The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-07-22

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Singular and ertensivs robbery # . Catholic
wieM.
We have received by the Brother Jonathan,
files AZ tho Panama Herald and Star to the
Sd inst
The only i'sms OF intelligence of any interest
are the following
We announced in our last number. the rumor
of large robbery which, it was alleged, had
Just occurred, and intelligence Of which we re-
ceived Us our paper was going TO press. The
rumor has not only been confirmed, but it has
been ascertained TO Re much larger than was ut
first supposed, and the whole robbery involves
some very extraordinary facts, which we have
gathered for the benefit Of our readers.
A Catholic priest residing in this city, named
Jose Maria Blanco. has been for several years
the guardian Of two or three orphans, the
children of his deceased brother. The proper
ty Of these orphans, this priest has had con-
verted into doubloons and gold dust, and in
this way had accumulated several hundred
thousand dollars together, which he kept in a
wooden chest in his room, somewhere near Ca
trodral Plaza. The amount is stated at not less
than three hundred thousand dolIars, the greater
portion of which belonged to the orphan child
rem, and which he thus kept secretcd with q
large quantity of his own funds.
On Tuesday evening last, the old padre had
occasion to leave his room for an hour or 80,
whom, on his return, he says he met three mon,
apparently Just leaving the building. These
men ne had seen before, and he remembers their
having knocked ut his door one evening, and
when he admitted them they apologized by say
ing they were looking for rooms, and retired.
Upon reaching his room, the old gentleman
found that his treasure chest, which stood out
in the room, had been broken open but from
the large amount of money contained in it. i
was impossible to ascertain what amount had
been stolen On Wednesday morning the padre
very quietly made known the circumstance OF
the robbery to one or two personal friends, with
the singular request that nothing be said about
it as he " would rather lose the amount than run
the risk of losing more by having the authori-
ties count the balance"
But his wishes, in this respect were not graft
fied-for, in few hours, the terrified priest
found himself beset by inquisitive vsiters, pok-
ing all sorts of questions at him, and getting all
sorts of very short answers. The rumor became
spread throughout the city; the three individuals
whom the priest had met at the door OF his casa
were sought for and could not be found many
suspicious circumstances connected with their
leaving the city were raked up and discussed
the authorities began to be agitated; public
Investigation was proposed by the friends OF the
orphans and the dignitaries of the legal tribunal
which was strongly resisted by the holy father;
and party consisting of Senior CounJe and Col.
f. Amav started off in pursuit OF the fugitives,
with full authority to arrest and bring them back
to this city.
Meantime, an examination has been made by
the authorities, with the following results
Priest Blanco cannot say what amount of gold
was contained in the chest, though he thinks
there was some 100000. AS near as can be
estimated, it is supposed the thieves got about
$4,000 Upon opening the chest to make az
examination, upwards of three thousand Spanish
doubloons and large quantity of gold duet ir
bottles were found, the whole of which was
takenby an order and placed in the hands O
his Excelency Governor Diaz, for safe keeping
thus depriving the priest ola charge which, it il
alleged, he was not very scrupulous in using.
The names Of the persons for whom writ
have been issued are ]. Dupey, or Dupre,
gambler from New Orleans Foster, formerl
engaged in the mule and transportation business
| and 10 Simpson, hotel runner. These ar
the three persons seen by the padre leaving hi
house on the evening of the robbery, and the
were also met by other persons in the stree
who describe them US being apparently loade
down with something heavy, the pockets {
their sack coats being sustained by their hand
&C. &c. Dupey has since been seen at cruce
and we have no doubt but that the whole part
are at Chagres, ready to take the first steams
for the United States.
TWO OF THE cHAGREs MURDERERs EXECUTED
From the Panama Star, July /.
| Yesterday evening, at half past four o'cloc
Francisco Medrano a nd Jose Maria Radillo, tw
of the men convicted of having committed ii
recent murders on tie Cbagres river, paid Il
penalty affixed to their crime, by the laws
the country, by beir,g shot in front of the Gil
Jail.
In the middle of the day two posts had bee
erected in the Plaza near the eastern wall of Il
Jail, to each of which, later in the day, was a
tached label, civ ing the name, place of brit
and crime comm tied by the culprit. As Il
hour approached yhen the execution was TO tai
place, crowds Of eople hocked to the Plaza al
every balcony and. other prominent place. fro
which view could be obtained, was early occ
pied. A large d ,tachment Of the national gun
was under arms, and nfter marching and counte
marching throu Oh the principal streets of Il
city, they were drawn up in very good miita
style, forming three sides of a square, near Il
Jail. Afterwards guard of regular soldier
under the roll of muffled drum, conducted Il
prisoners from their cells to the place of exec
ton; where the two priests heard the last co
fessons that the condemned had to make, al
administered TO them all the earthly consolati'
that mother church could give. This done,
white bandage was tied over the eyes of the p
sopers, which at the same time bound their bea
to their respective posts The officer in commal
gave the words; lake ready" "aim," and I
rafting sound of 10 usketry proclaimed that 4
law was justified One Of the prisoners di
without a struggle "A ball having entered
artery, from which the blood spouted upwar
ms from fountain. The other. who was lead
of the band of mu-derers, and who proclaimt
when arrested, ths t he was only sorry he h
l notkilledtwice as ANY people, and who, throug
out his own imprst ,nment, has displayed the me
hardened and de6a ut tone, was not so quick
despatched, and second volley was instant
discharged at him Still he was not killed b
| another yolley SEM his soul before that God w