The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-08-21

extraordinary hOmhbce OF irtme,
The execution OF two Spsni4rd., Pedro
Arms and Manuel Brito, for the murder o.
\ a. Englishmsn two and half years ag ,,ool
plsc- on the I'd Of July in the port of Orotsrs
Tenerife, Canary Islands, The murder
saws an English paper, was the Of The
most horrible md cold-blooded ever
comDitled. II appears that the victim, Mr..
James William NJ r'is, was employed in 5n
English house OF business at Port Orotnra.
and was on very Intimate terms vita The two
muir ierers, 50 much so that il is supposed he
informed them that he carried the KEYS of a
safe Ia which Sas deposited large sum of
money. They excited their cupidty, bad
one evsIiDg they enliced the unfortunate
man to 40 ulfrt quented spot short distance
from the town, near n cemetery, and there,
while quietly waking together enc threw
handful OF lime In bis eyes, and after knock
ing hin down with a heavy stick they both
stabbed him
After ransscking the body, taxi g, among
other things, the keys of the safe, they carried
his body into the cemetery, aud, opening
tomb, threw IN the body; then, after closing
IT, they sst down on the stone TO smoke y
cigar, one remarking that Morris could not
complain. as they had given him christian
burial. Unfortunately for them, vixen re
placing the stone that covered the tomb, they
broke off sm'll pircs from The corner,
and four days afirwsIds bird
boy who Was attending a funeral,
was attracted to the tomn BY strong
imell, and the people With him observed
several flies Issuing from Il hole in tho corner.
Mba ,,th i,fo - Z. 4
caused the stoae 10 be rslsei, when Morris
body was found. The money having been
stolen from the safe, sus pcion fell upoa
Pedro Armas and Manuel Brito, as both of
them had bad reputation and were known
to have been intimate friends of the murder
ed man. Strong and conclusive evidence of
their guilt having been brought against them,
they were arrtsl.d tried aud sentenced 10
death.
Thsy w)re lhsn sent to prison to await
confirmation ofthe sentence from Madrid,
where they rsmsined two and half years,
during whioa lime several petitions were
presented to me authorities in order 10 pro
cure remission OF the sentence; however
thanks to tho untiring efforts of the
English consul Al Ssntss Cruz, tina
confirmation al length arrived, and the
execution vas fixed for the q Of july
AS soon IS the date was fixed tho murder
ers we're urged To confess their horrible
crime, but refused to make any statement
until the eve of the execution, when they
both admitted the murder, and also confess
ed having committed several robberies, at
tempting 10 shoot Spanisrd, end twice set
ting fire to the judges house
On the morning of the ID Of July the in
habitants of O!otara were astir very early,
and Az m Il largo number of people from
all parts of the island had collected a! the
scsffold, which had been ere >ted
during the night on tho very
spot where the murder was com,
mitted. Three hours later the prisoners left
the gaol in small cart, accompanied BY
priest holding a cruciax; they were both
dressed 10 black gowns, with tall black hats.
The elder of the two, Pedro Armas, APP
peared TO be very much effected, but his
companion showed no sign o. feeling
whatever. They were TO suffer death
by "garroting," and to die facing the
cemetery. Arrived at the scaffold, they we're
both led on 10 the platform. and after having
kissed the crucrix aud received absolution
from the priest they were seated side by side,
each with his back against the post to which
the Instruments of death were fixed. There
being only one executoner, one msn had to
witness the others death. Pedro Armas
was the first to suffer, and the wretched
man himself aided the txecutioner
10 pat tho irons round his neck befofe
beisg bound. He suffered considerably be-
fore dying, as the executionor, being very
old man, had not sufficient strength TO screw
The irons tight enough The other prisoner
died almost instanlaneously. Their bodies
remained till sunset, when they were taken
down and buried; but the scsffold still re-
mains rs warning 10 all evil doors.