The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-08
GARROTED FOR MURDER
FIVE PORTO RICANs PUBLICLY En-
ECUTED NEAR PONCE.
Were Convicted OF an Unusually Bru-
tai Crime-NO Disorder Except
Fight ON the Platform.

PONCE. Porto Rico. April THE five
men-Simeon Rodriguez, Carlos Pacheco.
Hermogenes Pacheo. Eugenio Rodriguez
and Rosalio Santiago-convicted Of the
murder. in October. 1895. of Prudencio Men
doZ, at Yauco. after criminally assaulting
the wife and daughters OF their victim. who
were compelled to dance about the corpse,
were executed to-day by the garrote dur
ing the early forenoon in this city at
spot about a mile from the jail. Business
was suspended and large but orderly
crowds lined the streets and surrounded
the elevated platform on which the execu-
ton took place. The policing was perfect.
company of infantry was held ready in
the vicinity, but its services were not
needed
The doomed men, manacled and attended
by priests, received visitors during the last
twenty-four hours. They slept but little
and smoked and talked much. The father
of the Pacheco brothers visited his sons,
and the sentencing judges, who were pres
ent. were compelled TO turn away from the
pathetic scene.
The owners Of public coaches having re-
fused the use OF their vehicles. two-wheeled
carts. each drawn by one horse, were used
10 carry the condemned men to the place of
execution. Each man had a cart to him
self and was accompanied by priest. The
executioner's cart led the procession. The
condemned men were manacled hands and
Feet ana wore DIack caps and robes, which
were adjusted them by the chief execu-
toner, who told the men to be brave and
reminded them that it was not a personal
matter with him. but simply the carrying
out Of the law. Eugenio Rodriguez resisted
the executioner and in the scuffie his cloth
ing was torn. Before he was subdued five
officers were required TO overpower him.
He addressed the crowd on his way to the
platform, declaring his innocence and bias
pheming and cursing every one, in spite Of
the efforts of the priests.
The women along the route of the pro-
cession walled and wept as the condemned
men went by. "A halt was made near the
platform and the carts proceeded singly to
the steps. Some or the condemned men
walked up, but others had TO be carried to
the platform, where they were seated and
bound with their backs to the posts AS
the executioner frightened the screw rapidly
the bodies twitched for two or three min
utes, and then all was over. The last body
slipped from its fastenings and fell to the
floor an hour after the execution. The
other bodies remained in position on the
platform for four hours.
Thousands of people. unmoved. viewed
the spectacle and heard the speeches OF
three of the condemned men from the plat
form, but they refused to hear the speech
of the executioner who coolly paced the
platform. The PachecO brothers kissed
each other farewell just before the execu-
ton.
The great publicity of the garroting ex-
hibition with the black robed condemned
IN open carts, the slow procession, the
entreaties of the priests and the bragga-
docio manners of the executioner with the
later exhibition of the corpses to the as
sembled thousands, made horrible spec
tacle. The prominent Americans here
however, think the actual killing of the
men was sure and quick and not inferior
TO hanging. The method of adjusting the
garrote and the employment of human
agency TO complete the execution they
consider bad.
The citizens of this place censure the
American authorities for permitting the
Spanish mode of execution. although they
favored the death penalty being inflicted.
The crowds dispersed in an orderly man.
ner after the execution and the business
houses were reopened.