He was seized red-handed, dragged before the Titai, who happened to be present, and ordered to be beheaded there and then.

An executioner was selected from among the soldiers; but so clumsily did he do the work, hacking the head off by repeated blows, instead of severing it by one clean cut, that the friends of the thief were incensed and vowed vengeance.

That same night they lay in wait for the executioner as he was returning to the city, and beat him to death with stones.

Five men were arrested for this crime; they were compelled to confess their guilt and were sentenced to death.

As they were being carried out to the execution-ground, one of the condemned pointed to two men, who were in the crowd of sightseers, and swore that they were equally concerned in the murder.