Jacinto Trevino As told by: Clara Zepeda The legend of Jacinto Trevino is one of our people's most endearing and retold stories of our area. Mrs. Clara Zepeda, President of the San Benito Historical Society, and member of the Cameron County Historical Society, has been a wealth of information in reference to this story since she is related, by marriage, to Mr. Trevino. Mrs. Zepeda's uncle (by marriage) was Jacinto Trevino's brother. The story goes that Jacinto Trevino was defending his cousin, who was working at the Ohio Station, on an irrigation ditch.

On a sunny day in May 1910, as he arrived at Ohio Station, James Darwin the engineer in charge of the work site, was slapping Jacinto's cousin (the family say he was being horsewhipped). When Jacinto saw his young cousin (20 years old) * (See note below) being so savagely beaten, he fatally shot James Darwin. (It is said that Darwin was supposedly whipping him because Darwin's wife had complained that the cousin was making "eyes" at her, trying to be fresh). After the shooting, Jacinto fled to Mexico and the people in San Benito were very alarmed. They called him a "Bandit".

In July of 1910, Pablo Trevino, Jacinto's cousin went to Mexico and told Jacinto not to fear and to return because all was okay, unbeknownst to Jacinto, his cousin was lying to him and trying to get him back into the states and set up an ambush. He assured Jacinto that all was well and for him to attend a barbecue held in his honor.

After this, Pablo announced to the enemy that Jacinto would return. Pablo returned across the border to Mexico so that he could escort Jacinto to the states. As they rode towards the small city of Los Indios, Jacinto's horse started reacting strangely and Jacinto felt like there was an ambush up ahead. He told Pablo that he felt strange about the situation but of course Pablo insisted that all was well. However, Jacinto told Pablo to go separate ways. He instructed Pablo to meet him at a certain ebony tree. Jacinto went and checked the spot and saw the ambush (cars, people, etc.). When he came out of hiding, the first person he fatally shot was his own cousin Pablo Trevino, as well as Texas Ranger Lt. George Carnes, Deputy Sheriff Bernie Lawrence, Texas Ranger Pat Careghead, and Constable Earl West. Jacinto Trevino then quickly fled to Mexico and returned to La Brigada. ** (See note below)

This incident was used as an excuse to bring in the Texas Rangers into Los Indios. The citizens were corraled, tortured and questioned all day, as they were kept out in the sun. They tortured the Trevino family men, whipping them and hanging them (but not to kill, only till they lost consciousness). The women and children were finally allowed to go inside but the torturing of the men continued all night. No one confessed.

During this era, which was called "Bandit Times", any killing of an Anglo, was usually blamed on Jacinto Trevino.

After the years, one of the family members encountered Jacinto Trevino's nieces (his brother's two daughters) and they asked the family member for a clarification of the actual events. When they were told what actually happened, they were relieved to know that Jacinto was a good man that had been pushed into doing a bad thing. Their only regret was that the stigma of his "being a bandit" always followed the family wherever they went, and the loss of their father who had been a victim of the torturing that had occured on that fateful day when the entire town of Los Indios was corraled. Their father, Jacinto Trevino's brother, never recuperated from the shock of the atrocities done to him and his family members, and he died two years later.

Summarized by Mrs. Albie M. Lopez as told by Mrs. Clara Zepeda

* Jacinto Trevino's half-brother was beaten until he went deaf.
**Jacinto Trevino killed only George Carnes and his cousin Pablo.

(Revised by Rosa Fleming - Jacinto Trevino's great granddaughter:     rfleming@trinityrivermission.org )

Read Valley Morning Star article about Jacinto Trevino (PDF)

Last update: Friday, October 7, 2005 9:07 AM