The Sun.
London, England, 1856-12-24 00:00:00

"I am, sir, your obedient servant,

„A. WADDINGTON.
” Rev. F. Rogers, chaplain to the County
Gaol, Winchester."
Matteo Pietrici, on learning that all hope of a respite
was at at end, became greatly excited, and dropping on
his knees in the most impassioned manner implored that
his life might be saved, adding that he would willingly
be a slave for the remainder of his existence. Failing
to receive any encouragement he gradually became more
tranquil, and listened with attention to the exhortations
of Mr. Rogers, interpreted to him by Signor Ferretti,
for although a professed Roman Catholic this culprit re
fused to receive spiritual consolation during the last few
Mays of his life from any other than the Protestant chap-
lain. About seven o'clock last evening the wretched
man partook of the Holy Communion, after which he
became still more resigned and tranquil, and shortly
before midnight he made the following confession to
Signor Ferretti in the presence of the chap-
lain "I am not guilty of having conspired before-
hand to plunder the ship Globe. I do not know how the
fight began. I only know I was struck and defended
myself. I acknowledge it was by my hand the wounds
were given of which the sailor died in hospital at Thera-
pia, but I did not do it fur plunder. I know I deserve
to die, not for piracy, bu:, for worse things than I did on
the Globe. lam a bad man. I have a bad heart. I de-
serve to die ;" and after a short pause he added, "I am
a murderer. Two years ago I killed three persons at
Trieste—one a woman, with whom I cohabited, and two
gendarmes who were sent to arrest me. I also attempted
to commit a murder at Constantinople, but the person
I attacked escaped by jumping into the water and swim-
ming away."

GTovanni Eitsbaalo, who was only 16 years of age, suf-
fered greatly on learning he must die. For some days
he refused to see the Catholic priest, and was regularly
attended by Mr. Rogers, but on finding that no hope
existed of a reprieve, he returned to the administra-
tions of Mr. Stone, the missionary apostolic appointed
by the Roman Catholic authorities, who attended him
to the end. It transpired that, this unhappy youth had
not been confirmed, and as he expressed a wish to receive
the last sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church, the
Rev. Dr. Grant, titular Bishop of Southwark, arrived
here last evening from London, and performed the cere-
mony of confirmation in the culprit's cell.
That by the joint endeavours of their spiritual advisers
all the culprits were brought to a proper frame of mind
may be gathered from the fact, that Pietrici last even-
ing dictated to Signor Ferretti a letter, of which the fol-
lowing is a translation, addressed to the captain and
crew of the barque Globe; &Acing their pardon, and ex-
pressing contrition for their crimes, which letter was
subscribed both by Lagaoa and Barbaalo :
" " Winchester Prison, Dec. 22, 1656.
Dear Friends,—Since we have offended you, pardon
us as we pardon you heartily. Jesus Christ pardoned
those who put him on the cross. The Lord has been mer-
ciful towards us, and we hope that he will also be merciful
towards you. We shall nut see each other any more in
this world, but may God grant we may see each other
again in heaven. Embrace for us George Nelligan.
" t MATTEO PIETRIOI.
t GUISEPPE LAGAOA.
GIOYAINI 131.213AAL0.
(Witnesses) Foster Rogers.
S. Ferretti."
Nelligan, it will be remembered, was the boy whose
evidence at the trial mainly contributed to the convic-
tion of the prisoners.

Alt the convicts slept well during the early part of the
night. At 2 o'clock this morning Lagaoa requested the
attendance of Signor Ferretti, and upon his arri►al begged
him to offer up a prayer in his nati►e tongue ; having
done which the unhappy man appeared much relieved.
At 4 o'clock Pietrici rose fram his bed, and having
dressed himse if paced to and fro in his cell for more than
an hour, exclaiming continually, "Sono peccatore !
Cristo eit mio salvatore." (I ain a sinner ! Christ is my
Saviour !) At 7 o'clock he partook of a hearty break
fast, and expressed to Signor Ferretti that he did so for t
the purpose of sustaining himself at the last moment.
As the fatal period approached Signor Ferretti knelt
down with the convict, and was in the act of offering up
a prayer, when he was completely overcome by his feel -
ings, and.was unable to articulate, upon which Pietrici
himself prayed aloud as follows :—" Signore abbe pieta
di me, it pin scellerato di tutti gli uomini. Ma to set la
resurrezione ela vita. Resuscitatni come resuscitasti
Lazz Irv." (0 Lord, have mercy upon me ! I /101 the
most wicked of all men in the world. But thou art the
resurrection and the life. Raise me even as thou raised
Lazarus.) The allusion to Laz.trus had been induced
by Signor Ferretti having read and expounded just pre
vier's!), the history of Lazarus, from the Gospel of S t
John. After this prayer Pietrici repeated to Signor
Ferretti that he believed there had never been ~o wicked
a man as himself in the world, to illustrate which he
eaid be had actually drank the blood of the woman he
had murdered at Trieste.
Laga .a and Barbaalo were only occasionally visited
by Mr. Rogers and the interpreter during the morning,
but Dr. Faa, minister of the Sardinian Catholic chapel,
and Mr. Stone, both of whom are Italian emigrants,
were with them from five a.m., and accompanied them
to the scaffold. Lagaoa ate nothing and drank only a
little water. Barbaalo was chiefly anxious about some
letters which he had dictated to Signor Ferretti, and
which he was very desirous should be forwarded to his
relations in Italy. He received the Sacrament from the
Rev. Dr. Faa, assisted by Dr. Baldacconi, of Gosport,
at an early hour in the morning.

The drop fad been erected over the entrance gateway
of the gaal on the previous day, and all the preparations
having been completed, at five minutes to eight o'clock
Mr. Harfield, under sheriff, acting for Mr. E. It. Brad-
shaw, of Fair Oak Park, high sheriff of the county of
Hants, formally demanded the bodies of the culprits for
execution. The wretched men were now brought out of
the cells in which they had been separately confined, and
marshalled in the procession appointed to convey them
to the gallows. The governor led the way, followed by
the Rev. Mr. Rogers, and then came Pietrici, resting
one arm upon Signor Ferretti and the other upon an
officer of the gaol. Lagaoa came next, supported by two
officers, and accompanied by Dr. Faa and Mr. Stone,
and was in turn followed by Barbaalo, who was led by
two turnkeys, and attended by Bishop Great and Dr.
Rildacconi. A mere painful and distressing sight than
was presented by this procession as it crossed the court-
yard lying between the prison and the entrance gateway
cannot possibly be imagined. There was nothing of bra.
vado in the manner of any of the culprits, though all of
them walked without assistance, Pietrici had a smile
playing upon his countenance ; Lagaoa looked deathly
pale ; i Barbaalo was evidently suffering great mental
emotion. The youthful appsarance of all the culprits,
with their dark swarthy countenances and seafaring cos-
tume, as they tripped along with that running step pecu-
liar to sailors, gave ao the whole scene a solemnity which
cap: very rarely have been witnessed on any similar oc-
casion.

Arrived at the ei3trance gateway the culprits were con-
ducted by a narr,3w stone staircase to an apartment
abut 40 feet abort) the basement floor, where the pro-
cess of pinioning WAs gone through. Previously to
this painful cerew.ony the unhappy men were permitted
to embrace each other, which they did with great appa-
rent affection, and also bade farewell to the chaplain and
governor and thei priests, Lagaoa. and Barbaalo request-
ing the latter zo accoiupany them on to the scaffold.
Resigning themselves into the bands of Calcraft they
were now severally pinioned During the whole time
this wa•s going on, Lagnba and BetruaAlo repeated alutid
the "Kyrie and other prayers in Latin. At
one period Lagaoa directed the attention of Pietrici to
the priest, but the latter replied, " The priest did not
die for me„ Christ died for me." Pico-lei was tine first to
be led on to the scoffold. As soon as Calcraft had
paced him under the fatal beam, the most paintul excite-
ment was occasioned among the c‘owd assembled in
front of the gaol by the culprit's exeaimiag, in a loud
shrill voice, which resounded across the valley over-
looked by the prison, " Gesu Cristo, piglia mial"
and other phrases of a similar character, which, not