St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-12-15
ASSASSIN'S BLUNDER.
The Strange Means to an End
Used by a Murderer in
Venezuela.
Points on the Abolition Of the
Death Penalty in That
Country.
Real Justice Served in a
MARKED and Dramatic
Fashion.
4 Thorough Seounorel IN
Command Of Troops Of the
Government.
enezuela Special


ton which Gen. Falcon was elevated tc
the presidential chair in Venezuela was
the abolition of the death penalty, and
the sentimental considerations prompt
ing that So-called humane reform have
been in sufficient force ever since tC
prevent restoration OF capital punish
ment To the calmly impartial view OF
Northerner, the absence of provision
for tie legal diminution of the number
of Venezuelans who can well be spared
seems to leave sort Of aching void in
the statutes OF that country. A law to
hang murderers would probably tend to
make life safer in that unique republic.
AT all events, it would have some effect
in reducing the number of murders that
any one citizen might hope to perpe-
trate with impunity.
The happy idea of shooting shy mis-
take or when attempting escape" eX-
ceptionally obnoxious prisoners was
ingenious. ana was carried into eXecu-
lion sufficiently often under GuZman
Blanco's administration TO De of some
value as an Offset to the laXity of the
law. But. as it generally happened
only in the eases OF political offenders,
it could not be satisfactory reliance
for reaSSuring the public against the
playful habits of gentlemen addicted to
murder. Still, all that is matter which
concerns NeneZuelanS more than any
body else. If they desire to cherish
their asSasSins, it is their affair.
According to tradition, the abolition
of the death penalty, in the very first
ease where that law applies, served real
justice in so marked anu dramatic Il
fashion, that Il powerful effect was pro-
duced upon the popular mind, one that
has not yet ceased to be remembered
and felt.
The commandment of the govern
ment troops at Maracaibo, during the
Jaime RebOlled0.
A Thorough ScOundrel,
who entered INTO negotiations with
Senior Juan Molina. one of the most
active promoters OF the revolution, for
the betrayal of his trust.
Senior Molina was rich man and old,
but an ardent supporter of Gen. Falcon,
and his only son, Pedro. VAS an officer
of merited distinction in the insurgent
forces. The traitOrOus colonel avoWed
his Willingness to lead his men into the
revolutionary ranks. which he believed
would be very easy for him, or, if they
should, by n miracle, prove more loyal
than himself. to put them in such a po-
sition that they would inevitably be
overwhelmed, decimated and made
prisoners.
His price for this service was to be
the hand of Senior Moiina'S only daugu-
ter, Louisa.
That. at least, was what he demanded.
1t IS not to lie supposed that he was
actuated solely by passionate love for
the very charming girl. He wanted
her, of course. but none the less did he
want her fathers wealth, and it is at
least believed that his schemes included
the assassination of her brother Pedro,
that she might inherit and as his wife,
bring to him the old mans gold.
The credulOuS fanatlcal revolutionary,
Senior Meina, blinded by his patriot
ism to Ia the villainy of Col. Rebolledo,
was willing 10 give his daughter, for he
knew that winning over the troops at
Maracaib0 would be the decisive blow
by which the triumph of the Falcon
cause would be assured.
But the daughter insisted upon hav-
ing something 10 say about that deal.
She was in love with Rodolfo Figuerola,
a fine young captain in the Falcon
army, and it was In vain that her sire
and accept the hand of a ScOundrel
whom she loathed, simply to put a stop
to the horrors Of civil war and to save
tie country.
In his perpleXity the old man told
RebolledO OF her attachment, hoping
that would put an end to the rentgade's
aspirations, and offered him the most
tempting alternatives of place and fort
uneS, but without avail. The cOlOnel's
jealousy was awakened, and he swore
that he would accept no other terms
than her hand.
If she was recalcitrant. her father
must exercise his authority to compel
her. and if he failed to do so, the colonel
threatened 10 put him in the hideous
dungeons of the Castillo de st. Carlos as
revolutionary sympathizer, and then
Take Her by Force.
1t would have been easy enough for
the scoundrel to do what he threatened,
for he had full power and the old man
was living near COro, within the con-
seryatlve lines, where there would be
no difficulty in seiZing him and his
daughter. From that threat sprang a
strange and tragic course of events in
Startlingly swift succession.
Young Figueroa's father was a Con-
Beryative, and the son, although secretly
in s. mpathy with the revolutionists.
had been, by parental influence, de-
TERED from overt demonstration of that
feeling. Consequently there were no
grounds Tor arreSting him, and throw
ing him INTO the Castillo. Furthermore.
even If he were imprisoned, he was
pretty sure to get free again some day.
and would then be very likely to marry
LuiSa.
The colonel saw nothing that prom
lSed so we'll for his scheme as assassi-
mating the young man, and having fully
resolved upon this, laid III wait to carry
his purpose into execution. He seemed
10 have an internal Intuition that he
would catch his victim in going to or re-
turning from a clandestine visit to
LuiSa.
That which the colonel did not divine
was that Capt. Pedro Molina. instead OF
being many miles away with the insur-
gents, was in the immediate neighbOr-
hood, hiding in the forest, waiting fol
nghtfall, to have an interview with his
father as an emissary between the old
man and Gen. Falcon.
When Senior Melina was leaving his
house for the rendezvous with his son.
he told Lulsa to make all needful prep
aratlonS for Startiug before daylight
Tie next morning With him for Core
and thence for the Island of Caracao.
He was in too much haste, unfortunate.
ly. to tell her that lie was fleeing from
Rebolledo and the Castillo de San Car
los, resolved to save her even at the ex-
pense of giving up the purchase of the
traitor and his troops.
The instant his back was turned Ro
dolfo, who had been watching his on
portunity, was with Luisa, and she told
him her fathers programme for the
next day. While the old man was try.
ing to win his daughters consent to the
bargain with the colonel he had sternly
forbidden the young man the house
and now the hot-headed lover Jumped tc
the conclusion that Luisa was to be car
ried off by Rebolledo. She could moi
deny that she suspected that to be hel
fathers design, but vowed she woulC
never consent to marry anybody but
ROdOlfo. lie
Urged Her to Flee
with him and be his wife at once. with
out waiting the issue of long struggle
against paternal will: but she refused