The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-09-24
From the London Times.
A Man of Blood.

A Man of Blood.
An act Of singular ferocity took place day
or two ago in the prison of Salamanca, Mad
rid. A notorious robber and murderer, nam
ed Patino, the terror of the surrounding coun-
try for years, was lately captured and tried
by court martial He was at first sentenced
to be shot, but the military, thinking such
mode of punishment too honorable for such
miscreant, obtained its Communication to strang-
ling by the qarOle On the morning of the
Sd of August, the turnkey went to the prison
to inform the criminal that the Judge of the
First Instance, accompanied by the eScribdno,
had arrived to announce in form his sentence
and to transfer him to the condemned chapel
preparatory to his execution. He was
found with one of his legs released from the
letters, having skillfully employed file for
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. lie refused, and uttered against
them the most horrible mprecations. A
blacksmith was called to undo the lock, but
did not succeed, its massive strength resisting
all his efforts Half a dozen strong men then
tried TO break open the door with crow bars
and heavy pieces of timber. They succeeded,
and the door fell in fragments. The fury OF
the criminal then rose to its height. He plac-
ed himself behind a strong beam which went
across the upper part of the door on the in
side, and brandishing the formidable key, ac-
tually broke the head Of the first man who
attempted to effect an entrance. The wound
cd man was dragged out by his legs by his
comrades. The others tried to enter in body
but it was impossible; the door way was too
narrow. For more than an hour he kept
them at bay, and answered to the cntrcaties
of the officers and the prayers Of the priest
with the most awful blasphemies and the most
disgusting obsccnities. He then flung the key
at their heads with the utmost force, severely
wounding two persons.
Seeing all entrcaties useless, party of SOL
diers was called to the spot. The officer Of
the guard once more summoned him to surren-
der, but he replied with the grossest ribaldry,
and most insulting gestures, and howled def
ance at the whole garrison. The soldiers were
ordered to load their muskcts; while they
were doing so he wounded the officer with II
piece of limestone. The priest, seeing that lie
was like to be shot down like beast IN his
den, cntreatcd the men to fire low, so as to dis
able, but not to kill him, i'll order that some
chance might yet remain of repentance.
shot was fired but it missed him: The rutiian
fell back TO dark corner Of the dungeon, as
far as ki5 chain permitted, and from thence
flung stones and pieces Of mortar at his asSall-
ants. Another shot was fired through tho
grating, and broke his leg. The wound rem
dered him savage beyond all description. He
beloved, and halloed, 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 darkness
of the dungeon. A third shot was fired and
his right shoulder was broken. The arm fell
liteless by his side and he lay on the ground.
He called out that he surrendered, but only
because he could no longer resist They en-
tered, and he was dragged along the floor;
bathcd in his blood. As they were in the act
of replacing the broken letters, he collected
his remaining strength, and with his left hand
struck the turnkey with the iron on his head
and laid him at his feet. Three or four men
threw themselves on him, and completely
mastered him. He was then removed to the
condemned chapel, after the sentence had
been duly notified. He was subsequently Wis
tied by the priest, who employed every effort
but in vain, to bring him to a sense ofhis con-
dition. His celebrations and prayers were
replied to with the filthiest obscenity and the
most horrd exccrations. To the last moment
he continued the same; and even on the scat
fold, seated on The fatal chair, with the cold
instrument of death about to clasp his bare
neck, this monster in human shape shouted TO
the Mortified crowd about him curses and im-
precautions on God an d man