Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-01-24
HOW SoECAs1 WAS aARROrED.
The wOuId.bs Reuleide Publicly Ex-
ecuted.


A correspondent Of the London
Standard, writing from Madrid, says
Long before daylight a stream Of peo-
pie poured out of Madrid on the roads
leading TO the Saladero prison, and to
the spot called Campo de Guardias,
beyond the northern suburb of Cham
berry. 1t is a lonely wild, dreary field,
something like a common, in view Of
the distant chain Of the Guadarrama,
and full in sight of Madrid. 1t stands
between two high roads, and the
seattold had boon raised about three
feet above the ground, upon large
square blocks of stone. 1t is a rude
sort of platform, upon which rises a
pole or gibbet, and a wooden bench.
The prisoner is made TO sit against the
gibbet, and is there rapidly ~strangled
by two or three executioners. They
had been down to the Campo de
Guardias during the night to prepare
the scaifold, and they we're waiting at
daybreak at the Saladero prison 10
go through the formality Of asking
pardon of the convict. In the Sala.
dero it had been a sleepless night
with the authorities and those who
watched the doing criminal. Before
the day had broke on that cold, chilly
morning the priests had aroused Juan
Olivia, and had said three masses in
succession, while he knelt at last.
quite moved and weary. we were told
by the vicar himself. He, however,
never, in the course of those twenty
four hours, expressed any repentance
at having attempted to kill the king.
He submitted almost cheerfully to be
ROBBED in a dark-colored penitent dress
and cap. Around his waist was a
cord belt and on his cap a cross. He
had his hands bound, and he very
quietly told his executioner that he
willingly pardoned him. At s o'clock
precisely Judge Molina gave the sig
nal, and all the soldiers in the halls
and passages of the Saladero stood to
attention. The prisoner was led down
stairs by the priests and brethren of
the Paz y Carload. Many of the ward
ers seemed much moved as Moucasi
passed, and he nodded to one or two
of them. At the door of the Sala-
derO prison a strong detachment of
soldiers of the line was drawn up
near to a closed carriage drawn by two
mules. An uncouth- looking and ragged
driver was on the box, and Moncasi
stepped into it without assistance.
The two priests sat by his side, and
the officer gave the order to march
with fixed bay0nets. First in the sad
procession went two strange, pale in
dividuals, accompanied by warders.
These were the Calcrafts Of Vallado-
lid and Jaen, he of Madrid having
died lately. Next came the brother
hood, with lighted tapers, and a priest
in robes, bearing aloft a crucifx. Next
was the coach, surrounded by the
brethren and a double line of soldiers
and police. The crowd became silent,
and men took their caps off as the
procession moved slowly past. 1t is
curious that the vast majority of those
present on the road and at the Campo
de Guardias we're women and young
boys. Such a collection of young
rogues and ragged youths could hardly
be imagined. The female part of this
herd was mostly composed of young
girls from the popular suburbs, and
here and there you could catch
sight of old sight-seers, who in
spire you with the idea that
they oftener than they choose pay
the Saladero visits of a permanent
character. The crowd on the spot of
the execution, | hear from trust
worthy authority, was 80 great that it
was impossible to approach the scat
fold. The prisoner was led in the
carriage, and amid profound silence,
within a square formed around the
seafTold by Hussars and infantry. He
alighted with the priests and stepped
up to the gibbet very coolly. He sat
down, quite surrounded by the priests
and brethren of the Paz Y Carload.
When they left his side the Yalladolid
Calcraft had done his work, and Juan
Olivia Y Moncasi had ceased to live.
The crowd very soon dispersed, and
not many people remained to gaze on
the body, which is exposed until dusk.
according to Spanish Law, with face
uncovered. This evening it will be
inferred. In the crowd on the route
and during the execution some sympa-
thy was expressed for the death of so
young a criminal, but no demonstra-
ton of any kind took place.