BRAZILIAN BANDIT SCORNS THE POLICE

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7018, 18 September 1929, Page 12

BRAZILIAN BANDIT SCORNS THE POLICE

Leads Roaming Band

Virgolino Ferreira da Silva, spectacled, gaily-accoutred bad boy of the Brazillian hinterland, who has enough charges against him to fill a book, continues to provide cause for the existence of police, writes the ‘Rio Dc Janeiro correspondent of the Regina Leader.

The bandit, better known as Lampeao, Portuguese for lamp post, is roaming through the thinly-inhabited sections of the States of* Bahia and Sergipe in the north-vest. surrounded by a • band which has left' a bloody trail. \

Lampeao, whose notoriety has. ready found its way into the sensational paper-covered novels, is young in appearance. He is blind in one eye and wears shell-rimme4 glasses. Lampeao and his men, sometimes numbering 150, use Hardy little mules to evade the police. This- bandit docs not represent the true Brazillian by any means. Bather-he typifies the last important remnant of that class of “bad men’’ which infests the frontier country of Brazil, a sort of counterpart of Jesse James and other famous gunmen of the wild and woolly west of the not-so-reccnt days in the United States. That section of the country which Lampeao calls his home is experiencing the same tribulations that the frontier inhabitants of the United Statos went through in the days of the home-stead-ers and the gold rushes. Polico have difficulty in coping with Lampeao and his band due to the latter’s vast knowledge of the back country, and their ability to move quickly while the posses make their way slowly over the. scarcely known territory.

Innumerable stories, many of them without foundation, have grown up about Lampeao, and his name has become almost a byword in Brazil. These talos have found their way into pamphlets of the Dead Shot Diek type, reeking with murder and banditry, and done in a style which, if not founded on fact, certainly is arresting. A justice of the peace at the village of Carira, who saw Lampeao, said the bandit is now accompanied by a brother. The men wear shirts and trousers of cheap blue cloth, sandles, aud large red hats. Lampeao’s cartridge belt is two palms in width, carries four rows of ammunition, and two rows of gold and silver buttons. The belt is worn over his shirt, and its size prevents him from being able to bend at the waist. He wears a cross on his cocked hat. He and his men travel well armed at all times.

The picture also revealed the paradoxical information that Lampeao left Carira because he was unalije to find a good concertina. These musicians!

Crimes without number are alleged to have been committed, by Lampeao and Ms aides. The latest crime attributed to .the “Lamp Post” is the. raiding of a farm in the State of Bahi, stealing eight coitos (approximately £200), and some cattle, and attacking the farmer’s two daughters. He is described as being a sadist of the first degree, relishing crimes of the most chilling sort.. Picturesque tales are told about Lampeao.* When he entered the village of Carira he is said to have made the sheriff’s house into a temporary hotel for himself and his men. .The police force of Carira consisted of six members, four of which fled when they hoard of the bandit’s approach. The two who remained were entertained with drinks and cigars by Lampeao, who praised them for their bravery in sticking to their duty. His visit caused curiosity rather than fear among the village residents, Who followed him wherever he went.

In the town of Sacco Eibeiro he had His photograph taken, and declared hp had no hostile intentions toward the people of the State of Sergipo, adding, however, that he would show no mercy if he were followed or attacked. Ho has manifested a desire to live peacefully, but police aren’t so sure of bis intentions. He also maintains he will be “good” if he is given some official office. And the police are also dubious about that. There have been several fierce encounters between the Lampoao raiders and the police at Massacara, Curralinho, and Abobora. At Curralinho the bandit chief’s lieutenant, “Mcrgulmao,” was killed, and the whole band was put to flight. Tho chase has continued relentlessly since.