The Hermit's Revenge

On November 25, 1907, an event occurred in Palencia that shocked the city. In the hermitage at the foot of the Cristo del Otero, Mariano Rey was murdered by 4 thieves who broke in to rob him. The 4 killers were: El Moraita, el Chivero, el Quinquillero, and el Chato. The gang knocked on the door of the hermit's house asking for a bit of water, as soon as he opened the door, they began to beat and pummel him. The maid was tied up and they tortured the hermit to confess where he kept the money. Such was their cruelty that while the hermit was dying from the beating, the four assailants cold-bloodedly had supper next to the dying body. The news caused great shock in Spain and all newspapers echoed the news. The guilty were captured and a few months later, the trial was held in which a popular jury ruled that they were guilty of murder and their sentence would be death by the garrote. The verdict revolutionized the city and due to the great media impact, the accused's lawyers began the efforts to secure a pardon. In the letter they wrote they argued that they "did not intend to do so much harm" and that "justice has nothing to do with revenge". On March 26, 1910, while the prisoners awaited the execution of the sentence, King Alfonso XIII commuted their sentence. Now over 100 years after the terrible event, our agency has evidence that a great-grandson of Mariano Rey is planning something against the city of Palencia, because for him, the entire city is guilty of the murder of his great-grandfather.