Etiqueta: Santiago Salvador Franch

SPAIN’S SAD ANARCHIST
Barcelona’s Murderer Retracts His Penitent Expressions
WILL BE GARROTED THIS MORNING
Franch Feigned Repentance Until His Last Hope of a Reprieve Had Gone – He Had Become a Franciscan Monk.

BARCELONA, Nov. 20. – The Governor of the prison went this afternoon to the cell of Salvador Franch, the chief conspirator in the Lyceum Theatre outrage, and read to him his death warrant. Some time ago Franch declared his penitence and was admitted to a monastic order. Later he became as blasphemous as ever. Nevertheless, two priests had accompanied the Governor to offer the Anarchist consolation. One of them approached him immediately after the reading of the death warrant.

«Hurrah for Anarch!» shouted Franch, stepping back.

«But you declared your repentance and conversion to the true religion,» exclaimed the priest.

«That was all nonsense,» replied Franch. «Now get away from me, and don’t show me your ugly features again.»

Franch was taken to a cell near the place of execution and was chained to the wall. He fought so savagely that it required three guards to handle him. After soldiers had been placed on guard with fixed bayonets, the priest appealed to him again to confess.

«I don’t need you; get away,» was the only response.

Franch became calmer and talked to the guards concerning an execution of an Anarchist which he had witnessed. He also asked the Warden to explain the mechanism of the garrote. He said that he would face death bravely, adding that he did not care what was done with his body. he will be executed tomorrow morning.

GARROTED A CRAFTY ANARCHIST
BARCELONA HAS EXECUTED SALVADOR FRANCH’S SENTENCE
He Died Impenitent in Spite of His Former Protestations of Piety – Mob Jeered at His Body.

BARCELONA, Nov. 21. – Salvador Franch, the chief conspirator in the death of thirty persons and the wounding of eighty others in the Lyceum Theatre in this city a little more than a year ago, was executed here at 8:06 o’clock this morning.

[…]

The prisoner throughout the last day and night of his life showed no fear. His meals were eaten with a good appetite and apparently were heartily relished. At 8 o’clock last evening his wife and daughter were admitted to his presence and spent considerable time in an endeavor to induce him to confess his crimes and accept the consolations of religion, saying: «If you don’t you will ruin us.»

Franch angrily, and with the greatest excitement, refused to pay any heed to their appeals.

It was several times found necessary for the military to charge upon and disperse the crowds which had collected about the prison in the hope of seeing the execution.

Franch cried «Long live Anarchy!» as he was being led to the place of his execution, and scoffed at religion to ths last. A few minutes before he was put to death he began singing, and he continued his song until he was not able to utter a sound.

His body was exposed in its place, in the death chair, until sundown. Great crowds of people gazed upon the distorted features of the dead man, and gloated over his execution, making all sorts of remarks of a character showing their detestation of the man.