The Cairo bulletin., 1907-06-17
CHEATED OF BRIDE
He STAYS PRIEST
DRAGGED HIM TO DEATH OVER
ROUGH ROAD AT END OF A
LARIAT.
WEDDING WAS STOPPED
When Girl at Confession Was Told
That Marriage to a Protestant
Was Sin--Young Mexican
Took Awful Revenge.

Zaeatecas, Mexico. June 16.--Fathe
Louis de Stefano, an Italian priest o.
the little town of Zarco, his state, ha.
just paid the penalty of interfering
with the proposed marriage OF tvs
young people of his parish with death
of the most tragic kind The Popoca
and Bustamante families are among
the wealthiest and most prominent Iii
the state. Some of the richest and
best producing mines In this part of
Mexico belong to them. Their vast
landed estates are situated adjacent to
each other Paulina Popoca and Fiacro
Bustamante learned to love each other
in childhood. 1t was constant and
sincere affection that ripened as they
grew older Bustamante embraced the
Protestant religious faith when he
reached manhood, but Miss Popoca
continued a Catholic. The fact tina.
her devoted lover was a Protestant
did not arouse the objections OF the
girls parents to the proposed union.
They both recently returned from the
United States, where they were edu
Gated at the best schools Of that
country The preparations for the
wedding went forward with no thought
that there could be any hitch in the
program.
Priest Stops Wedding.
Several days ago Miss Popoca Wis
ited the parish church for the purpose
of making final confession before the
wedding took place, as Is the custom
here Her father confessor was the
priest Stefano. She remained several
hours at the confessional, and when
she returned to her home 1t was with
a broken spirit. She told her parents
that the padre had told her that in
even entertaining the thought Of mar
ryfmg n Protestant she was placing
her soul in jeopardy, and that should
she actually allow herself to be drawn
into the marriage her future would be
utterly damned. A conference Of the.
members fthe two families was held
and an effort made to remove the
firm resolve that Miss Popoca had
made to break the engagement on ac-
count of the priests warnings. She
remained firm in her resolve that the
marriage should not AXE place.
3ustamante received the intelligence
without word. The lines around
lis mouth frightened, and, with set
ace, he walked out Of the room and
Mounted his horse. He was on his |
way to his home when he met Father
;tefano, who was also riding a horse. |
At End Of Lariat
Bustamantes lariat was gathered In !
coil around the pommel of his sad
lie. He unloosened IL, and, riding |
traight toward the priest he threw
he rope with dexterous hands, the
oil settling over the head of the as
onished man, The moose was quickly |
ightened around the neck of Father
;tefano, and putting spurs to his |
Iorse, he dragged aFther Stefano from |
lis saddle and along the rough road |
or several miles until the last spark |
# life had left his body
Bnstamante left the dead body lying |
n the road and rode off into the noun
aims. The horrible crime was soon
iscovered-in fact. a number of Mex
can laborers are said to have seen its
A force of rurales was
ent in pursuit of Bustamante. but up
o this time he has evaded capture
I 81 reported that he has joined
and of desperate outlaws in the
Mountains. and that he has announced
he intention of following the life of
brigand.
The terrible tragedy and the events
1hich preceded It have created stiF
large portion OF this
tate. The prominence and walth OF
he families involved add to the inter
ST in the affair.