Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1879-05-13
THE MATRICIDE!
OR
THE CR[PPLE'S CURSE!

A STRANGE STORY OF CIRCUMSTANTIAL
EvIDENCE-THE SLAUGHTER AT THE
ACCURSED HOUSE-THE BLOOD STAIN
ED MONEY WHICH SENT AN INNOCENT
MAN TO THE GARROTE.
On September l, 1877, Pedro Domenic
was garroted in Salamanca. Spain, for
murder. On January 13, 1879, Bastisn
Domenic. a crippled beggar. whose daily
post was in the plaza in front of the Do
mination Convent of st. Stephen, where
Columbus first ventilated the scheme
which led to the discovery of America,
fell upon and butcbered Salvador Aqua.
verde, Doctor of Chemistry to the Uni
versity, as he passed by on his way to
his daily lecture. No more complete or
justifiable vengence than that secured
by the murderOus mendicant's act was
ever recorded in history.
At the head of the Gale San Sebasti-
an, in the ancient city of Salamanca,
stands gloomy old house which seems
to look down on the busy life of the
street over which it lowers with per-
petual frowa. Green mold stains its
walls, the crumbling ornaments over its
broken doors are overgrown with moss.
The winds and the birds have deposited
seeds in the interstices of its masonry,
and grasses have sprouted out and grow
in bright tufts on the somber stones,
while from the shattered easements taw-
dry rags flap in the hot breeze, and frow-
sy women and lean men lounge and
smoke and gossip all day, ana almost all
night. too, for the matter of that. Casa
Maldicha is in a decent neighborhoed,
but it has reputation as evil as its
name.
THE ACCURsED HOUSE.
One hot night in July, 1877, a star
Yelling little tailor. who sheltered his
famished bones in one of the garrets of
the accursed house, was disturbed in his
work by faint moaning. which SEEM
ed to proceed from the next division of
the attic. The interruption was repeat
ed several times, and he finally uncrossed
his skinny legs and got up. When he
opened his door he fancied that = dark
figure passed swiftly down the foul and
unlighted corridor and was swallowed
by the gloom.
The light of his miserable candle re.
vealed no one, though the moaning had
ceased, and the only noises audible were
the labored breathing of the other deni-
zens of the garrets, who, with open
doors. were sleeping through the suffo-
eating night in brief forgetfulnsss OF
their daily misery.
II must have been mistaken" he
said to himself. 1.-THE old girl has been
sound asleep this long time. Cdrocha
My poor empty stomach has made my
ears ring"
And he returned to his room He
had scarcely reseated himself when q
shuffling step approached outside. and
the door opened. Upon the threshold
appeared figure garbed in filthy rags,
and
HORRIBLE IN ITS MISsHAPEN UGLI-
NESS.
sFIt was a man, but so twisted and de-
formed, either by nature or disease, 80
piuched by want. and withered by mis-.
cry, that there was little human about
him save his deepset fiery eyes. Even
his voice was shrill and cracked, as If it
was produced by some skillful mechan
ism.
"SunQre de Di0s :" he snarled. as he
dragged his hideous, crippled form into
the room. "You are up late, Pedro"
II have not earned my dinner yet,
returned the tailor, dismally stroklng
his attenuated stomach.
"But I have brought you some devils
in hell man. Look here"
And he produced from under the rag