The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1919-09-10
Slayer May Never Ans
Wer for Assassination
of Minister of War
JOAQUIN WAS BOTH
HANDSOME, BRAVE
Alleged He Had Hosts
Of Enemies Due To
His AggressiVeness
Associated Press

SAN JOSE, COSTA RIGA, Sept. II
Assassination of Joaquin Tinoco, lat
Minister of War and brother of for
mer President Federico Tinoco, On
August last, is still an unsolvet
mystery with indications that the
slayer may never be brought to ans
wers for his crime. The fortnigh
which has elapsed since the tragedy
has brought out a number of inter
esting facts in connection with il
which never before have been told.
Joaquin was 80 years old, one OF
the handsomest men in Costa Rica, a
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 fam
lilies. He rarely went unarmed and
had fought a number of duels. The
widow of one of his adversaries, a
lawyer he killed in q revolver fight,
q few years ago sought to avenge her
husband and fired five shots at close
range at Tinoco pur che latter sur
vived his wounds.
When on January q, 191, his bro
ther Federico, VIII owas Minister of
War in the cabinet of President AL
fredo Gonzalez, deposed the latter and
became head of the government, Joa-
quin was given the war portfolio and
thereupon, it is said, became the real
President of Costa Rica- For two
years previously Joaquin had been
fighting revolutionists and personal
enemies and when he became Minis
ter of War he became still more en-
ergetic and aggressive. 1t has been
said that Joaquin on the day of his
death had more enemies than q pop
ular motion picture actress in the
United States had admirers.
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
same 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 a strange
interest in spiritualism. Frequently
he went to q small village called
where he consulted wo-
man medium, and after his last visit
seemed disturbed by what she had
told him. That same afternoon he re-
turned home and telephoned for his
car but it was out Of order and he
decided to go for a walk. A block
from his residence a man stepped
from behind q tree and fired at Tin
oco point blank. The shot pierced his
eye, causing instant death. Notwith-
standing the suddenness of the attack,
in the fraction of the second he re-
mained alive, Joaquin had drawn his
own revolver. The weapon was found
in his clenched hand, every cartridge
chamber full.
On the day after the tragedy Joa-
quin was buried with military honors
and 48 hours later the remaining
members Of the Tinoco family, includ-
ing the former President, left here for
Port Limon in special trains where
they sailed for Kingston. Jamica, and
thence intend to go to England.
The new President, General Juan
Bautista Quiros, formerly manager of
the Banco International de Costa Rica,
q government institution, and gener-
ally regarded as q conservative Costa
Rican, is pledged to restore order
after two years Of tyranny, end the
leakage of public funds and, after al
few months of reconstruction, bring
about free elections"