THE CASE OF THE POISONER
Narciso Díaz Escobar tells us in a document found in his archive of executed people, the shocking case of the poisoner Mariana Molina, sentenced to death by hanging.
On October 16, 1784, Mariana de Molina from Malaga, who had planned the poisoning of her husband, with the complicity of her sister Rosalía, was executed by hanging on the gallows installed in Puerta del Mar.
Mariana, a widow of just over 40 years of age, remarried Bernardino Merino. Nothing is known about the relationship between the two, but it is certain that she planned to get rid of him by making him drink poison. The police investigations concluded with the arrest of the two sisters. Both were sentenced, Mariana to death by hanging and her sister to life imprisonment in the shelter of Baeza, and to pass under the gallows where her sister died. However, this sentence could not be carried out because Rosalía suffered paralysis that left half of her body affected.
Mariana asked the Brothers of Charity to dress her in the habit of Carmen, to pay her debts with the alms collected, as was usual in these cases, and to provide her sister with financial help.
As was customary, on the day of the execution, the woman was placed in a large basket or sack, which would be dragged by a donkey, guided by an executioner.
The brothers of San Juan Degollado, lifted the sack to prevent the woman from suffering discomfort or shame. At three in the afternoon, Mariana's body was removed from the gallows, placed in a vat and thrown into the sea.
The brothers of Santa Caridad took the body out of the sea, placed it in a coffin and took it to the San Julián hospital to be buried.
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