Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-11-16
BETTER THAN HANGING.
The Cuban Criminals Quick, Painless
Death by the GnrrOte-Dcscriptio o N
by an Eye Witness of tho Execution
of II Havana Murderer,

The Cuban Criminals Quick, Painless
ea.n Dy INC rot..D.scription n
Of n Havana Murderer,
tFrom the Ph!ladclphla Prcss.l
Those who have sailed by daylight into
the beautiful harbor of Havana, will,
perhaps, recall dark and low stone
building Ipon the right shore, almost
directly opposite Moro Castle, which is
perchcd on the other side of the bay.
This building is the prison in which Grim
inals are confined who have been sento c.
cd to death. Attached to it is chapel,
where many poor wretch has received
the last consultations of religion, and the
worn stone sill of the door bears witness
to the many feet that have passed ont to
return on earth no more.
In the month of May, 1866, General
Dulcc being Captain General of the
Island of Cuba, one Ramon Torres, pri-
vate in Spanish infantry regiment sta
toned at Havana, for some cause or an
other, i'll moment Of passion, drove n
knife to TIE hilt in the bosom of his sup
erior officer, killing him on the spot.
The culprit was, of course, Immediately
arrested and sent to prison, where he was
at once tried and condemned to die by the
garrote. Spanish law sometimes renders
swift justice, aud in this case but few
days intervcucd between the murder and
its expiation.
When the death sentence is passen up
on criminal, the Ju:gDdO, or Court of
Justice, proceed to the prison, and, call
ing the criminal out of his cell, the Judge
reads the sentence to him. After doing
30 he generally makes him an address ex-
horting him to prepare for the awful
change that is coming upon him. The
prisoner is then taken in irons to the
chapel, where he remains until he goes to
his execution. There is n bed in the
chapel where he can rest, and priest is
always with him. During the period he
is here no reasonable request is denied
him, and everything that can contribute
to his comfort is readily furnished.
On the day of the execution of the sub
iect of this sketch, about five thousand
troops. were paraded outside the prison
walls, while almost as many people Of the
city and surrounding country were also
on the ground. Suddenly there came a
chorus of voiccsfrom the building singing
in unison funeral dirge. 1t was the
farewell of the doomed mans fellow pris.
oners, ceremony never omitted by them.
The sun was cleaning brightly over the
still, smooth water, the dark green foliage
scarcely stirring in the gentle breeze, and
amid all the quietness and beauty of na-
ture, this wall awoke in the heart
thoughts 80 sad as never to be forgotten
to ones dying day.
All at once the prison doors were flung
wide open and the criminal, man Of
small stature, came forth with priest
and soldiers on either side, the former
holding in his hands crucifix, while he
occasionally leaned down and encouraged
the doomed man. Immediately following
came the re1ulugO, cxecutioner, wearing
n dark dress, having upon each of Its
sleeves an embroidered ladder, the insig-
mia of his office. Two drummcrs follow
ed, beating the funeral march. 1t being
Spanish custom on such occasions to
loosen the drum snares, the peculiar rat
tie they produced was far less agreeable
than the mucilld drum we ar accustomed
to hear.
The garroto was erected near, and di-
rectly north of the prison walls: at place
called La Punta, ''tho Point" 1t was
with difficulty the poor wretch could walk
to the spot, aud he seemed frequently ON
the point of sinking to the earth. The
instrument of death stood upon n wood
en- platform and was composed of an
upright piece of scantling, with the iron
collar and lever attached, while below was
II rude seat.
Arriving at the foot of the platform the
death sentence was again read, and the
uigudcH dc corfc-corrcsponding 10 our
shcrifl-askcd the prisoner if lie had uny-
thing to say to the people. He merely
shook his head, by way of reply, and was
at once seated, his legs tied and his arms
pinioncd, with the hands crossed on lis
breast and the collar fixed about his neck.
At this point Of the proceedings the rcr.
dn9O, pulled from his person long
bright knife, and handed it to the polio,
who were present. A black cap was thor
drawn over the prisoners face, and tn,
priests began TO rccitc the Crr,iO. Whcr
they come to the words Ellis only Son.
the rcrdUgo, by n swift and dexterorls
turn OF the lever, launched the soul of tn,
poor wretch into eternity. There was bu,
momentary quiver of the limbs and (
Strengthening Of the form, then all wal
still, for the man was stone dead. This
mode of punishment is far more merci
full than the hideous and bungling perfor
mances frequently gone through with n
our gibbets.
The troops then wheeled into column
and marched away to the beat of drumbs
and now came the strange sequel to thi
dismal spectacle.
AS soon ms the ground was cleared on
of the police went forward, and seizin;
the rerdugo, arrested him for murder
hurrying him to the prison where tn
Juzdayo were still assembled. Placinl
him in their midst he accused him of hay
ing killed man, and denounced him as
murderer. The Judge asked him what h
had to say in answer to this charge.
'It is true, replied the perdugo, "tha
killed the prisoner, but deny being
murderer, for, although / committed tn
act charged displaying his arms with tn
badge-I did it in the cause of Justice
and in pursuance of the law, all of whic
l was compelled to do by virtue of m
"The accused is innocent, and is dis
charged. answered the Court and thu
the formula of Spanish law WAS salts
fed.