The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-11-11

TO the house, and raising himself, started
for he hills. 1t was Parada. They
stariea IN pursuit, but although the en-
tire village was aroused Q got away.
While one crowd was CHI aslng Parada an
other :hropged around the priests house
and some OF them rushed into the
house. They started, back in horror
when they discovered their favorite
priest lying on the floor of his bedroom,
murdered. His throat was cut. After
several days OF hiding Parada was cap
tured. lie was changed man. There
was nothing nov Of the fighter ABOUT
him. He was as meek as a lamb and full
OF repentance, and begged his neig h bors
to be lenient with him and he swore, in
the most earnest manner he was innocent.
Parada was placed on trial, and the
evidence against nip was very strong.
His defence was thsthe went to the house
with the full intention OF killing the
priest for wrongs which he felt bis fam-
ily had suffered at the hands OF the
priest. lie carefully locked the front door
and took out the Key t1 prevent HE VIC
tim from escaping to the street, an1 hsd
placed the key in his pocket. The rest Is
told in his own words:
"Fully determined upon killing him
cr.pt TO his bedroom expecting TO lind
him in prayer or asleep, but when
looked in almost lost my breath. re was
Oh the floor. His lip were trying to move
as IL he were gasping. was frightened.
felt pity for him. / could have killed
the man or woman that had killed him,
but believe he committed suicide. /
him wrongfully. But suddenly realized
my plight. / turned to fee from the
place. l forgot the key. The door was
locked. 1 came back TO the room where
lay the dead man. ! wish now l had
stayed there. 1 finslly jumped from the
window to the garden and made for the
Mills, because 1 found myself pursued.
In my excitement in getting awsy lost
my knife, but | never knew where until
nesrd that 1t was found In the room
alongside the dead man. / firmly believe
he committed suicide ont of shame over
my terrible accusations"
ParpCs was convicted and sentenced to
death, hut King Peter V of Portugal,
changed the sentence to ono of life i'm
prisonment. Peter V. received regularly
twice year, just before Good Friday,
and before his birthday, letter each
time from some foreign port, written In
the same handwriting and consisting OF
only these words: "Parada is innocent.
Pardon him.
The Kings OF Portugal are allowed by
law only to pardon ccnvicts twice a
year, on Good Friday aud on their birth
day. These letters came regularly for
Incarceration in the Prison OF kelacam, the
Bishop of Angrs, one of the Azores, visit
ed Lisbon and had an audience with the
then reigning King Louis /. He told
the king that his only excuse for max.
ing the long voyage was to inform him
thar Parads was innocent of any crime
and deserved the II yal clemency.
King Louis read the history of the case
in the official archives ana came to the
conclusion that tho bishop was a crank.
About seven years ago the real MUIR
derer, for II was murderer, died In the
hospital at Brabanza. He sent for the
nighes police officials and the Mayor and
made tnis confession: ~ had reasons to
hate the priest whom Parada swore to
kill. was In the church at Braga on
the morning that he said he would cut
bis throat. 1 saw a chance OF settling u
debt OF vengeance. entered the house
early and remained concealed there until
/ thought 1t was time for Parada to come
and then j slew the priest" This con.
fession fifteen years after the crime led TO
Psrada's liberation by pardon and result
ed in the abolition OF the death penalty
in Portugal.