Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-09-26
TlNoco a pAsHINe FIGURE.
Had Fought Many Duels ana Was a
49, Crack Shot

Had Fought Many Duels and Was a
Crack Shot
Assassination Of Joaquin Tinoco, late
minister of war and brother Of former
President Federico Tinoco, on Angus,
last, is still an unsolved mystery with
Indications that the slayer may never
be brought to answer for his crimo
says dispatch from San Jose, Costa
Rica. The fortnight which has elapsed
since the tragedy has brought out q
number of interesting facts in connec-
ton with 1t which never before have
been told.
Joaquin was 80 years old. one o.
tho handsomest men in Costa Rica. q
quick shooter and courageous as a
lion. He was tall and of athletic
build, fond Of horses, and a member OF
one of the most distinguished fami.
lies. He rarely went unarmed and had
fought numberof duels. The widow
OF one of HIS adversaries, lawyer he
killed in revolver fight, few years
ago sought to avengeN her husband and
fired five shots at close range at Tinoco
but the latter survived his wounds.
When on January 81, 1917, his bro
ther Federico, who was minister OF
war in the cabinet Of President Alfre-
do Gonzalez, deposed the latter and be-
came head of the government Joaquin
was given the war portfolio and there-
upon, it is said, became the real pres
ident of Costa Rico. For two years
previously Joaquin had been fighting
revolutionists and personal enemies and
when he became minister Of war he
became still more energetic and ag-
gressive. It has been said that Joaquin
on the day Of his death had more
enemies than popular motion pic
,ture actress Of the United States had
admirers. 1NN
On the day before the assassination
Joaquin went before the Costa Rican
congress and asked to be relieved as
vice-president, position he held by
virtue Of his cabinet post At the came
time his brother. the president, asked
official permission to leave the country
because of "ill-health." Both requests
were granted and the two Tinocos were
preparing to depart when Joaquin was
shot down. &
A few months before he met his
death Joaquin began to take strange
interest in spiritualism. Frequently
he went to q small village called Quad
elupe where heNconsulted a woman
medium, and after his last visit seemed
disturbed by what she had told him.
That same afternoon he returned home
and telephoned for his car but 1t was
out of order and he decided to go for
walk. A block from his residence
man stepped from behind tree and
fired at Tinoco point blank. The shot
pierced his eye, causing almost instant
death. notwithstanding the sudden
ness of the attack, in the fraction Oh
the second he remained alive. Joaquin
had drawn his own revolver. The
weapon was found in his clenched
hand, every cartridge chamber full.
On the day after the tradegy Joa-
quin was buried with military honors
and 4S hours later the remaining MEM
bers of the Tinoco family, including the
former president, left here for Port
Limon in special trains where they
sailed for Kingston, Jamaica, and
thence intend to go to England. =
The new president, General Juan
Baptista Quiros, formerly manager OF
the Banco International de Costa Rica,
a government institution, and generally
regarded as a conservative Costa
Rican, is pledged to restore order at
ter two years Of tyranny, end the
leakage Of public fupds and, after
few months Of reconstruction, bring
about free elections"