Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-08-29
BROKEN ON THE WHEEL.
SerVfau Justice-HOrrible Punish
ment of n Horrible Crime.

\
Servian Justice-HOrrible Punish
ment of n Horrible Crime.
There is no State in Europe in whicl
the barbarous punishment of breaking
on the wheel is inflicted on criminals
except Servia, of the semi-dependencies
of Turkey. In Servia they have three
methods of furnishing murderers, high
way robbers and incendiaries. In the
most aggravated cases execution by
breaking on the wheel is inflicted. In
other cases the culprits are tied to chairs
and the headsman runs a sharp knife
across their throats and then breaks their
spine. If there are peculiar circum-
stances of mitigation the culprits are
shot by file of soldiers.
One Of the most revolving crimes ever
committed in Servia was the assassina-
ton of the whole family of wealthy
farmer named Detrestisy, in the Bialin
district, about twenty miles from Bel
grade, the capital of Servia. On the
oath Of April Detrestisy, man of forty
years of age, his wife Susannah, twenty
nine years old, and his three children,
Frances. Kathinka and Andreas, aged
respectively twelve, nine and four years,
were found in the house murdered. 1t
was also discovered that the mother and
the two daughters had been outraged
All the victims had been beaten with
bludgeons and then stabbed.
An active search was at once made
for the perpetrators. Two days after
ward they were discovered in forest
about four miles from where the crime
had been committed. They we're Sc
bastulns Alexiry, formerly a non-com-
missioned officer in the army of the Sui
tan of Turkey, and Moses Alexander
Werthstein, an Austrian Jew.
When they were arrested the officers
found several hundred zequins and the
watch of the murdered father IN their
possession. They were taken ia irons
to Bucharest. Upon being brought be-
fore the examining magistrate they de-
MED any knowledge OF the crime; but
the lash, which is there still used on the
mendacious criminals, was not long in
elicitipr confession from the tortured
Welthstein. After receiving fifty lashes
on the bare back, he confessed that
Alex;ry and be had broken into the
house of the farmer in order to rob him
of three hundred zequins. They sue
ceeded in forcing their way into the
house. but we're confronted by him,
whereupon desperate scuffie ensued.
The farmer fought vRliaptly, but they
clubbed him, and then finished him with
their dirk knives.
Alexiry refused to confess, and re-
mained firm even under the torture of
the lash, freely administered by order OF
the magistrate. Both Alexiry and Werth-
stein were fully committed. Their trial
before the full bench of criminal judges
came off on the llth of June. 1t lasted
but one hour. Both were found guilty
of murder without extenuating circum-
stances, and sentenced to be broken on
the wheel. There was loud applause in
court when the sentence was pronounced.
Alexiry listened to it without emotion.
Werthstein, however, broke into loud
screams, tore bis hair aud yelled. for
mercy. The officers Of the court had to
drag him back TO his cell.
The l4th of July was hxed tor the ex-
ecution. They we're to expiate their
doom on the old glacis of the fortress OF
Belgrade, upon which Prince Eugene,
Of SayoyHnade once bis famous assault