PUBLICLY SHOT. The Fate of Three Brutal Murderers in Cuba.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 204, 21 May 1887, Page 3 (Supplement)

PUBLICLY SHOT. The Fate of Three Brutal Murderers in Cuba.

Advices from Santiago, Cuba, of March 26th say : Three fiends in human form were shot this afternoon on the outskirts of the city, at the place made famous by the shooting of the crew of tho Virginus. The men were two mulatoes, Juan Jique and Juan Goemer., and an Indian, Juan Gocaras. They surprised the driver of a train of cocoaladen pack-inuloBandhisassistant,amerelad, cut them down with matchetes (long, svvoidlike knives), tied them to trees and practised shocking and revolting cruelties (American-Indian fashion) on their victims until they were dead. They then sold the cocoa for 68 dollars, and turned the mules loose. They were captured and sentenced to be shot. The case was stubbornly fought, getting finally to the Queen, who refused pardon. Last night Goemer made a public confession, acknowledging that he had killed ten men, that he was ready to die, and that his mother had seven more sons like him who would avenge his death. The murderous proclivity in his family is hereditary. The father was one of Cuba's most notorious murderers. The prisoners were taken out by the military and placed kneeling, with their faces to the slaughter-house wall. Several thousand people surrounded the military line and looked on. Goemer, the leader, spoke up and said : ' ' My mother has seven sons, and I am the most cowardly of all, for allowing myself to be killed before so many people. Sir priest, give me a drink of rum. v He got his drink. At the first volley from tho firing party of twenty-four all foil, shot through the head and body. Goemer rolled over as if in pain, and two more bullets were put into him. The Indian still showed Kttle life as a soldier coolly stepped to the front and deliberately fired a bullet through his head. A cart then came in for the bodies and all was over.