Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1852-04-05
s,anrer Of Executiou in Spain,

The garote r;l is a death Of infamy in
Spain. The ceremony that accompanies
the execution Of a criminal in that way is
original But whether it be by the garots
or the muskei, The moment man is doom-
ed ei. her by coult martial or an ordinary
tribunal. be is regarded in some sort as hav-
ing ready almost expiated bis crime, and
as ii were no longer belonging to the world /.
7 He is treated with the utmost care, he Is
supplied with everything he wants during
ihe last IL hours he passesin cap'Ha, and
every request Of his is religiously attended
to. No matter what delicacy he requires
for bis last meal, il it can all be had, it is
supplied him-and he is treated with the
utmost Difference by those about him. In
fact, be is regarded with a species Of super.
stitious awe.
On the morning Of the execution. and al
the hour appointed he is taken from the
chapel Of his prison where he has been at.
tended incessently by the chaplain. aided
ii he wishes it, by the parochial clergy and
the members Of the religious confraternities,
who employ the most endearing, the most
soothing expression to reconcile him to bis
fate, and who seldom fail to produce an ef.
feet on the most hardened heart. When
the last stroke of the bell is heard the pris.
oner is clothed in bright yellow gown.
something of the same fashion as a lawyer
and his head covered with yellow cap,
resembling in shape the French toqus
A mule oil low size is placed at the gate, on
which he is raised by the members OF the
religious confraternity. The animal is
without saddle, and is lead with halter
generally by child under ~ years Of age.
The prisoner has book or paper in his
hand, in which are written or printed the
prayers for the d wing, and these he repeats
in loud voice as he moves slowly along,
accompanied by the clergy, who not for
one instant quit his side; and proceeded and
accompanied by the religious fraternities-
whom also the military escort precedes and
follows. As passes be along the street of
Toledo aambeaux are burning in the balco-
pies, and men. women. and children are on
their knees, praying for pardon and "a hap
py release from hfe' TO the guilty man who
passes before them. A number of the mem-
bers of the fraterniiies make a collection
amongst the crowd for two objects-frst,
for the widow and orphans OF the criminal, ,
il married. he may leave behind. and Sec
ondly to distribute in aims, or in masses,
for the repose Of bis soul.
Amongst the crowd there is no indecent
mirth, no laughing. no picking Of pockets ;
and when the criminal has then his seat on
the platform, and the last turn of the tour-
niquet, and the last quiser Of the bound
limbs, tell that lie has fled, the multitude
uncover, and you see many lips move in
hasty prayer for the departed. At the last
moment, too. groan is uttered by the null
titude-but is not one Of disrespect-it is as
it were the last adieu TO the soul as it quits
its earthly tenement. The body is left seat
ed in the same position for an hour, and
then removed No death can be quicker
than by the garote Itis fact instantane-
GUS, and the force with which the instru-
ment cts at once makes the neck as fat as
the times, open palm.
The assassin OF the Queen Of Spain on
being arrested expressed no sign or regret,
exclaiming. sWhat alb eut myself! | have
killed her. While striking at the Queen,
BIZ exclsimed, @Tona, eres muerta (holy
you are dead. Since then be has been
heard to exclaim, with an air Of triumph:
sob If she is not dead, she will die"