The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-08-26
best part of a week, and the affair ter
inmates with a grand banquet.
MEXICAN MATTERS.
The Verasteguin-Romer Duel Case
A Raid Against the Catholics.


CITY OF MEXICO, Aug. 25.-The en-
tire day yesterday was devoted to the
Verastegui-Romero duel case The pub
was Immediately circulated in printed
form all over the city. He denounced
duelling as a crime and demanded the
punishment of everybody connected with
the affair and declared his conviction that
Romero and his seconds laid a deliberate
trap for Nerastegui. He contended that
General Rocha should be punished for
having furnished pistols. The whole thing
was the premeditated murder of Veraste-
gui. The grave was practically dug be-
fore he went to the Spanish cemetery to
exchange shots with Romero.
Civil prosecuting attorney followed in
a speech strongly denouncing Romero
causing an uproar in the court. Lawyers
for the defense followed Romero's attor-
ney, defending his. rule to fight as a
military man, who has received insulting
language. The case has gone TO the jury.
Monitor Republica calls upon the Lib
eral party to be on the alert, as the Cath
Ole clergy, embroidered by their growing
power and the liberation extended 10
them, are determined ID make war on the
public school system. Priests in the state
of Tobasco have issued q. circular letter
denouncing the public schools as schools
OF Satan, who will carry off to hell chill
dren educated in them, while schools es-
tablished by the clergy are open gates
OF salvation. Authorities in Tob2Sco
have ordered the arrest and imprison-
ment of priests taking part in this move
ment against public schools.
Judge de la Hose occupied two hours
in delivering his charge to the jury in
the straightforward duelling case,
finishing at l o'clock this morning
The jury then retired, bringing in
verdict at 8 o'clock. The hall of the
court was crowded, and swarm of
reporters were present. The jury
brought in verdict of guilty in the
case of Colonel Romero, and by a ma
jority absolved General Rocha and the
four seconds, Prida, Castillo, Barreto
and Carello. The public prosecutors
asked for a penalty of five years for
Romero. The judge then sentenced
Romero to three years and four months
at hard labor in the municipal prison
with liberty to choose the trade he pre-
ferred, and he was also sentenced to
pay fine of $1,S00 or serve 100 days
additional. Furthermore he was adj
monished that il he ever committed a
similar offense the Severest penalties
of the criminal code would be applied
to him. The judge then sentenced him
to pay to the family of Verasregui 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 opinion JUS
titles it. DR.. Preciadova was absolved
by the jury. Judge de Ia Hose then
gave notice that the verdict absolving
all prisoners except Romero, was. in
his opinion, contrary to the law and
the evidence, and he, therefore, would
send the case to the upper court for
its decision, which il unfavorabIe to
the prisoners, viii result in severe
sentences for all of these. The SEN
tence of Romero establishes a prece-
dent that men killing their antagonists
in a duel will have to maintain the
family of their victim or remain in
prison perperually,