The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1892-10-08
The Murder of Don Carlos,

In al! history thero is no story of more
memorable cruelty than that which re-
cords the murder of Don Carlos, the eldest
son of Philip II of Spain, by his father
This event happened at Madrid, July 25,
1868.
1t would appear that young Don Carlos
was addicted to violent bursts of passion,
which indicated his insanity; but be that
as it may, from his earliest childhood his
father had conceived a strong dislike for
him. When the young man had reached
the age Of twenty-three Philip determined
to be rid of him, in order that his cousin,
the Archduke Rudolph, might be his sue
cessor. The prince was placed in prison,
where soon after he was reported to have
died.
1t is only of late, and through the re-
searches of the famous German scholar
Bergenroth, that the true story has come
to light. This story, the confession of the
priest who attended Don Carlos in his last
moments, was found by Professor Bergen
roth among the musty Spanish archives at
Siamancas. The following is the transla-
ton of the priests story:
Don Carlos, the unhappy son Of tho king,
who, no matter what his passion to others
might have been, was always mild with
me, was told in the morning by his guards
that the end had come. Without any sign
of fear he rose and walked from his cell
between them. They entered a room where
q large armchair. on Which was number
of straps, was seen, and beside it stood the
masked executioner, with a long, glitter
ing knife in his right hand.
The prince looked up, stopped for a mo
ment, then, urged on by his guards.
walked in the direction of the chair. OF
his own volition he sat down and placed
his hands upon the arms
The eXecutioner now advanced to the
front, and, dropping OH enc knee. he asked
the prince to forgive him for the ACT he
was about to commit. The prince could
not speak, but for reply he reached out his
hand, which the cxecutioner seized and
kissed.
This done, two masked men houHd the
young mans legs AMI arms to the chnir;
then one Of them fastened black silk
band about his eyes, and threw back his
head till the white throat was exposed.
], his confessor, only able to master my
stammering tongue with thu help Of
heaven, came to tho side of the prince,
who, ON hearing my voice, said:
oh, father, pray for my soulv
repeated the crcd0, to which the prince
responded at tho end, ''amcn."
When Don Carlos had pronounced this
word, the executioner suddenly threw his
right arm forward, drew the knife rapidly
across the neck and u red stream OF blood
overtlowcd the black robes and splattercd
the floor near the chair.
The prince struggled little. Tho knife
being very sharp had cut well. A few
minutes Of awful silence elapsed, and then
the cxecutioner took the bandage from tho
eyes, which were closed. The face was
pale, but it preserved its natural express
sion.
The executioner now undid the straps.
and the body Of Don Carlos was wrapped
In black baize cloth and put in corner
Of the room.
The king had planned his work well.
He not only determined to free the world
of his son, but that the means of his doing
so might not he known he decided at the
same time to rid the world of the eXec,l-
TONER
Scarcely had the body of the prince been
taken from the chalr when Antonio Perez
flew at the eXecutioner and accused him
of having stolen the diamonds of the
prince. Violently and with Indignation
the CHARGE was denied, and the eXecntioner
asked To he searched. Perez, who had the
diamonds concealed in his own hand, easily
| found tnrn upon the person of his victim.