The Penn's Grove record., 1884-01-26

-Au Execution In Cuba
Those who have sailed by daylight
into the beautiful harbor of Havana,
will, perhaps, recall a dark and low
stone building upOl the right shore,
almost directly opposite Moro Castle
which is perched ON the other side of
the bay. This building is the prison in
which criminals are confined who Ina We
been sentenced to death. Attached to
it is a 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 out to return on earth
never more.
In the month of May, 1866, General
Dulce being Captain-General OF the
Island of Cuba, one Ramon Torres. a
private in a Spanish infantry regiment
stationed at Havana, for some cause or
other, in a moment of passion, drove a
knife to the hilt in the bosom of his SUI.
perior officer, killing him on the spot.
The culpTit was, OF course, Immediately
arrested and sent to prison, where he
was at NICE tried and condemned to die
by the garrote. Spanish law sometimes
renders swift justice, and in this case
but a few DAYS interviewed between the
murder and its expIaUion.
When the death sentence is passed
upon a criminal, the JuzgadO, or court of
justice, proceed to the prison, and, call.
ing the criminal out of his cell, the
,,.Ia., rn,In tho gnY4,yaa - hin, Ffnr
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 remains
until he goes out to his execution.
There is a bed in the chapel where he
can rest, and Il 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
subject of this sketch, about five thou
sand troops We're 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 dlrge.
1t was the farewell of the doomed mans
fellow prisoners, a ceremony never
omitted by them. The sun was gleam-
lug brightly over the still, smooth water
the dark green foliage scarcely stirring
in the gentle breeze, and amid all the
quietness and beauty of nature, the
wall awoke 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, a
man of small stature, came forth with
a priest and soldier on either side, the
former holding in his hands a crucifx,
while he occasionally leaned down and
encouraged the doomed man. lmme-
diately following came the Yerdago
(eXecutioner), wearing a dark dress,
having upon each of its sleeves an en-
broidered ladder, the insignia OF his
office. Two drummers followed, beat
ing the funeral march. 1t being a
Spanish custom on such occasion to
loosen the drum snare, the peculiar
rattle they produced was far less agree
able than the mufled drum VT are &C
customed to hear.
The garrote was erected near and di-
rectly north of the prison walls, at a
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 composed of an upright piece OF
scantling with the iron collar and
lever attached, While below was a u d
seat.
Arriving at the foot of the platform,
the death sentence was again read, ana
the alquacil de corte-correspondlng to
our sheriff-asked the prisoner If he
had anything to say to the people. de
merely shook his head by way OF reply,
and was at once seated, mis- legs tleG
and his arms %plnioned, with h hands
crossed on his breast and h collar
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
present. A black cap was then drawn
over the prisoners face, and the priests
began to recite the credo. When they
come to the words "His only son" the
verdogo, verdago, by a swift and dex-
ferrous turn of the lever, launched the
soul of the Io0r wretch into eternity.
There was but a momentary qulVer OF
the limbs and a Strengthening OF the
form, then all was still; for the man
was stone dead. The mode of punish
ment is far more merciful than the
hideous and bungling performances
frequently gone through with at our
gibbets.
The troops then wheeled into column
and mareht d away to the beat of drums
and now cam the strange sequel to TINS
dismal spectacle.
AS soon as the ground was cleared
one of the police went forward anu
seized the verdago, arrested nun lor
murder, hurrying him to the prison,
where the iuzgado were still assembled,
Placing him in their midst, NE accused
him of having killed a man, ana de-
nounced him as a murderer. TheJudge
asked him what he had to sayln answer
Ia the charge.
st is true" replied the yerdago,
''that | killed the prisoner, but dehy
being a murderer, Tor, although com
mitted the act charged-displaying his
arms with the badge-I did it IN the
cause If justice, and in presence OF the
law, all of which / am compelled TO DO
by virtue of my office"
1.-THE accused is innocent, and IS dls-
charged, ,, answered the court, and thus
the formula OK Spanish law was salts
fed.
Sincerity does not consist in speaking
your mind on all occasions, but III DONG