The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-01-14
MEXICAN EXECUTION.
A Desperate and Brutal Murderer
Put to Death.
Fought Desperately Till the Last, Again
Stained His Hands With Human Blood,
but Faced Death Defantly.

4 bloody drama, which had for its OPEN
ing scene the murder of All old jeWelel
named Hernandez, In Profeso street, one
of the principal streets of the city, just as
night fell on February q, 1891, has been
a topic of universal interest in this city, and
even in distant parts of the republic, says
a recent special from the City of Mexico to
the st. Louis Globe Democrat. The morbid
curiosity of the people has been aroused by
the sinister details of the crime and the
marvellous acumen of the police as dis
played in the hunting down of the criminals.
The murdered man had been in the habit oil
living very retired life. having apartm ents
in the rear Of his store. where he slept and
sometimes took his meals 1t was believed
that as he had finished closing the shutters
OF his store on the evening Of the muir leT
several men entered his place Of
business, and, under pretext Of want
ing TO purchase some pieces Of jewelry,
suddenly overpowered the old man,
gagged. bound and q rried him TO
the inner apartment, where he was made
away with by being stabbed in eleven differ
ent places, any of which would have pro-
duced death. The robbers, after having
committed the foul murder of the old man,
looted the place of its valuables and es.
capped without having been detected The
door Of the store was left open by the assas-
sins. The policemen noticed il, and after
calling for help went inside, where they
found everything in disorder. In the inner
room was found the dead body of Her
nandez. BY active work the police brought
the murdeIers TO trial, and on the goth Of
April Jesus Bruno Martinez was sentenced
TO death, aud his four IliceS-NaVrOu-
mont SOusa TrOffel and CabelerO-Teceived
sentences varying from sixteen to nineteen
years at hard labor
This morning the bloody crime committed
on ProfesO street was partially atOned for
by more blood. Jesus Bruno Martinez
was shot. and the tigerish heart, full to the
last of hatred and revenge, was torn TO
pieces by the bullets of the eXecutioners.
Yesterday he was placed under the death
watch, and time was given him TO make his
peace with his Maker, but, although he had
OF death itself 1t might have been expected
that he would repelt aud forgive those
whose duty il was TO carry out the sentence
of outraged Justice, he still nursed his
gloomy rage, and five minutes before he fell
under the fire of his executlOnerS he
stained his hands with human blood again.
As Martinez was led from his cell TO the
urt-yard where he was to die he asked for
a blanket, pleading the chilling cold OF
the morning as an excuse, but the next mo-
ment showed the reason OF his request Ii
was the better to carry out muTderOus de-
sign upon Miguel Cabrera, the Chief Of the
Secret Police, and the man most instTu-
mental in capturing him. The condemned
man WAS permitted TO give the customary
parting embrace to his friends, 10 the Judge
who condemned him, and 10 officials Of the
prison. This was carried out by Martinez
with all. Coming at last to Miguel Cabrera
he extended his arms and was met by q
responsive embrace from Cabrera. Quick
as flash Martinez drew a knife which he
tempted TO bury it in Cacrera's heart. The
latter, accustomed for years TO sudden
danger, jumped aside and attempted TO
parry the blow. To his own GuickneSs he
owes his life for Instead Of death blow he
Only re eiyed an ugly wound in the left arm,
near the shoulder.
The scene that followed beggars descrip-
ton. Cabrera started to run, followed by
Maritime. In his flight Cabrera dropped his
hat, and In the confusion the soldiers who
were endeaVoring 10 effect the capture of
Martinez, mistaking Cabrera for him.
pricked him with their bayonets. Martinez
jumped a ditch and made for a wall. which
he endeayOred to scale but was dragged
down by two Majors, and desperate tight
occurred, one of the Majors nearly losing
his life by knife-Cut that passed through
his 0vercOat, just grazing the skin. After
being disarmed Martinez was dragged and
pushed across the courtyard to the place
VI tAtCuNiObf lCotobAuB AZ CftAN oNOPs ~
irving at the spot he made final appeal for
his life TO the officers in charge of the exc
cutiOn, begging them for his mothers sake
to let him go This was impractcable, ana he
then asked that the execution be postponed
until his mother could be sent for to witness
his death. Useless were his appeals and a
soldier, stepping behind him, seized his
arms and bound them behind his back. For
the first time lie seemed TO give up all hope,
aad refusing to be blindfOded, he stepped
in front of the file of eXecutioners and, look
ing them squarely and defantly in the face,
waited until they had taken aim, and with
his own lips gave the order to fire. Five
carbines shot flame and lead aud Martinez
spun around like top, finally falling in a
heap. a soldier stepped forward and fired
the first Zero de gracia" into the fallen
mans heart, setting fire to his coat The
spark was quickly extinguiShed, and the at
tending surgeon opened the vest and placed
his hand over the heart. Martinez was gasp
ing and shuddering. Another bullet was
sent through his heart. and still another be-
fore he was declared dead.