The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-08-29
MEXICAN NEWS BUDGET.
Arguments in the Famous Romero Duel
Case-Other Notes. a.

! City of Mexico, Aug. 24.-The entire
day has been devoted in the Verastegui-
Romero duel case to arguments by counsel
| and prosecuting attorneys. The public
prosecutor made great speech, which
has attracted universal attention, being
circulated in printed form all over the
city. He denounced duelling as crime
and demanded the punishment of every
body concerned to the full extent of the
law and declared his conviction to be that
Romero and his seconds laid deliber-
ate trap for Verastegui and planned that
he should be provoked into making the
countermand, which rendered his chai-
lenge in view of the code. The prose
cutor said that Romero and his second
played on the vanity of Verastegui and
his seconds. and thus this honorable, if
mistaken, man was led to make sacri-
fee of his life 1t was an infamous plot
and it succeeded, and Verastegui was
murdered to crafty Romero's desire for
revenge and vanity and bravado. He
contended that General Rocha should be
punished for having furnished pistols,
loaded them. and thus coming clearly
within the provsons of the penal code.
He then demanded also that DIR. PrecadO
should be punished for clearly defying
the law. The whole thing was a premedi-
tated slaughter of Verastegui; his grave
was practically dug before he went to
the Spanish 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,
Romero's attorney defending his right to
fight as military man who had been
wounded in his amour propre by insult
ing language. The attorney contended
this was the real cause of the duel. He
denied that Romero was dead shot, and
thus had no advantage over Verastegui.
He made a long argument in support of
duelling The case has gone to the jury.
Public excitement is intense.
Monitor Republican,, a strong radical
Liberal paper calls on the Liberal party
to be on the alert for the Catholic clergy.
liberation extended them, are determined
to make war on the public school system
Priests in the State of Tabasco have is
sued circular letter denouncing public
schools as schools of Satan and Luther,
who will carry off to he'll children edu-
Gated in them. while schools established
by the clergy are open gates of salvation.
Authorities in Tabasco have ordered the
arrest and imprisonment of the priests
taking part in this movement against the
public schools. The Bishop of Tabasco
has fled. The clergy are charged with
open violation of the reform law.
A telegram from Victoria says drouth
prevails and fears are entertained that
cattle and crops will be lost if rain does
not come soon. The country generally is
enjoying abundant rains.
A commission from Atlanta to invite
President Diaz to the exposition is ex-
pected daily.
Money is ABUNDANT and the demand for
loans is light. More demand for foreign
exchange and shipment of dollars has
begun. New York exchange is at 80
premium. 1t is believed that silver will
continue to fall.
The steamer Vista. on the gulf coast.
was wrecked the passengers and crew
were saved.
The first exposition ever held here of
fruits and flowers opens tomorrow at
Coyocac in the suburbs of this city.