FRAMED --- PICTURE PERFECT

This theme, I knew immediately what I wanted to post.

can be clicked on for a larger, more detailed view

Camera is a Kodak EasyShare Z612

This is one of six cells in our local Old Monterey Jail,  three have this open grill work, the three on the opposite wall have a solid metal door, with a small barred opening to look in, and small holes in the lower part of the door for a semblance of ventilation.  The same thin barred window is high on the exterior walls of those cells too.  It was in use from 1854 until the unbelievable date of 1956.  So much history in our little town.  And here is where FRAMED comes in.

Our town has a famous bandit in it's past, several actually, but Tiburcio Vasquez should be more famous than he is.  Most have never heard of him.  He was born Jose Jesus Lopez in 1835 in Monterey.  Strangely the family home, which is still standing, is situated right across the street from the old Monterey jail! 

He was an educated young man for the day and age and considered quite handsome and known as a ladies man (and yes, a lady led to his downfall).  He did not take the change very well from the Mexican government to the Republic of California and then the US taking the Republic in as a territory.  He knows how the laws were before and how his people were treated after the take over.  At a fandango (dance) one night in downtown Monterey, (various accounts put his age at 15 or 17),  there was trouble, over women, between the "gingos" and Lopez and his friends,  the local  Constable William Hardmount was called.  Accounts vary, but Hardmount was shot in the head and died instantly.  Fearing to be blamed Lopez and his cousin,  Anastacio Garcia, fled. Their third friend, Jose Higuera (another old Monterey family name) stayed as he had done nothing.  He was abducted the next day by a vigilante group and hanged.  So much for justice, Lopez was basically FRAMED and found guilty without a trial.  This is the point where he changed his name to Tiburcio Vasquez.  His criminal career spanned over 20 years, and he was feared from Southern to Northern California.  More feared than our better know California bandit Juaquin Murieta, who was only active for a few years.  He was tried in San Jose and strangely sentenced to hang for three murders in  a Tres Pinos (Monterey county) robbery, not the Monterey murder. It is said that the ladies would line up to see him and even bribe the sheriffs to see him.  He was hung on March 19, 1875.  His last written statement was:

 "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 last word from the gallows was:

"Pronto"  (rapid, fast)

 

He is really a very interesting character, and although my post is longer than I had hoped it would be, there is still so much more to his story.  For more reading on Tiburcio Vasquez, and please bear in mind there are several versions of his story:

http://www.usc.edu/libraries/archives/la/scandals/vasquez.html

http://www.inn-california.com/Articles/biographic/vasquezbio.html

http://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-tiburciovasquez.html

http://www.monterey.org/museum/jail.html

 

 

 

VAYA CON DIOS (MAY GOD BE WITH YOU)

Written by Larry Russell - Buddy Pepper - Inez James  Performed by Freddy Fender Now the hacienda's dark the town is sleeping Now the time has come to part the time for weeping Vaya con dios my darling vaya con dios my love Now the village mission bells are softly ringing If you listen with your heart you'll hear them singing Vaya con dios my darling vaya con dios my love Wherever you may be I'll be beside you although you're many million dreams away Each night I'll say a prayer a prayer to guide you To hasten every lonely hour of every lonely day Now the dawn is breaking through a gray tomorrow But the memories we share are there to borrow Vaya con dios my darling vaya con dios my love Wherever you may be... (Vaya con dios my love)