Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-11-24
The Cuban Criminals on,ct -

J;raa.i1e upo! me right shore, aln,oA
alrectly opposite Moro Castle. w %himos1
Rerched on the other side Of tha g
Inns building is the prison IN ue pay
criminals are confined who haro" hlcal
sentenced to death. Attached ~ peer
chapel, where many a poor Wal ~ u IS 4
received the last consultations of re,: ha3
and the worn stone sillof the doo v.glon
witness to the many feet that havo oear}
ed out to return on earth pass
more. A''ef any
In the month of May, 1866. Cav.
Dulce being Captain-G General Of ia
lsiana OF CUBA, n Ramon Torres m
private in a Spanish Infantry reaina, !
stationed at Havana, for some caua nend
other, in q moment of passion dros'o OF
knife to the hilt in the bosom Of bi"
perior officer, killing him on the a sn sa
The culprit was, of course, immed;otp.1' l
arrested and sent to prison. whero
was at once tried and condemned ~ nd
by the garrote. Spanish law somet;m ud
renders swift justice, and in this oues
but a few days interviewed betwee, tss
murder and its expatiation. 'ae
When the death sentence ia
upon a criminal, the Juzgado, or t Cons.
OF Justice, proceed to the prison. sna
calling the criminal out of his cell !" ~,
Judge reads the sentence to him. Af aas
doing so he generally makes him aa
address exhorting him to prepare f..
the awful change that is COMING nnoa
him. The prisoner is then take ep; ~
irons to the chapel where he ~
mains until he goes out to his execution
There is a bed in the chapel where i.
can rest, and a priest is ALWAYS VIII
him. During the period he is hera M
reasonable request is denied him. any
everything that a contribute to his
comfort is readily furnished.
On the day of the execution Of tbo
subject of this sketch about five tbon'
sand troops were paraded outside tha
prison walls, almost as many people oi
the city and surrounding country wara
also on the ground. Suddenly tbers
came a chorus of voices from the build,
ing singing in unison a funeral diroe
1t was the farewell of the doomed man.
fellow prisoners, a ceremony never
omitted by them. The sun was gleaminc
brightly over the still, smooth water
the dark green foliage scarcely stirr1no
in the gentle breeze, and amid all tbse
q%uietness and beauty of nature, this
wall awoke in the heart Thoughts sd
sad as never to be forgotten to ones
dying day.
All at nee the prison doors were
flung wide open, and the criminal. 4
man of small stature, came forth with Al
priest and soldier on either side, the|
former holding in his hands a c%rucifx,I
while he occasionally leaned down and
encouraged the doomed man. Imme.
diately following came the verdago|
(executioner), wearing a dark dress,
having upon each of its sleeves an en-.
broidered ladder, the insignia of hsl
office. Two drummers followed beating
the funeral march. 1t being a Spanish
custom on such occasion to loosen the|
drum snare, the peculiar rattle they
produced was far less agreeable than
the muffled drum we are accustomed to
hear.
The garrote was erected near, and d.
rectly north of the prison walls, at
place called La Punta, "the Point" L
was with difficulty the poor wretch
could walk to the spot, and he seemed
frequently on the point of sinking toths
earth. The instrument of death stood
upon a wooden platform and was com.
posed OF an upright piece Of s~cantling
with the iron collar and lever ATTACHED,
while below was a rude seat.
Arriving at the foot of the platform
the death sentence was again read, and
the alguacil de corte-corresponding to
our sheriff-asked the prisoner if he had
anything to say to the people. He
merely Shook his head, by way Of re.
ply, and was at once seated, his legs
tied and his arms pinioned, with the
hands crossed on his breast and the col
lar fixed about his neck. At this point
of the proceedings the verdago pulled
from his person a long, bright knife and
handed it to the police who were pres.
ent. A black cap was then drawn over
the prisoners face and the priests be-
gan to recite the Credo. When they
came to the words ellis only son." the
verdago, by a swift and dexterous turn
of the lever, launched the soul of the
poor wretch into eternity. There was
but a momentary culver of the limbs
and a Strengthening of the form, then
all was still, for the man was stoneE
dead. The mode of punishment is far
more merciful than the hideous and
bungling performances frequently gone
through with at u gibbets.
The troops then wheeled into column
and marched awayto the beat Of drums,
and now came the strange sequel tothls
dismal spectacle.
AS Don as the ground wa cleared
one of the police went forward anu
Selling the verdago, arrested him fof
murder, hurrying him to the prison.
where the Juzgado were still Assem-.
bled. Placing him in their midst 10
accused him of having killed q man. GM,
ard denounced him as a murderer. inc
Judge asked him what he had to soy Ill
answer to this charge.
ut is true" replied the verdaso,
''that l killed the prisoner, but deny
being a murderer, for, although ! CON- IN.
mitted the act charged-displayi1ng hs
arms with the badge-I did it in 'nt
cause of justice, and in pursuance y,
the law, all of which I was compeleu
to do by virtue of my office" H..
1.-The accused is innocent, n Is usz
charged" answered the court, ana .1u.
the formula of Spanish law was sau5'
tied.-Cuban Cor. Philadelphia hFc"'"