The Sun.
London, England, 1857-03-25 00:00:00

THE EXECUTION OF 3L4TRACCIA.

Matraccia, the Italian who, as reported in the essen-
gc., was some short time back condemned to death by
the Court of Assizes of Aix for a series of extraordinary
murders at Marseilles, was executed in the latter city on
Saturday morning. AA four o'clock he was awakened
by the chaplain and director of the prison, and told that
the petition for a commutation of punishment, which
be had sent to the Emperor, was rejected, and that
he was about to be executed. He received the an-
nouncement with the greatest calmness, and getting
up, seated himself on the side of the bed, and took
some coffee and smoked several cigars. At six
o'clock he attended •inacs, and during the service he
appeared very devout. The mass was followed by a ser-
mon, which seemed to make a great impression on
him. The service was attended by all the pri-
soners. When it was concluded, Matraccia was taken
back to his cell, and supplied with breakfast. Shortly
before seven the clerk of the Court of Assizes read to
him the text of his condemnation, the chaplain translat-
ing it into Italian. Ile listened to the reading and
translation with great resig‘nation, and when they were
concluded embraced the clerk and all the persons pre-
sent, most of whom were so affected that they
shed tears. Shortly after, the executioners of Aix
and Nimes, accompanied by an assistant, arrived, and
proceeded to pinion the condemned. He was then freed
from the irons on his legs, mid he asked if he could not
be allowed to walk to the scaffold, but was told that he
must be conveyed in a cellular van. lie then begged,
as a special favour, that ho night be accompanied by
ens of his friends, a countryman, who had been with
him all the morning, and that his parrot, which was in
a cage in his cell, might be taken with him to the scaf-
fold. Both these requests were granted, and be was
placed in a van, the chaplain being in attendance on
him. Arrived at the scaffold, which was erected in the
place St. Michael, and which was surrounded by an im-
mense crowd, consisting of at least 30,000 persons, the
vehicle stopped, and the cage containing the p...rrot
was, to the surprise of the spectators, first placed on
the scaffold ; the criminal, his friend, and the
chaplain tben alighted from the van. Matraccia
cast a glance at the guillotine, and embraced several
persons who were present. Then supported by his
friend and the chaplain, he ascended the steps of the
scaffold, and in doing so it was observed that lie slightly
trembled. When he reached the platform he kissed
with great fervour the crucifix which the chaplain pre-
sented ; then he embraced the chaplain and his friend
and then, turning to the parrot, ho said in Italian,
" Your master is about to die, and he embraces you for
the last time !" Afterwards he advanced towards the
front of the scaffold, and cried to the people, " I demand
pardon of the inhabitants of Marseilles for the scandal
I have oceasione.l! Pray for me, for in a few minutes I
blind pray fir you !" He was then seized by the execu-
tioner', and in a few seconds all was over.

A letter from Smyrna gives a few details concerning
the loss of the Roscoe, already known by telegraph. An
Austrian steamer having arrived with intelligence that a
vefsrl, laden with coal,-was on fire near Ghediz, the
admiral dispatched the Brandon, steamer, to her assist-
ance. She proved to be the English brig Roscoe, which
was on shore, and burning furiously in consequence of
the inflammable nature of the cargo, and the wino blow-
lug fresh at the time. The crew, nineteen in number,
had got into three boats, and been able to save some of
their property. Just after the arrival of the steamer,
the trig, having burned to the water's edge, filled and
went down. The crew were afterwards taken on board
the Brandon and conveyed to Smyrna.