Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1911-01-14


peace officers along the border were
notified by wire to keep a lookout
for the fugitive. The trail of Beeler
was picked up at the ranch south of
San Antonio, where he claims to have
buried most of the money. G. A.
Taft of Houston, state superintendent
of the Wells-Fargo, and one of the COM
pany'S best detectives, Eugene Ygla-
sias of Laredo, were in hot pursuit. Be
tween the ranch and the Rio Grande
crossing Beeler wore out three horses.
The Mexican officials on the border
kept sharp lookout. Beeler says he
thought it was all up with him when
one of these officers suddenly came
upon him and, drawing down on him
with a gun, ordered him to surren-
der. Beeler bribed the officer with
800 and not only was released, but
was directed to the shortest cut into
the distant mountains.
Captured by Brisands
In the vicinity of Lampazos, Mexico,
Beeler fell into the hands of band
of brigands who made their rendez-
vous in caves in the mountains near
Bustamantte, about IT'S miles south of
the point where he had crossed the
Rio Grande. They robbed him of all
his money, except a few cents. Cir
culars, printed in Spanish, describing
the fugitive, had been widely circu-
lated over northern Mexico. Through
this means the bandit chief learned
that their American captive was
wanted for stealing $4,000 The brig
ands made a demand upon Beeler for
the money, threatening to kill him if
he did not turn it over to them. In
order to save his life, he-told them
he had buried all of it except that
which they had found upon his per-
son and taken away from him. When
their threats became pronounced he
agreed to escort the robbers to the
spot where he had hidden the money.
| A start on the return journey of more
| than 800 miles was made and the
| little party had reached the Texas
side Of the Rio Grande when they
| learned that posses of officers were
out all over the border country
searching for Beeler. They escorted
their prisoner back to their mountain
caves to await a more favorable op
| portunity for hunting for the buried
| treasure
| Apprehension In Mexico.
Meanwhile, Mr.. Taft and Mr. Ygla
sias had traced Beeler. Going to Gen
Bernardo Reyes, governor of the state
of Nueve Leon, Mr.. Taft asked his as
sistance in capturing the fugitive
Governor Reyes sent for the alcalde
of the Bustamante district and told
him that unless he caught the missing
American robber within SO hours his
ONCE would be declared vacant The
alcalde sent out men to scour every
| RI IF n 10 dicfr of
captured in the camp of the brigands
Waving extradition. Beeler wa.
/ hurried across the border He mad,
what purported to be a confession t.
Mr.. Taft and Mr. Yglas1as and agreed
to go to the spot where he had buriet
the plumber and turn the money owe
to the express company's representa-
tives- The night following their ar
rival in San Antonio with the prison
er they took him secretly from jai
| and dcove to the ranch Beeler search
ed around for the gold, but no trace O
it could be found The disguised OF
fcers took him back to jail, where b.
remained until his trial and sentenc
to prison for five years
Unable to Locate Money.
Wells Fargo a. Co. sued him and OF
tanned judgment for the amount of tn
stolen money. During the time tina
he was in the penitentiary detective
kept constant watch on Beeler'
wife. thinking he might have turne
the stolen money over to her Whe
he stepped out of prison two detec
ives met him and accompanied him
San Antonio Beeler worked at cd
, jobs for a time. and then obtained
, place As fireman On . locomotive O
J the Trinity & BraEos railroad A a