The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-07-17
MISCELLANEOUS.


! Spanish brIgand short time ago, al MADRID
expatiated on the scafiold the atrocities Of
his life. His history, as it transpired on hi,
trial, is sufficient to furnish the groundwork
Of romantic tale, or melo drama. according
10 the most approved fashion of the day,
though It's incidents are Of themselves wild
and strange enough, without the aid Of any
fiction.
The name Of Beltran Labrador had long
spread terror through the country round Ma
drld. He was not content with the vulgar
crimes Of robbery and murder, but took a
nd-llke pleasure in putting his victims to the
most horrible tortures. All the inventions OF
the ruffians, who, under the name Of chm surs,
perpetrated such horrible cruelties in France
during the Revolution, were poor and COM
mon-place compared to his devices for pro-
tracing the agony of the wretches who fell
into his hands. AT the head Of q band Of fol-
lowers as ruthless as himself, he suddenly
surprised the unsuspecting inmates Of some
peaceful dwelling. and, having done his work
ofplunder and death, disappeared, leaving no
clue by which his footsteps could be traced
His security no doubt was owing to his exter-
minating policy; for he always took care 10
leave behind him no living witness Of his
crimes.
In the village Of Alameda del Vale, near
Madrid, there lived a respectable farmer Of
the name OF Ramon Espnosa, who passed for
man OF substance, and was understood to
keep in his house considerable sum of mo-
ney. lie lived with his wife, his daughter,
and his son, and a child Of eight years old, in
house al short distance from the other
houses Of the village. One day he had brought
home oranges, and wishing to put them out of
the boys reach, he laid them on the top of
large press which stood in the kitchen but
this difficulty was not sufficient to baulk the
appetite Of boy Of that aye. In the evening,
finding himself left alone for few minutes, he
began to scramble TO the top Of the press, in
order TO get at the oranges, and had just
reached it when he heard the door open.-
Afraid Of being caught in the act Of theft, and
not having time TO get down, he laid himself
fiat on the top Ct the press, concealed by the
ledge which ran along its front. His mother
and sister came in, and noticed his absence,
but without uneasiness, thinking he had gone
into neighbours house, and they were prepar-
ing to 60 for him, when they heard knocking
at the house door. They both ran to open il,
when three men, masked and armed, rushed in
and seized them, threatening them with instant
death it they uttered sound The ruffians
then commanded the women, with horrible
threats and irnprecations, to show them where
Ramon kept his money. There either was
none, or the women did not know where it was
kept, and they accordingly protested their ig-
norance. The robbers beat them savagely, and
set about ransacking every place they could
think of, even the press on the top OF which
the poor child lay trembling, but without being
able to discover the object of their search
| heir disappointment rendered them furious.
Labrador finding u pair of pincers, began
using il as an instrument Of torture, to compel
the women to speak. They continued to pro-
test their ignorance Of any money being in the
house; and the robber, thrusting the pincers
into the fire, heated them red hot, and with
them tore the flesh in large pieces from the
bones Of his victims. Even this horrid cruelty
failed in its effect. The miserable women, in
their agony, could only cry that they had no
thing to tell; and, to complete the tragedy,
the niscreant, having put vessel Of oil on the
fire, poured the boiling liquid on the most ten
der parts oftheir bodies, till they expired under
the violence of their torrents. :
The ruffians, thinking themselves now with.
out witnesses, set about their work Of plum
der, having previously taken off their masks
so that the little boy, who had escaped their
search almost by miracle, and had witnessed
the whole dreadful scene, obtained view Of
their hideous faces. They packed up the most
valuable articles they could find, and de-
parted.
The poor child, half dead with grief and hor-
ror, crept down from his hiding place, and
gave the alarm. A pursuit Immediately took
place, but without effect. It was discovered
that the robbers had entered Madrid; but at
the gates Of the city all traces Of them were
lost. Descriptions of their persons, and OF
their horses, we're given to the police strict
search was made in all the inns and stables OF
Madrid but for u considerable time every ell
fort at discovery was iruitess.
At last, in the night Of the 10Th November,
1886, Don Francisco Huerta, the comman-
dant Of the city patrole, making his rounds,
and going along the passage of the Conserva-
tory, (1rauesia del Conss,raiorio,) observed
near the door Of one Gabriel Catalan, work.
ing mason, quantity Of stable litter, which
had not been swept away. The commandant
entered this mans house to reprove him Tor
his negligence; when Catalan said he had no
horses. This denial appeared suspicious ; and
being urged and threatened by the comman-
dant, the man at length confessed that he had
three horses in his stable, Of which he deli
vered up the key. The horses we're recog
nised as belonging to Labrador and his gang,
and Catalan, beng closely pressed, declared
that one Of them belonged TO Jose Perez, a
Galcian, who lived in the street ofthe Pana-
deros, at No. Ia. in the second floor; another
to Leandro Portigo, in the street Santa bri-
gitta; and the third to Cat .lonian, whose re-.
sldcnce he could not point out. lie added
that, TOUR days before, the men had returned
from the country WITH their horses ana 'hal
they we're in the habit Of taking frequent Jour-
neys.
Having obtained these particulars, ION
Francisco Huerta Immediately repaired to the