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

\ Zacatecas, Mexico, June 16--Fathei
Louis de Stefano, an Italian priest OF
the little town Of Zarco. this state has
just paid the penalty of interfering
with the proposed marriage OF two
young people of his parish with death
of the most tragic kind The Popoca
and Bnstamante families are among
the wealthesl and most prominent in
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 Flacro
Bustamante learned to love each other
in childhood. Ii was constant and
sincere affection that ripened as they
grew older. Bustamaute embraced the
Protestant religious faith when he
reached manhood. but Miss Popoca
continued a Catholic. The fact tina.
her devoted lover was 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
Priest Stops Wedding.
Several days ago Miss Popoca Wis
tied 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
ryfng prufestanf sIaa WAS placing
her soul In Jeopardy, and that should
she actually allow herself to be drawn
INTO the marriage her future would be i
Utterly damned. A conference Of the
members fthe two families was heidi
md an effort made to remove the |
irm resolve that Miss Popoca had
made to break the engagement on acr
count of the priests warnings She |
emalned firm In her resolve that the |
marriage should not AXE place.
3ustamante received the Intelligence
a word. The lines around /
lis mouth frightened, and, with set
ace. he walked out Of the room and
his horse. He was on his
way to his home when he met Father
itefano, who was also riding horse.
At End Of Lariat.
Bustamante's lariat was gathered in
coil around the pommel of his sad
lie. He unloosened It, 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
jtefano, and putting spurs to his
orse, he dragged aFtber Stefano from
lis saddle and along the rough road
or several miles until the last spark
( life had left his body.
Bustamante 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
AN laborers are said to have seen its
A force of rurales was
ent In pursuit of Bustamante, but up
D this time he has evaded capture
/ ST reported that he has joined a
and of desperate outlaws in the
fountains. and that he has announced
he intention of following the life of
brigand.
The terrible tragedy and the events
-hich preceded it have created stir
large portion Of this
ate. The prominence and walth OF J
he families involved add TO the inter
# in the affair 4.