The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1856-02-26 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

EXECUTION NEAR GIBRALTAR.—The execution of Edouardo Abad, alias Lutgardo Abadia, for the murder of Mr. Fenton, an Englishman, who was shot and robbed in the vicinity of Tarifa, in April last, took place at Algesiras on the 9th inst. An accomplice, who witnessed the murder, was sentenced to be imprisoned for life. A large crowd was present, but behaved with great decorum. The scaffold was erected just outside the town, and on it were two chairs, opposite one another, and about six feet apart—one for Abad, who was to suffer, and the other for his accomplice, who was to witness the execution, and afterwards be imprisoned for life. Some infantry were drawn up round the scaffold, and a few Lancers kept the space clear between the infantry and the crowd. At twelve o'clock the culprits were brought from the gaol to the place of execution. They were mounted on donkeys and escorted by a guard of infantry, and preceded by drums playing a slow march. The accomplice, who rode the first donkey, had nothing particular about his dress, except that in lieu of a hat a red handkerchief was tied on his head; whereas Abad was dressed in a black long cloak with a black cowl over his head ; the wrists of each were tied together, but not so tight as to prevent the hands being slightly used. On arriving inside the square formed by the military, the accomplice, after being assisted to dismount by the executioner, mounted the scaffold and seated himself in the chair appointed for him, and was immediately secured therein by the executioner, by means of ropes round his arms and legs, and an iron collar round his throat was strapped to the post behind him. Abad ascended the scaffold soon after, and the crier then proclaimed his sentence. Three priests accompanied the culprits, and one of them was engaged for nearly half an hour on the scaffold with Abad, the priest sitting in a chair and Abad kneeling at his feet. Abad had a cigar in his mouth when he arrived, and continued smoking it at his devotions as long as it lasted. He seemed to pay very little attention to the priest, frequently looking about him, and apparently nodding to acquaintances in the crowd, Both the culprits partook of wine during this time ; and when Abad had finished his confessions he came forward and asked the people to pray for his soul. He said he was sorry for what he had done, and begged forgiveness of all those whom he had injured. He then sat down in the chair, and was secured, by a rope passed round his body, to the back of his chair ; other ropes fastened his ankles to the legs of the chair ; and his arms to the arms of the chair ; and his hands were drawn down between his knees by a rope passed under the seat of the chair. The iron collar was then adjusted on his throat, and a black handkerchief tied over his face. The executioner then stood behind him, grasping the iron rod which turns the screw ; and when the priest had arrived at a certain point in some prayer or creed he was repeating, the hands of the executioner went round like lightning, and the collar was drawn, up to within a very little distance of the post. Death appeared to be instantaneous, as not the slightest motion of the body was visible, which was no doubt prevented in a great measure by the manner in which the culprit is fastened in the chair. After a minute or two the handkerchief was removed from the face, which did not exhibit any evidences of a violent death, except that the tongue was hanging out of the mouth. The priest who had confessed Abad then harangued the crowd for about ten minutes, immediately after which the accomplice was released from his chair and taken back to gaol, in the same manner as he came. Three or four sentries were posted to guard the body, which was to be left till sunset, and then buried ; the soldiers were marched away, and the crowd, after satiating themselves with gazing at the body, quietly dispersed.