Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1839-01-25


was concluded. the Fiscal or attorney
general summed Up the case and demanded
he penalty u death agains, the accused.
who were next heard. The defence Of
young Morales was read by Don N. Tex
apa. II was argumentative and spirited,
and was listened TO with manifest interest
by the audience. La Rosa's written de
fence was short and simple--it only implor.
ed pity. When these proceedings had
concluded, the corpse of the unfortunate
Rando, covered with blood, was brought
before the tribunal, and the prisoners be.
ing introduced, were again confronted with
each other.
Rosa, who is described as muscular and
feroclous "a very proper villain again de-
tailed all the circumstances, with consist.
cncy and apparent indifference. Morales
whose appearance was pleasing and inter-
estng, persisted in his denial; and said
the charges against him were false and
caumnous. These proceedings occupied
the time till past midnight-and this, the
reader will bear in mind was the third
night during which the invest ga,on was
continued. having also occupied two days.
Nevertheless at two o'clock the President
of the Council, Don Fernand Alcooer, di.
vecled tina, the Council, the Fiscal, the
prisoners, and their counsel, should proceed
10 the spot where the crime had been com
mltted, and lighted by torches, which cast
mourniu' glare around, they set out for
this purpose, accompanied by vast multi.
tudc of ctAcus persons. La Rosa, without
the slightest emotion, pointed out the DIFF.
ferent places where, as he asserted, Morales
had spoken to him, and showed the road
they went after quitting the Plaza de Ia
Constitution. where they had stopped.
The tribunal then deliberated upon their
verdict, and nt five O'Clock in the morning
delivered their judgment, that the prisoners
should be shot in the presence ofthe corpse.
Accordingly a, three o'clock in the after
noon, they were taken from the convent
where the Military Council which con.
dcmned them had been held, and in the
PIE, encc of concourse Of over one hundred
thousand persons, led to the place of exc.
cu,ion.
La Rosa took the lead, walking with a
firm step, surrounded by picket of sold
ers. Don Juan Morales, downcast but
resigned, followed, receiving religious con>
ISOLATION from couple Of priests. He sa-
luted his friends and acquaintance. Du-
ring the passage from Ca pla to the place
OF execution, La Rosa turned his head
several times to see if Don Juan Morales
was being led after him; he seemed to be
apprchensive lest pardon should be granted
to the cabetlero. and even expressed his
fears on this head.
When they reached Mar,iricos, the place
appointed for their execution, where the
body of the unfortunate Rundo had been
already carried, La Rosa, after the troops
had formed square, persisting in his
statements, addressed the following words
to the peope:-'Senorcs. die the victim
ofa wretch. who is about to die with me-
For the sake of my soul, say n Saire to
Nucstra Sonora de los Dolores. another to
the Virgin del Carmen, and Credo to Al
mighty God His cohfessor here observed
that his words were insulting to his accom-.
p'ice, and that when he stood on the verge
of eternity he should retain no hatred, and
direct his thoughts solely to the salvation
of his soul. Ia Rosa Immediately exclalm.
ed, I pardon with all my heart Don Juan
Morales. Pay for met
When the two prisoners were fastened
10 the fatal post, La Rosa leant towards
Don Juan Morales, and said TO him, in a
tone of irony, Behold the good fortune
you promised me!' Morales then turned
towards his confossor-'Good God! he
exclaimed, let not this man kill me before
the time His last thoughts were devoted
to his family and relations. At tour o'clocl,
discharge OF musketry was heard Mora les
and La Rosa had ceased to exist. The
body OF the former was removed BY the
Society of Advocates; the body of the lat.
ter owed It's burial TO charity. The widow
Of Rando and her female servant are ar.
rested, and new investigation is about te
commence respecting their conduct.
We have given great deal of space to
this singular trial, as it shows the charac-
ter of Spaniards in more favorable lgh,
than traditionary legends Inherited by oul
parents, and by them brought from Europe
lead US TO view that people. If assassina-
tons were so frequent as it has been com
mon to assert, no such excitement would
have been produced We may also rema k
that though the haste with which the in
veslgalion was conducted, ard the circum
stances introduced for effect, are by no
means worthy OF all example, it is more