The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1883-11-21
The Cuban Criminals Quick Death.

The Cuban Criminals Quick Death.
Those who have sailed by daylight in
to the beautiful harbor of Havana will,
perhaps, recall q dark and low stone
building upon the right shore. almost
directly opposite Moro Castle, which ID
perched on the other side of the bay.
This building Is the prison In which
criminals are confined who have been
sentenced to death. Attached to it is
chapel. where many a 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 pass
ed out to return on earth never any
more.
In the month of May, 1866, General
Dulce being Captain-General of the
Island of Cuba, one Ramon Torres. o
private in q Spanish Infanty regiment
stationed at Havana, for some cause or
other, in moment of passion drove o
knife TO the hilt in the bosom of his su-
perior officer, killing him on the spot.
The oulprit was, of course, Immediately
arrested and sent to pris n, where he
was ct once tried and condemned to die
by the garrots. Spanish law sometimes
renders swift justice, and in this case
but few days interviewed between the
murder and its expatiation.
When the death sentence is passed
upon a criminal, the Juzgado, or Court
of Justice, proceed to the prison, and,
calling the criminal out of his cell, the
Judge reads the sentence to him. After
doing so he generally makes him an
address exhorting him to prepare for
the awful change that is coming upon
him. The prisoner is then taken in
irons to the chapel where he re-
mains until he goes out to his execution.
There is q bed in' the chapel where he
:an rest, and priest Is always with
him. During the per cd 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
subject of this sketch about Eve thou
sand troops were paraded outside the
prison walls, almost as many people of
the city and surrounding country were
also on the ground. Suddenly there
came a chorus of voices from the build
ing singing in unison a funeral dirge.
1t was the farewell of the doomed mans
fellow prisoners, q ceremony never
omitted by them. The sun was cleaning
brightly over the still, smooth water,
the dark green foliage scarcely stirrDg
in the gentle breeze, and amid all the
quietneSs and beauty of nature, this
wall awake in the heart thoughts so
sad as never to be forgotten to ones
dying day.
All at once the prison doors were
flung wide open, and the criminal, q
man of small stature, came forth with n
pr est and soldier on either side, the
former holding in his hands q crucifix,
while he occasionally leaned down and
encouraged the doomed man. 1mme-
diately following. came the verdago
(executioner), wearing q dark dress,
having upon each of its sleeves an en-
broidered ladder, the insignia of his
Office. Two drummers followed beating
the funeral march. 1t being Spanish
custom on such occasion to loosen the
drum snare, the peculiar rattle they
produced was far less agreeable than
the mulfled drum we are accustomed to
hear.
The garrote was erected near, and di-
rectly north of the prison walls, at q
place called La Punta, ''the Point" 1t
was with difficulty the poor wretch
could walk to the spot, and he seemed
frequently on the point of sinking to the
earth The instrument of death stood
upon a wooden platform and was COM
posed of an upright piece of scantling
with the iron collar and lever attached,
while below was a rude seat.
Arriving at the foot of the platform
the death sentence was aga n read, and
the alguacil de eorte 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 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 ''His 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 quiver of the limbs
and stra ghlening of the form, then
al was still, for the man was stone
dead The mode of pun .shment is far
more merciful than the hideous and
bungling performances frequently gone
through with at our gibbets.
and marched away to the beat of drums,
and now came the strange sequel othis
dismal speci iacle.
As soon as the ground was cleared
one of the police went forward and,
seizing the verda-o. arrested him for
murder, hurrying him to the prison,
where the Juzgado were still assem-
bled. Placing him in their midst he
accused him of having killed a man,
ard denounced him as murderer. The
Judge asked him what he had to say in
answer to this charge.
cit is true," replied the verdago.
''that killed the prisoner, but / deny
being a murderer, for, although COM
mitted the act charged-displaying his
arms with the badge-I did it in the
cause of justice, and in pursuance OF
the law, all of which / was compelled
to do by virtue of my Office"
1.-The accused is innocent, and is dis
charged" answered the court, and thus
the formula of Spanish law was salts
/ fied.-Cu6dn Cor. Philadelphia Record.