JONES, JACK — Vasquez California's Forgotten Bandit

Carlsbad, CA: Akira Press, 1997. 1st Edition; 1st Printing. Paperback. ISBN: 0965377008. Trade PB. B&W Illustrations; This is a trade paperback book. The book is in Very Good+ condition and was issued without a dust jacket. The spine ends and corners of the book covers have some beginning bumping and rubbing. The text pages are clean and bright. "By 1852, Vásquez had become a protégé of Anastacio García, one of California's most dangerous bandits. In 1854, Vásquez was present at the slaying of Monterey Constable William Hardmount, during a fight with García at a fandango. Vásquez denied any involvement in the murder, yet still fled, becoming an outlaw. With Alta California ceasing to exist (once becoming the U. S. State of California) , and no longer under Mexican governance, thousands of settlers from states and territories further east arrived to claim land in California. This left many Mexicans feeling slighted and forgotten; Vásquez would later claim that his (eventual) crimes were retribution for discrimination by the settlers and white norteamericanos (‘North Americans’) , insisting that he was a defender of Mexican-American rights. For the next 20 years, Vásquez and García played leading roles in Monterey County's murderous Roach-Belcher feud, ending when García was executed by hanging in 1875." (from Wikipedia). Very Good+ .