Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-10-01
A FERocIous VILLAIN.

correspondent oil the Loncon hines VIII
ing from Madrid says:
.sAn act Of singular ferocity took place day
or two ago in the prison ofSalamanca- no.
torious robber and murderer, named PATINo,
the terror ofthe surrounding country for years,
was lately captured and tried nv court martial
He was at first sentenced to be shot, but the
military authorities, thinking such mode Of
punishment too honorable Tor such mis-
creani, obtained its Communication 10 stranglIng
By the garote. On the morning Of the Sd inst.
the turnkey proceeded as is usual, TO inform
the criminal that the Judge OF First Instance,
accompanied by the escribano, had arrived 10
announce in form his sentence, and to trans
fer HIM 10 the condemned chapel, preparatory
10 his execslio He was found with ono OF
his legs released from the letters, having ski
fully 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 the chaplain implored
him TO cease such frullless resistance and TO
open the door, or to pass the keys through the
grating. He refused, and uttered against
them the most horrible mprecations. A black
smith was called 10 undo the lock, but did not
succeed. its massive strength resisting all his
efforts Half a dozen strong men tried TO
break open the door with crowbars and heavy
pieces OF timber. They succeeded, and the
door fell in fragments. The fury of the crimi-
nal then rose 10 its height. He placed him.
himself behind 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 attempted
to effect an entrance. The wounded man
was dragged out by his legs by his comrades.
The others tired TO enter in body but II
was impossible; the doorway was too narrow.
For more than quarter OF an hour he
kept them at bay, and answered TO the
entreaties Of the officers and the prayers of the
priest with the most awful blasphemies and
the most disgusting obscenitles. He then
flung the keys at their heads with his utmost
force, and severely wounded two persons.
Seeing all entreaties useless, party OF SOL
ders was called 10 the spot. The Off
Ger of the guard once more summoned him to
surrender, but he replied with the grossest rib
aldry aud the most insulting gestures, and
howled defiance to the whole garrison. The
soldiers were ordered to load their muskets;
officer with piece OF limestone. The priest,
seeing that he was about to be shot down like
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 II missed
him. The rufiian fell back to dark corner
of his dungeon. as far as his chain permitted,
and from thence flung stones and pieces Of
mortar at his assauliers. Another shot was
fired through the grating, and broke his leg.
The wound rendered him savage beyond all
description He beloved. and howled, and
foamed in rage; and still, dragging his smashed
and bleeding limb along, flung missile at the
soldiers who vet did not dare TO venture IN 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.
s'He called on, that he surrendered, but on
w 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
OF replacing the broken fetler, 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 subsequently visited
by the priest. who employed every effort, but
in vain, to bring him TO sense OF his condi-
ton. His exhortatons and prayers were re-
piled to with the tilthiest obscenity and the
most horrid execrations. 10 the last moment
he continued the same; and even on the
scaffold, seated on the fatal chair, with the
cold instrument OF death about to clasp his bare
neck, this monster in human form shouted TO
the horri6ed crowd about him curses and I'M
precautions on God and man!