The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-09-12
Broken OH the Wheel--Sorytan Jus-
sicc.-Horriblc Punishment Of a Hor-

There il no State in Europe i'll which the
barbarons punishment Of breaking ON the
wheel is inflicted on criminals except Serrti.
OF the senli-dcpendencieS of Turkey. In Ser
vim they have three methods of Furnishing
1nurdcrcls, highway robbers, and incpndia-
rjes. In the most aggravated cases execution
bv breaking on the wheel is inflicted. III
other cases the cuprtS are tied 10 chairs, anu
the headsman runs Il sharp knlie across lileli
throats and then breaks their spine. If there
are peculiar circumstances OF mitigation the
culpri.s are shot bya file of soldiers.
One of the most revolving crimes cFei
committed i'm SerNia was the ASSASSINATION OF
the whole family of Il wealthy farmer named
Detrestisv, In the Bi;,lin district about twenty
miles from Belgrade. the capital of Servia.
On the 9th of April DetreStisy, II man OF
forty wears OF age, his wife. SlIsannah,
twenty-ninc wears old, and his three chill.
dren. Frances, Kathinka aud ArandcaS, aged
rospectiyeIy twelve, nine, and four years,
were found i'm the house murdered. Ii WAS
also discovered that the mother and the two
daughters had been outraged. All the VIC
Tins had been beaten with bludgconS and
then stabbed. An active search was ut once
made for the perpetrators. Two days after
word they were discovered in forest about
four miles from where the crime had been
committed. They were SebaStulns A'eNlry,
formerly a non.commissioncd officer in the
army of the Sultan 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 farmer i'll their possession
They were taken in irons to Bucharest.
Upon being brought before the examining
magistrate they denied any knowledge of the
crime; but the lash, which is there still used
upon the mendacious criminals, was not long
in cliciting u confession from the tortured
Werthstein. After receiving fifty lashfs on
the bare buck he confessed that AteXiry and
he had broken into the house of the farmer
in order to rob him of three hundred
ycuuius. They succeeded in forcing tl'eil
way into the house, but were confronted 10y
him whereupon desperate scuttic cnsucd.
The farmer fought valiantly, but they dubbed
him, and then finished him with their dirk
knives.
AleXirv refused to confess, and remained
firm even under the torture OF the lash, freely
administered by order of the magistrate.
Both AlcXiry aud WcrthStein were fully
committed. Their trial before the full bench
of criminal Judges came off on the 1lth OF
June. 1t lasted but one hour. Both were found
guilty of murder without eXtenuating cir
cunStances, and sentenced to be broken on
the wheel There was loud applause in
court when the sentence WAS pronounced.
Alexiry listened to il without emotion.
Werthstein, however, broke into loud
screams, tore his hair, and yelled for mercy.
The officers of the court had to drag him
back to his cell. ~
The l4th of July was fixed for the eXec,-
ton. They were to eXpiate their doom
on the old glacs of the fortress Of Belgrade,
upon which Prince Eugene, OF Savoy, made
ouce his famous assault. The execution was
to take place at A. NJ, and an enormous
concourse assembled to witness it. The
scatfold was circular. of wood, aud the only
distinctive feature about it was st. An
drew's cross, slightly elevated above the
platform.
About halEpast the exeeutioners arrived.
One was heavy-built man. aud tine other
almost giant. Both were dressed in green
flannel Jackets and had their arms bare.
When the clock on ST. Mary's steeple at
Belgrade struck there emerged from the
gate of the fortress a procession headed by
four horsemeu. Next followed the carriage
in which the judges and the priest were
seated. As the procession emerged from
the gate loud shrieks were heard. They
were those of Werthstein, who, chained us
he was hand and foot, screamed to heaven
for help. Under ordinary circumstances his
appeals might have had some effect upon the
people; but knowing the fearful crime
which he and his accomplish had committed,
there was not Il voice raised in his favor, and
the soldiers were rather encouraged to punch |
him with the butt ends of their muskets.
When the criminals had been; brought ON
the platform every stitch of clothing lett
upon Alexiry was torn of, and hewas firmly |
tied to the st. Andrews cross. Until this |
moment he bad preserved his equanimity.
But DOW the executi0ner drew from Green |
bag q sort Of iron club with a knob at its /
head. The fastened criminal looked visit
fully At the man who Was 10 torture him and
then put him to death. The exccutioner
raised the iron club and crushed AieSiry,s
tight shoulder. The murderer gave a shrisk.
and made 3 desperate effort TO free himself.
He struggled desperately IN his agoay, but