A FIENDISH WIFE'S CRIME.

Waikato Times, Volume XL, Issue 3257, 13 May 1893, Page 2 (Supplement)

A FIENDISH WIFE'S CRIME.

A sensational murder trial, which has excited great attention all over Spain, was brought to a close on February 11 at Valvcrde del Fresno. A woman named Dona Pedra Lajas was indicted along with her three servants for the murder of her husband, Juau Lopez, a rich land-, owner and merchant, on tho 27th April, in peculiarly revolting circumstances. Thb charge set forth that tho woman incited Natalio Martin Sabio, ono of lior servants, to commit the crime, promising to marry hiiu after its accomplishment; that sho likewise by other promises induced Jose Mnrtin Antunez to assist in the perpetration of the murder; and that slio held a light at tho door of the bedroom in which tho sleeping man lay, while Natalio slew him with an axe, Tho body, which boro tho mark* of twenty-six axo wounds, was subsequently found in an alley, whither it had beon carried by tho actual murderer, aided by his instigator, Dona Pedra, who on returning homo, compelled tho fourth prisoner, her maid, Ramana Martin Garcia, to wash up the bloodstains in the room where the tragedy took place. It was disclosed by tho evidence that Don Juan Lopez was jealous of his wife, who was considered remarkably beautiful, Ho married her in ISBS, she being then a, widow, 28 years of age, aud ho a youth of 17. Don Juan seems to have suspected his wife of poisoning an undo of his from whom ho inherited considerable means, and feariog a similar fate might be re-erved for himself ho always kept a revolver under his pillow, and would eat no food until his wife had first paitaken of it. On the night of the murder he le'.urned from his olub at about 10 o'clock, and after kissing his cViildron, went to boi, Dona Pedra owning some oxouso for sitting up to a later hour. Dona Pedra remained in tne dining-room until midnight, the hour a jreed upon betwepn her and her accomplices; When the latter arrived she admitted thein by the street door, and bade them follow her into tho dining-room. Thero they drank a bottlo of wine. Dona Pedra ihen fetched a sharp now Birmingham axe, whiali she plaeod in the hands ofjoso Antunez, remarking', 'Don't tremble so, man; I atn going first to see whother he is asleep.' She went softly on tiptoes to her husband's bedroom, and returned with tho assurance that ho was sound asleep. She next took a lighted candle, lind ordering the servant Jose to keep guard outsido the diuing-rooni door, lest her husband should call for help, she led the way to his room with the cmdle, Natalio following with the axe, At a sign from tbe woman Natalio eutered tho room, and dealt Don Juan a murderous blow on tho head with tho axe. Don Juan sprang up in bed, and appealed in the name of their children to his wife, whom he saw standing by holding the light. Dona Pedra made no reply, but addressing her accomplice, sternly said, 'Don't be so clumsy, man. Let him speak no more.' The assassin continued his blows with the axe, inflicting in all twenty-six, of which at least twenty were declared at the postmortem examination to havo been mortal. Tho body was stripped by Dona Pedra and hor confederates, and carried into a blind alley somo sixty yards from the house, the objeot of this manajuvre evidently being to suggest that Don Juan, who had recently been gambling somewhat hoavilyat his olulj, had been waylaid and murdered by footpads on his way home.