Dangerous Criminals.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 244, 14 July 1874, Page 7

Dangerous Criminals.

Before the mail steamer left San Francisco, many people in California had been rejoicing at the capture of a wretch called Yasquez, who for some considerable time past had been endeavouring in the southern part of the State to fulfil a self-imposed mission of robbery and murder. Los Angelos County seems to have been the centre of his depredations, but settlers and travellers in other districts fell occasionally into the clutches of his gang. The boldness of his schemes, the number of his crimes, the apparent ease with which he evaded all attempts to capture him, even when the officers of the law were at his heels, and the acknowledged difficulty of ascertaining at any given time his whereabouts, caused his name to become a terror to all peaceably-disposed people in the land. Unfortunately, it was due to the same causes that he was elevated to the position of a hero in the eyes of the thoughtless and viciously inclined. Like Gardiner in New South Wales; Yasquez never experienced any difficulty in obtaining recruits when his band was reduced by death or capture. Giddy lads, who had grown up with a dislike to manual labour, or settled work of any kind, could always be got to take service under a chief who so successfully defied the law. Members of the gang from time to time fell into the hands of the authorities, but the leader seemed to bear a charmed life. His success caused him to become more daring. He stuck up State officials, and he placed whole villages under his subjection until he had got all the loot that the stores could fur nish. The deed which in future will always be associated with his name, and which will not be forgotten in the country for many a day, is known as the “Tres Pinos Tragedy,” The gang took possession of a store, bound the inmates, and secured all the valuables they could lay their hands on. Yasquez remained outside to look after any passers-by that might become troublesome. A shepherd, who did not at the word of command throw up his arms, was instantly shot through the head by Yasquez ; an unfortunate waggoner, who failed to hear the order of surrender, met with a similar fate ; and, a few minutes afterwards, an unoffending villager, when at the door of his own house, received a shot from the pistol of Yasquez, and fell back dead into the arms of his wife. A wellorganised party, headed by the Mayor of Los Angelos, in the middle of May last, succeeded in surrounding the place where Yasquez was in the habit of paying an almost daily visit. By a cunningly-devised stratagem, the hut where the robber was partaking of a meal was approached without any suspicion being directed to the vehicle—a wood cart—in which the party was concealed. The hut was invested, and upon Yasquez leaping through a window, he encountered a presented rifle. He received two shots, and then gave himself up. He is now, or rather was about a month ago, in gaol, suffering from his wounds, which, however, are not supposed to be fatal. In due course of time he will be tried, and if the offences which are now credited to him are proved, he will no doubt meet with a well-deserved fate upon the gallows We have drawn attention to the career of Yasquez, because there are many points of similarity between it and that of the scoundrel Gardiner, who is about to be released from Sydney Gaol as a reformed man, and as one upon whom it is fitting that the Crown should bestow its clemency. The days of bushranging, with all its attendant horrors, have gone by in New South Wales, and there has sprung up amongst a class there a sympathy for the ruffians who then disturbed the peace of the Colony, and who are now paying the penalty for their crimes. With such people, only Gardiner’s so-called chivalrous deeds are remembered. They are forgetful of the fact that since 1850, in which year he was convicted of horse-stealing at Geelong, what has been known about bis career has been associated with crime. Were the Californians to obey the dictates of philanthropy that seem to guide our neighbours, in a few years we would have Yasquez turned adrift at San Francisco, upon condition that he became an exile from the State. To Australasia ho might wend his way, and who could complain, while New South Wales is letting loose her convicts on America and elsewhere ? In time, were this system, which has been inaugurated by one of these Colonies, perpetuated, California might see it to be to her advantage to ship off her criminals instead of keeping them in prison. Such a system of reciprocity, however, could not last long, although much mischief might be accomplished through it before it was stopped. We are very sorry to notice that New Zealand journals are not all free from that tone of maudlin sentimentality which marks the pleadings of the supporters of Gardiner’s cause in Sydney. However it may shock some good people, we express our opinion without hesitation that it would be better for society if Yasquez, Gardiner, and such like, were handed over to the common hangman. —Daily Times.

A telegram in the Evening Star says : The Governor thus states the reason for the Executive’s pardoning Sullivan, and in which he fully concurs. Sullivan’s confessions, full and unreserved, resulted in the total destruction of the gang, and it did not appear that Sullivan killed any one ; but that he had been entrapped into joining the gang, and was an unintentional accomplice in the first and subsequent murders. Finally, there would be reason to fear that future promises of pardon would fail to induce confessions, if the promise made to Sullivan were permanently disregarded. It appears he was

pardoned some months before being released from gaol, but continued there and worked voluntarily for months to disarm suspicion. He desired to go to South America ; but as it was impossible to convey him there, he left in the Hindostan (which sailed from Auckland on March 13), under the name of Clark. The prison authorities and police consider it very unlikely that he will return to crime, but think he will endeavour to find industrial employment in London, or carry out his idea of proceeding to the Western States of South America. He has been furnished with money for his temporary subsistence. The Timaru Herald suggests the possibility of Dr Featherstone shipping Sullivan back to New Zealand as an assisted immigrant.