THE MOROCCAN BLUE BEARD.

NZ Truth, Issue 63, 1 September 1906, Page 6

THE MOROCCAN BLUE BEARD.

FITTING' FATE OF A FOUL FIEND.

Horrible and Slinddersome, but " Good Enough for Him."

Mohammed Mesiewi, Murderer of Thirtysix Young Women, Walled Up Alive.

. When the local Consuls of various civilized nations protested m the name of humanity against the crucifixion of Mahommed Mesfewi, the Moroccan who was proved to have murdered no less than thirly-six young women, partly for what they wore and partly to, gratify a, mad lust for blood, and got his sentence changed, they shook hand's with them--selves.- .■ They were too previous and did not know their. <rentle 'Moor.

It appears tffat'tlie concession to nrejudice enabled the Moorish authorites ta.carry out another little plan that is thus told of m a despatch to the American papers and which does not appear to have reached Australasia, The despatch m question was as follows :—

Tangier,- June 15. — With such details of fiendish cruelty that the}>" cannot he, fully realized, Mahoinmed Mesfewi, the. arclHrnairderer of Maralcesch, has been walled up- alive.

It was this same Mesfewi who was to have been crucified for his tremendous crimes— it is known that he murdered no fewer, than thirty-six young women— and who was saved from that fashion of execution by the outcry af the resident foreign officials.

Mesfewi was a cobbler and rmblie letter-writer. Associated with him m his crimes was an old woman 70 years of ape named Annan..

Many girls of the city disappeared m the last, days of April and the parents of one youne woman traced her to the cobbler's shop. 'Annah'i Was mit to the torture and confessed. She toM that the girls, who came to

dictate letters were treated to drugged wine and- then beheaded.

Twenty decapitated bodies • were found m a deep pit under the shop and .sixteen more m the garden. Annah died under the torture and Mesfewi confessed.

By an ancient Moorish custom he was condemned to be crucified. His crucifixion was set for May 2, but this form of punishment was given up because of the foreign clamor, and it was announced that Mesfewi would be beheaded.

His death byrthe still Imore awful process of immurement shows that tha Moroccan authorities "felinded the eyes" of the foreigners.

The only thing about that despatch that is wrons; is that the execution is sti.Tmatisftfl a "fiendish criwlty. " What death could he too cruel for a fiend who could callously slay thirtvsix young; girls, possible mothers m the ■nation, who" trusted the. dog ?