Western Outlaw. Born in Monterey, Alta California, México (modern day Monterey, California), he was the last of the Mexican banditos to terrorize California in the 1870s. His first brush with crime was in 1853, for taking part in the murder of a Constable William Hardmount in Northern California. After being convicted as a horse thief, serving three terms in San Quentin Prison, he was released in 1863. He returned to a life of crime committing a string of robberies, horse-stealing, plus two murders in Tres Pinos and was wanted dead or alive for $8000. He was finally captured in May of 1874, in the Arroyo Seco area of Los Angeles, tried and sentenced to be hanged. Before the execution he dictated the statement, "A spirit of hatred and revenge took possession of me. I had numerous fights in defense of what I believed to be my rights and those of my countrymen. I believed we were unjustly deprived of the social rights that belonged to us." His character was the figure for the Hollywood movie "Mexican Bandit" and Vasquez Natural Area Park in Southern California is named after him.
Western Outlaw. Born in Monterey, Alta California, México (modern day Monterey, California), he was the last of the Mexican banditos to terrorize California in the 1870s. His first brush with crime was in 1853, for taking part in the murder of a Constable William Hardmount in Northern California. After being convicted as a horse thief, serving three terms in San Quentin Prison, he was released in 1863. He returned to a life of crime committing a string of robberies, horse-stealing, plus two murders in Tres Pinos and was wanted dead or alive for $8000. He was finally captured in May of 1874, in the Arroyo Seco area of Los Angeles, tried and sentenced to be hanged. Before the execution he dictated the statement, "A spirit of hatred and revenge took possession of me. I had numerous fights in defense of what I believed to be my rights and those of my countrymen. I believed we were unjustly deprived of the social rights that belonged to us." His character was the figure for the Hollywood movie "Mexican Bandit" and Vasquez Natural Area Park in Southern California is named after him.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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