The New Orleans daily Democrat., 1880-04-18
OTERO'S EXECUTION.
How the Would-be Spanish Regioide Met
His Death-sosnes and Incidents.

[By Gable to the Cincinnati Commerciall
PARIS, April t4.-Our Madrid correspondent
telegraps us as follows: Oteros conduct yes~
terday and last night displayed the greatest
GOODNESS and composure until late In the
evening. The only refreshment of which he
would partake during the entire day was an
omlette and some coffee. He held misse in
his hand must Of the time, and appeared to
be reading or lost in Thought. He refused to
pray or teeite a rosary with the chaplains
until late In the evening, when he asked for
the almoner of the palace. As he could not
see him he ended by confessing to the Vicar
Of San Ildefonso.
Up to this time he had been confident that
hia sisters and advocate would succeed Mt the
palace. At his request the Captain General
of Madrid and the Duke OF Sesto. chief of
the royal household, went to the chapel and
held long interview with the prisoner, but
nothing of what was eaid has been made
known. He was visited In the prison by the
chief civil and military authorities during
the night. | was there myself at midnight
and the surgeon Of the prison told me that
the prisoner had confessed. He still refused
food or drink, and his pulse, which was over
liz. was Irregular. He looked pale and spx-
ious, and refused TO see his sister. whose
tears and giiet distressed all who were pres
ent. He even refused to reply to touching
letter from her.
When ] again entered the prison at 7 80
this morning the streets and open ground
before the prison were covered with a dense
crowd, the msiority being women, who chat.
ted, laughed, iostled and pushed the guards
and police. OF whom there were a strong
force on the staircase. | found the Brothers
of the Order OF Peace and Charity waiting
with large green candles, ornamented with
green ribbons and having the red medals sus-
pended at their necks. The principal au-
thorities of Madrid were In the chapel with
the reglclde, who wept at a touching exhort-
alton from the Civil Governor.
The prisoner had passed a quiet night ris-
Ing before o'clock to hear mass. He par
took OF the sacrament and at last expressed
repentance. Hestill exhibited great GOODNESS.
refusing all food but wine and biscuits He
made long confession during the night to
the chaplain of the Royal Palace.
At 5 o'clock precisely this morning the
Judge gave the signal for departure. and the
reeiclde descended TO the gate Of the prison,
preceded by priests bearing crucix, by po-
lice, by magistrates, and the Brothers of Paz
y Carload, with lighted tapers.
The prisoner was attired In q black and
violet robe, round cap. ecapularium on his
and hia fettered hands grasping an
image Of the Virgin. Several of the priests
and brotherhood entered the prison van with
Otero. while others headed the procession
with q orucitix borne aloft. The crowd. which
was stiil composed chiefly Of women,
pressed around the escort, and when 1t ar.
rived at the plaza, where the soaifoId was
erected. 1t could not have numbered lees
than 10000, In front of the gibbet, which
stood on low platform, was the bench upon
which the culprit sits. Death is caused by
the pressure Of an iron bar, which causes In
stant strangulation.
Two carbineers from valladolid had pre-
ceded the arrival of the regicide. The ground
was guarded by strong force of cavalry, In
fantry and genddfmes with fixed bayonets.
The morning was beautiful, and the sun
gilded the wooded mountains In the distance.
When the regicide assembled the scaffold,
he was deadly pale, and his hands trembled.
The troops termed large square around the
scaifold. The executoner seated the regeide
on the bench and covered his head. At four
teen minutes to niue the signal was given,
and the prisoner was garroted- geemih,s
to be almost instantly extinguished. The
body will be exposed until the Brotherhood
carry II to the cemetery, where corner Is re-
served for criminals OF that stamp
In the ministerial and social circles there Ia
no talk of the prisoner having made any po-
litical revelations. He simply expressed
contrition for his crime, and recommended
his brother and sister to the protection Of the
authorities.