Reported Burning of Heretics in Mexico.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 3, 4 January 1896, Page 2 (Supplement)

Reported Burning of Heretics in Mexico.

Shocking Scenes,

A lleutmr'-s telegram says :—' The Now York " World " publishes intelligence from Pachucha, Mexico, stating that at a small town named Texacapa ten persons have been burned as borotics by tho order of tho auxiliary town judge, who claims thnt ho was acting according to tho will of God manifestod in a vision. As soon as the news reached Mollango, the principal town in the district, the M-unicipal President and minor officials, wifch an escort of sixty men, armed with rifle?, proceeded to Texacapa, whore they found overybody in tho public square executing grotesque dances around the ruins of tho gaol in honour of the Virgin of Gnadalupe. The judge related the dotails of his action Wiith great sang froid, and said that he was unaware of having done any wrong. He claimed thab God had wrought miracles to confirm whab a saint had bold him in a vision, and had ordered him to execute tho heretics. He obeyed the Divine command, he continued, and ordered out the alguacilos (constables). They took the sinnera from their beds and dragged them in the darkness, weeping and wailing, to the gaol. There they were locked in socurely, and ' I gave orders thab the alguaciies should sab the building on fire. The heretics were filled with fear, and shouted for mercy, bub Heaven's wili had to be done, and they were consumed to the bones, and the vengeance of Heaven was averted from our community. Twentyone arrests were made in connection with the affaire, and although a fanatic mob threatened death to the authorities, the prisoners were securely bound and marched to Mollango, where a judicial investigation was held. The entire population of Texacapa appears to be under tho influence of unreasoning and insane excitement, for all the inhabitants believe thab the auxiliary judge was commissioned by the Almighty and saints to destroy evil-doera. In support of this contention they poinb to the piles of bones, on which they profess to see the forms of saints miraculously ttraced in outline.