The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-08-26
A DUELIST SENTENCED
ROMERO GIVEN THREE YEARS FOR
KILLING VERAsTEGUL.
Precedent Established in Mexico That
the Survivor Must Provide for
His Victims Family.

MEXICO CITY, Aug. 25.-The entire day
Romero duel case. The public prosecutor
made great speech which was immediate
ly circulated i'm printed form all over the
city. He denounced dueling as a crime
and demanded the punishment of everybody
concerned and declared his conviction to
be that Romero and his seconds laid
deliberate trap for Verastegui and planned
that he should be provoked into making
a countermand which rendered his chal-
lenge necessary in view of the code. The
prosecutor said that Romero and his Sec
ond played on the vanity of Verasteguis
seconds and thus the honorable. If mis-
taken man, was led to make a sacrifice of
his life. He contended that General Rocha
should be punished for having furnished
pistols. He demanded also that DR.. Pre-
ciado should be punished for defying the
murder of Verastegui. The grave was
practically dug before he went to the Span
ish cemetery to exchange shots with
Romero. The civil prosecuting attorney
followed in a speech strongly denouncing
Romero, causing an uproar in the court
room. Lawyers for the defense followed
Romeros attorney defending his right TO
fight as military man. who had been
wounded by insulting language. The case
has gone to the jury.
delivering his charge TO the jury in the
Verastegui- Romero dueling case. finished
at o'clock this morning: The jury then re-
hall of the court was crowded, and a
swarm of reporters were present. The jury
brought in a verdict of guilty in the case
of Colonel Romero, and by majority alb
solved General Rocho and the four seconds
Prda. Castillo. Barreto and Carrello. The
five years for Romero. The judge then SEN
fenced Romero TO three years and tour
months at hard labor in the municipal pris-
on, with liberty to choose the trade he pre-
ferred to work at, and he was also sem
tenced to pay fine Of $500 or serve one
hundred days additional. Furthermore, he
was admonished that If he ever committed
a similar offense the severest penalties OF
the criminal code would be applied. The
judge then sentenced him TO pay 10 the
family of Verastegui for eighteen years the
sum of 81 500 yearly. and also TO pay the
cost of Verastegui's funeral and all costs IN
the case. The severity of the sentence was
considered almost extreme. but public opin-
ion justifies II. DR.. Preciado was absolved
by the jury. Judge De La Hosee then gave
notice that the verdict absolving all prison
ers &c the nS sbe evidenca and bs
therefore, would send the case to the upper
court for its decision, which, IL unfavorable
to the prisoners, will result in severe SEN
tence for all these. The sentence of Ro-
nero establishes precedent that men kill
ing their antagonists in duels will have 10
maintain the family of their victim or re-
main in prison perpetually.
Monitor Republican, (newspaper) calls on
the Liberal party to be on the alert for
Catholic clergy, emboldened by growing
power and liberation extended TO them
and determined to make war on the public
school system. Priests in the state of To-
ibasco have issued circular denouncing
the public schools as schools of Satan
who will carry off to hell children educated
| in them, while schools established by the
clergy are open gates of salvation. Au-
thorities in Tobasco have ordered the ar
rests of priests taking part in this move
ment against public schools.