Wenceslao Moguel Herrera (c. 1890 – 29 July 1976), known in the press as El Fusilado (''Spanish'': "The Executed One"), was a Mexican soldier under
who was captured on March 18, 1915 during the
Mexican Revolution
The Mexican Revolution ( es, Revolución Mexicana) was an extended sequence of armed regional conflicts in Mexico from approximately 1910 to 1920. It has been called "the defining event of modern Mexican history". It resulted in the destruction ...
, and survived
execution by firing squad
Execution by firing squad, in the past sometimes called fusillading (from the French ''fusil'', rifle), is a method of capital punishment, particularly common in the military and in times of war. Some reasons for its use are that firearms are us ...
.
He was sentenced to death without a trial, and was shot 8–9 times in the body. He received the , or one final shot to the head at point-blank range to ensure death, yet managed to survive, though he was permanently scarred and
disfigured by the event.
Stories differ as to how he survived. Some sources suggest that he was rescued:
Others state that he escaped on his own and received care afterwards:
Moguel appeared on the ''
Ripley's Believe it or Not
''Ripley's Believe It or Not!'' is an American franchise founded by Robert Ripley, which deals in bizarre events and items so strange and unusual that readers might question the claims. Originally a newspaper panel, the ''Believe It or Not'' fea ...
'' radio show on July 16, 1937.
Notes
References
Bibliography
* Wenceslao Moguel. El milagro del Santo de Halachó, o Historia de un Fusilado. – Merida, 1967. – 186 pp.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Moguel, Wenceslao
1890s births
1970s deaths
People of the Mexican Revolution
Prisoners sentenced to death by Mexico
Execution survivors