shot was fired.
and that was through the head A rope
was then tied about the neck and the
body was dragged into the bushes a short
distance from the road and left there. 1t
remained there for several days before be-
ing discovered. Towns had evidently been
robbed by the aSsaSSinS. and the same
was apparent with the other bodies found.
Americans in the mining region have
armed themselves and keep a guard
around their cabins throughout the night.