The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-21
GOLLI MEETS HIS DEATH.
TIE MURDERER OF CAN0VAs GAR
ROTED IN MADRID.

went to His Execution without show or Yoar
ana Rejected All E1hertations to Repent
ance-"Leave We Aionet ! Will Mako NY
Own Peace with Cod" ne Told = Priest.
Special Cable Despatch to TEE Sun.
MADRID, Aug. 20.-Golli, the murderer OF
Premier Canovas del Castillo, was executed by
the garrote at IL o'clock this morning. The
execution took plack in the prison at versara.
Coli was garroted by the public executioner.
He met his fate unconcerncdly and rejected to
the end the exhortations OF the priests in at
tendance upon him to repent OF his sins. To one
OF the fathers who approached at the last mo-
ment with a crucifx in his hands Coli, turning
his head. called:
AS you cannot get me out of prison, leave
ME alone; I will make my own peace with Cod
The Rarrote, or instrument for INJECTING capi.
tai punishment in Spain and It's colonies. is
| principally composed OF three parts: a perpen.
dicular iron post. a collar OF brass or iron and a
screw. The collar can be fixed at any part OF
the post to be on a level with the victims neck.
The victim Is seated on n stool with the
post behind him. and the executioner fastens
the collar around his neck and turns the screw
by its handle as a carpenter turns his anger.
The theory is that at the very moment tho collar
congresses the neck the screw enters the spinal
marrow at the base OF the brain and causes
instant death.
Experience has taught, however, that, far
from being a humane method OF carrying out a
death sentence, the man executed by the garrote
suffers the most horrible fortunes. The Rarrote
repr esents all the barbarity of the punishments
popular in Europe during the middle ages and
which remain to-day only In Spanish countries.
1t is said that the Moors were the inventors
Of this cruel instrument, and that they intro
duced 1t into the Spanish peninsula. The gar.
rote is mentioned in Spanish documents Of tho
fifteenth century, and In the time Of the inqui-
sition some heretics received as a mercy y per-
mission TO die by the garrote instead OF being
burned alive. 1t is also known that moro than
three centuries ago there wero three kinds Of
garrotes officially recognized In Spain: the
common" (0drrote ordindrio). the
tparrote run and the I" noble" the first and last
having been used very few times, according to
Spanish history.
His Majesty Don Fernando VII. King of
Spain. said naIvely in his royal decree OF April
2s. 1889:
A l wish for the sake Of humanity and do
cency to grant to those who are sentenced TO
death an honorable end when they do not de-
serve to die with infamy. i avail myself for that
purpose OF the present opportunity. to-day being
my beloved wifc's birthday. and to celebrate the
feast OF the Queen, l order:
From to-day henceforth no man shall be
hanged with cord in my dominions. and tho
garrote shall be the only instrument employed
for the infection Of the death penalty. Ordinary
criminals will be executed hereafter by the COM
mon garrote; all persons who have committed
infamous crimes by the Ddrrote rl and the
pdrrote noble will DO reserved for the hUoddl0os
(of noble descentl."
Before going to the earrote the condemned
man. according to the Spanish procedure. is kept
for twenty four hours in a cell. under the care
of priests, who endeavor to make him repent of
the sins OF his life. This is called being in
8 capiild. Then he is dressed in a black tunic.
l called hopd. and a cap ,birretd) of the same
color is placed upon his head. In this array he
, marches to the scaffold. surrounded by guards
/. and priests. When he is q regicide or tho muir
derer OF a person dear to the King the tunic he
wears is yellow and the cap is OF the same color,
: both covered with red spots.
When he reaches the scaffold, which Is placed
high so that no detail need escape the looker.on,
!. the executioner kneels before the condemned
man and asks his pardon. Granted it or not,
! the victim is then seated on the stool and his
feet. arms. and hands are tied to prevent him
from moving. Then tho awful procedure begins
II the executioner is not q man Of extraordinary
y strength. who can turn the screw with a single
rapid effort. the agony is long and desperate
{ In all instances the head falls on the chest, pro
senting the horrible sight of stranRulation. Tit
Dyes start from their sockets and the tongue
hangs from the open mouth.
2 For six hours the body is kept in this position
exposed to tho public gaze. and this is Away
required in the case of those who are executed
by the 0drrote viL. In some places in Spain
among them vergara, where Golli was sen
fenced. an old custom prevails OF immediately
after the execution arresting the executionel
b and charging him with murder before the Cour
of Justice. Yes. / killed q man. answers thu
executionsr, " but / did IL in the name of tn,
law for the benefit OF society and in obedience
to the commands Of your Honor" Then th'
y court discharges him. saying that /" justice hal
n been DONE"
The most remarkable executioner has been
!; negro named Valentin. at Havana. He held hi
office until the present revolution began. wher
IL the number of condemned persons increased Il
such an extent that it was necessary to shoe
them. Valentin began his gruesome business II
4 1859. under Captain General Salamanca, when
# for sixteen years. no man had been executed II
8 Havana. It was the fate OF a kidnapper nance
Machin to DO tho first victim after thi
long respite OF the fendish instrument
Machin. instead OF showing the calm
: resignation usually exhibited by criminal
on the scaffold. fought like a lion for his life
y and was executed only by force. He knocked
valentin and six guards down. He kicked thu
priest from the scafiold, and twenty soldier
y were necessary TO overpower him. The Rrea
difficulty was to place him on the stool so tina
d the collar might be put around his neck. Valen
tins debut was a hard one. When he at las
received the order to turn the screw he faintea
several times, and he took a half hour +
stranRle tho victim. But from that day he wa
- not troubled with any nervous tremors. and h
killed over 100 condemned men In Havana.
a. PARIS WANTS RFAD