The bandit Joan Serra (d. 1815) praying, after

Joan Serra, known as el Pera (d. 1815). Catalan bandit who terrorised the inhabitants of the area around the town of Valls (province of Tarragona, Catalonia). Serra killed his victims without stealing anything from them, only for the pleasure it gave him, as he himself confessed before being executed. Moreover, after committing a murder, he would go to Valls at night, kneeling in front of the door of the Esglesia del Carme (Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel), lighting a couple of candles and praying to the Virgin for himself and his victims. After being imprisoned, on 19 December 1815 he was hanged, his remains dragged in a basket by a donkey, later dismembered and his head was exhibited in public in Valls. Other parts of his body were distributed among other towns for public display. Engraving. Historia de las Escuadras de Cataluna, 1876

1815 Anything Bandit Banditry Bandits Carme Carmel Cataluna Committing Confessed Criminality Delinquency Delinquents Dismembered Distributed Dragged Entry Escuadras Esglesia Espinos Executed Exhibited Forgiveness Hanged Iglesia Imprisoned Inhabitants Josep Kneel Moreover Murders Offender Oration Ortega Pardon Pera Portal Pray Regret Regretful Repentance Repentant Serra Squadrons Stealing Tarragona Terrorised Valls

Features In These Collections

> Contributors > PRA