An Algerian Trgedy.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4044, 22 February 1892, Page 3

An Algerian Trgedy.

A remarkable crime has just been committed at Oran, in Algeria, Diego Lopez and his wife, natives ot Spain, lived at La Macheria, near Oran, upon a farm which they bad brought into cultivation, the other occupants being their son, two years of age, and a Spaniard named Juan Baesa, ¥>l was a sort of general servant. •* CjHhvemng last Maroh tbey bad invited three of their compatriots, who wore employed as navvies upon a railway in course of construction, to spend a few hours with tbem. About eleven o'clock their' guests left, and Diego Lopez and his wife wont to bed. About two o'clock in tho morning the three natives returned and Were let into the house by the servant, Juan Baesa, Having first shot the . husband, they knocked down the wife and rendered her unconscious, then proceeding to pillage the house and lay hands upon all the portable artiolea ot furniture, While they were doing tbi*3 the woman came to her senses, whereupon the three men •* all outraged lier and then killed ber, taking the little boy and burning him alive, Before leaving the house they set fire to it, in the hope of destroying all traces of their crime, and while it was in flames they stood unconcernedly eutside, advising the people whom the fire had attracted to the spot not to risk their lives in MnJtcying to extinguish it, as tbe inmates certainly have been burnt to death by that time, Fortunately their advice was not taken, and when the fire was got under, and the bodies of their victims discovered, suspicion at once fell upon them, and they .*•, have all three been condemned to death.