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

RAILWAY TRAFFIC RETURNS.

LONDON AND SOUTH-BASTE lla RAlLWAY.—Traffic re-
turn for the week ending Dec. 2J, 1856 £1.6,66) 9 7
Corresponding week last year 17,1)16 9 3

Decrease in 185 G

R 316 19 8

LONDON, BRIGHTON, AND SOUTH COAST RAILWAY.—
Traffic return for the week ending Dec. 20,
1856 £12,576 4 7
Corresponding week last year 12,705 5 0
Total of the half-year to this date, 1856 416,P86 16 2
Total of the half-year to this date, 1855 :391,350 '0 11

GREAT LUXEMBOURG RAILWAY.—Traffio return for the
week ending Dec. 21, 1856 £713 13 4

EXECUTION OF TES' ITALIAN CONVICTS

AT WINCHESTER.

WINCHESTER, TUESDAY.
The last dread sentence of the law was executed this
morning upon the ptrsons of the three Italian sailors,.
convicted at the late gaol delivery at Winchester of
piracy and murder on board the British barque Globe,
in the Black Sea, in the month of July last.
The conduct of the prisoners since their condemnation
has been becoming the awful position in which they were
placed. Immediately after sentence had been pr flounce I,
and while under an impression that their lives would be
forfeited within a few hours, they were fearfully e ;cited,
and declared loudly thatjus le had not been done to them.
But the interval which has since elapsed has been so far
improved by the rev. chaplain of the prison, Mr. Foster
Rogers, and the Roman Catholic clergymen appointed to
attend the culprits, that before the wretched criminals
suffered they not only confessed their guilt, but admitted
the justice of the sentence by which their lives had be-
come forfeited.
Guiseppe Lagaoa was the first to break silence on the
subject of his crimes. About two o'clock yesterday he
had been engaged in prayer with Signor Salvatore Fer-
retti, an ltalianFrotestant gentleman, who at the request
of the visiting justices came down to Winchester sown
after the men were sentenced, to act as interpreter and
take down any statements they might desire to make.
Signor Ferretti, acting with Mr. Rogers, the excellent
chaplain of the gaol, had completed an impressive peni-
t3atial prayer in the Italian language, and was about to
leave the cell, when Lagaoa suddenly se.zed him I y t le
wrist, and atter an apparently painful inward struggle
with his feelings exclaimed with the most tragic gesticu-
lations, " Sono colpevele ! Sono colpevole ! Sono colpe
vole !" (I am guilty ! I am guilty ! I am guilty !) Before
Signcr Ferretti could question the unhappy man he
added, "Io suli' anima cinque omicidii" (I have 5 mur,
ders on my soul.) Signor Ferretti asked Lagaoa what he
wished him to understand by the last observation. Upon
which the wretched man exclaimed in Italian, "I am the
chief sinner, and on my head will rest the murder of the
two sailors for whom we are condemned, as well as my
two poor companions, whom I dragged into it by the
hair of their heads (strascinati per i capella). lam guilty
and deserve death."

As soon as Signor Ferretti had explained to the chap-
lain what had fallen from Lagaoa, Mr. Rogers at once
had the statement committed to writing, and forwarded
to the Home Secretary by special messenger. The joint
statements of the culprits had already been laid before
Sir George Grey, who saw nothing iu them to induce an
interference, and, as might be expected, the confession
of one of the prisoners offered no stronger grounds for
staying the execution. Mr. Rogers' humane effort was
simply acknowledged as follows :
" Whitehall, Dec. 22,1856.
Sir,—l am directed by Secretary Sir George Grey to
acknowledge the receipt of your letter of this date, report-
ing that Guiseppe Lagaoa has confessed that he is guilty of
th crime for which he has been sentenced to death ; and
has stated that his fellow convicts were drawn into it by
him.

"I am, sir, your obedient servant,
" A. WADDINGTON.
" Ray. 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
days 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 f,)t. plunder. I know I deserve
to die, not for piracy, but 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."

Giovanni Bz:r'oaalo, who wag only 18 years of age, suf-
fered greatly on learning be must dig. 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 reps eve, 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 trout 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 wore 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 transation, addressed to the captain and
_ _

crew of the barque Globe, a,king their pardon, and ex-
pressing contrition for their crimes, which letter was
subscribed both by Lagaoa and Barbaalo:—
" Winchester Prison, Dec. 22, MG.

" 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 Nolligan.
" MATTE() PIETRICI.
GUISEPPE LAGAOA.
t GIOVANNI BARBAALO.

ttoh et
hbeo y whoseN( Welilti ng
ae Bag'B) Foster Rogers.
, S. Ferretti.'
evidence at the trial be
almarierlyeracobnetri°i3l;uraeds
convic-
tion of the prisoners.
All the convicts slept well during the early part of the
night. At 2 o'clock this Imo: nine, Lagaoa requested the
attendance of Signor Ferretti, and upon his arrival begged
him to offer up a prajer in•flis native tongue
ved.
ing
done which the unhappy mart appeared much relic
At 4 o'clock Pietrici rose from 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 am 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 I
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 be was completely overcome by his reel -
ings, and was unable to articulate, upon Which Pietrici
himself prayed aloud as fcilow3
Signore abbe pieta
di me, it pin scellerato di tutti gli uornini. Ma to set la
resurrezioue ela vita. Itesuscitarei come resuscitasti
Lazz aro." (0 Lord, have mercy upon me ! I am the
most wicked of ail men in the world. But thou art the
resurrection and the life. Raise me even as thou raised
Lazarus.) The allusion to Lazarus had been induced
by Signor Ferretti having read and expounded just pre
viously 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 so wicked
a man as himself in the world, to illustrate which he
said ho had actually drank the blood of the woman he
had murdered at Trieste.
Laga, a and B arbaalo were only occasionally visited
by Mr. Rogers and the interpreter during the morning,
were with them from five a.uo , and
but Dr. Faa, minister of the Sardinian Catholic chapel,
and Mr. Stone, both of whom are Italian emigrants,
accompanied them
to the scaffold. Lagaoa ate a.m., 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 lad been erected over the entrance gateway
of the gaol on the pi evious day, and all the preparations
having been completed, at five minutes to eight o'clock
Mr. Harfiuld, under sheriff, actin,/ for Mr. E. H. Braof
d-
sham, of Fair Oak Park, high sheriff of the county
for
Hants, formally demanded the bodies of the culprits
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 flowedcovey
by
them
to the gallows. The governor led the way, followed
the Rev. Mr. Rogers, and then came Pietrici, resting
one arm upon Signor Ferretti and the oftherted upon an
officer
n
officers, and accompanied by Dr. Faa arid Mr. Stone,
r by
officer of the gaol. Lagaoa came next, supp o
and was in turn followed by Barbaalo, who was
and Dr.
led by
two turnkeys, and attended by Bishop Grant
Blldacconi. A. more painful and distressing sight than
was presented by this procession as it crossed the court-
cannot possibly be imagined. There was yard lying between the prison and the entrance gateway
vado in the manner of any of the culprits, thoughouh all of
them walked without assistance, Pietrici smile
nothing of bra-
playing uron his countenance ; Laport looked deathly
prits,
pale ; an 1 Barbaalo was evidently suffering great mental
emotion. The youthful appearance of all the col
cos-
with their dark swarthy countenances a p pecu-
nd seafaring
tume, as they tripped along with that running ste
which
liar to sailors, gave to the whole scene a solemnity
any similar oc-
can very rarely have been witnessed on

casion.
con-
Arrived at the entrance gateway the culprits were
cess of pinioning
ducted by a narrow stone staircase tohere the pro-
an apartment
about 40 feet above the basement floor,
Previously to
w
this painful ceremony the unhappy mew were permitted
to embrace each other, which they did ith great aPPar
was gone through.
rent affection, and also bade farewell to the chaplain and
request-
governor and the priests, Lagaoa an to the scaffold.
d Barbaalo
ing the latter to accompany them on
of Calcraft they
Resigning themselves into the hands
were now severally pinioned During
the whole time
this was going on, Lagaoa and Barba repeate
Latind aloud
the "Kyrie Eliason," and other prayers in .At
the priest, but the latter replied. The priest did not
one period Lagaoa directed the attention of Pietrici to
die for me, Christ died for me. Pietrici was the first to
be led on to the scoffold. As soon as Calcraft had
placed him under the fatal beam, the most painful excite-
ment was occasioned among the crowd assembled in
front of the gaol by the culprits exc'airniar.r, in a loud
shrill voice, which- resounded across the valley over "
-
looked by the prison, " Gesu Cristo, pig I'a
l'anium mial
aad other phrases of a similar character, which, not