The Sun.
London, England, 1846-08-19 00:00:00

A SPANISH ROBBER.

(Extract from a letter dated Madrid, August 8.)
An act of singular ferocity took place a day or two
ago in the prison of Salamanca. A notorious robber and
murderer, of the name of Patino, the terror of the sur-
rounding country for years, was lately captured and
tried by court-martial. lie was at first sentenced to be
shot, but the military authorities thinking such a mode
of punishment too honourable for such a miscreant,
obtained its commutation to strangling by the garote.
On the morning of the 3d instant, the turnkey pro-
ceeded, as is usual, to inform the criminal that the
Judge of First Instance, accompanied by the escribano,
had arrived, to announce, in form, his sentence,
and to transfer him to the condemned chapel, pre-
paratory to his execution. He was found with one of
his legs released from the fetters, having skilfully em-
ployed a file fur that purpose, which he had concealed
on his person. Though still bound to the iron bar
which traversed the dungeon, he flung himself on the
turnkey, seized the massive keys, struck him on the
head, and dashed him against the wall outside. He then
locked the door, and shut himself up in the cell. The
officers of the prison, the judge, and chaplain implored
him to cease such fruitless resistance, and to open the
door, or pass the keys through the grating. He refused,
and uttered against them the most horrible imprecations.
A blacksmith was called to undo the lock, but he did not

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succeed, its massive strength resisting all his efforts. Half-
a-dozen strong men then tried to break open the door
with crowbars and heavy pieces of timber. They suc-
ceeded, and the door fell in fragments. The fury of the
criminal rose then to its height. lie placed himself be-
hind a strong beam which went across the upper part of
the door on the inside, and, brandishing the formidable
key, actually broke the head of the first man who at-
tempted to effect an entrance. The wounded man was
dragged out by the legs by his comrades. The others
tried to enter in a body, but it was impossible; the door.
way was too narrow. For more than a quarter of an
hour he kept them at bay, and answered to the entrea-
ties of the officers and the prayers of the priest with the
most awful blasphemies and the most disgusting ob-
scenities. He then flung the keys at their heads with
his utmost force, and severely wounded two persons.

Seeing all entreaties useless, a party of soldiers was
called to the spot. The officers of the guard once more
summoned him to surrender, but he replied with the
grossest ribaldry and the most insulting gestures, and
howled defiance to the whole garrison. The soldiers
were ordered to load their muskets; while they were doing
so he wounded the officer with a piece of lime .stone. The
priest seeing that he was about to be shot down like a
wild beast in his den, entreated the men to fire low, so
as to disable, but not to kill him, in order that some
chance might yet remain of repentance. A shot was
fired, but it missed him. The ruffian fell back to a dark
corner of the dungeon, as far as his chain permitted,
and from thence flung stones and pieces of mor-
tar at his assaulters. Another shot was fired through
the grating, and broke his leg. The wound rendered
him savage beyond all description: He bellowed, and
howled, and foamed in rage; and still, dragging his
smashed and bleeding limb along, flung missiles at the
soldiers, who yet did not dare to venture into the dark-
tress of the dungeon. A third shot was fired, and his
shoulder was broken. The arm fell lifeless by his side,
and he lay on the ground. He called out that he sur-
rendered, but only because he could no longer resist.
They entered, and he was dragged along the floor,
bathed in his blood. As they were in the act ofreplacing
the broken fetter, he collected his remaining strength,
and with his left hand struck the turnkeys with
the iron on the bead, and laid him at his feet. Three or
four men threw themselves on him, and completely mas-
tered him. Ire was then removed to the condemned
chapel, after the sentence had been duly notified. He
was subsequently visited by the priest, who employed
every effort, but in vain, to bring him to a sense cf his
condition. His exhortations and prayers were replied to
with the filthiest obscenity and the most horrid execra-
tions. To the last moment he continued the same ; and
even on the scaffold, seated on the fatal chair, with the
coldinstrument of death about to clasp his bare neck,
this monster in human form shouted to the horrified
crowd about him curses and imprecations on God and
man !

RosslNL—The account of the gran maestro's present
doings are so contradiory as to deprive each other of all
credit. According to some, the visit of the delegates from
the Paris Italian Opera has revived his all-but extinguished
musical ardour, and having long been without a piano, he
goes every morning to a friend's house, and thumps his
instrument for several hours a day, composing a new and
splendid work for the Parisians. Others say that a new
opera will be all a humbug, a piece of patchwork made up
of pieces from the Donna del Lae" and some of his
forgotten operas, with nothing new but the title
and the libretto, which is to be manufactured after the music
has been put together. We are, moreover, told that arrange-
ments have been made for producing this new work (what-
ever it may be) at her Majesty's Theatre next season. We
must wait patiently till time shall solve this great mystery.
The Milan Gazette says that a new chorus has been com-
posed by Rossini, and sung with enthusiasm at Bologna, in
celebration of the political amnesty granted by the new
Pope; but another journal (the Pirates) asserts that this was
merely a chorus from one of his old operas, to which he put
ne wjwords.

DEATH OF SIGNOR GABUSSI, THE COMPOSER.
This clever musician expired on Saturday morning, after a short
illness of thirty-four hours, having long laboured under a diseased
liver. He was a native of Bologna, and was in his 45th year. lie
visited London during the musical season for some years past, and
was universally respected for his talent, of which Rossini had the
highest opinion.
CHARGE OF BRIBERY AT ST. ALB,AN'S.--RIOT.-
Yr. Manlove, jun., who went up to town with Lord Listowel, In his
carriage, immediately after the declaration of the poll, with the five
sovereigns alleged by him to have been given him in Mr. Cabbell's
committee-room for his vote. returned on Wednesday evening, whets
a mob of the very lowest description, connected with the Tory party,
created an uproar. Mr. Manlove prudently took refuge in the
police-station till the morning. On Thursday evening riotous pro-
ceedings were again commenced, by rough music, &c. ; but on a re-
presentation being made by some of the inhabitants to the Mayor,
he, with great promptitude, issued orders to the police immediately
to suppress the disturbance by their personal exertions, as well
as pressing assistants. It is presumed that these rioters did not
volunteer their services. Some one paid them.--Hertford Reformer.
AMERICAN BAR ELOQUENCE.-" May it please the
Hon. Court and Gentlemen of the Jury—the defendant in this case,
wilfully and maliciously, with all the fury of a fiend, emerged from
the wild wilderness with all the terrific frenzy of a roaring lion, and
with his gigantic strength he did then and there seize my in-
' offensive client by the colliv—and tore his shirt 1"--4mencoAPeoPer•