The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1838-04-25


cred as too irivsl to be in any way worthy
of serious attention.
The great bulk Of the citizens, however,
thought otherwise. Fathers and brothers,
born without the pale of privileged rank,
were seen rallying at all points, aud the
clank OF arms resounded throughout tho .
entire city. They believed their long cher
ished dreams of equal justice unto all were
about to be realized. Mothers, sisters and
wives, looked upon the injury Constance
had lndn'ed, as one which might probably
some dny be inflicted upon themselves. !
Their exboria,lons served To keep alive the
indignation of their male rela,iyes.-Tbe
tumult was terrible.
Isabella, who had long been waiting nm
opportunity, TO strike decisive blow a-
gainst the cruelty and oppression of the
Sicilian mobiles, finding herself thus SIREN
uously and powerfully supported, resolved
by no means to let slip the present occa-
sion in humbling their pride, crushing their
strength and consolidating her own future
power. She convened sitting of the
people," of ancient form Of government,
long fallen into disusc, in which from the
peculiarly of it's construction, the partic-
ians were certain To be outvoled. II
was composed Of three estates--nobles,
gentry and free burchers. The duchess,
in quality Of regent, presided in person.
BY this council The Caraccioi were con-
demned for the murder of Rocco del Arizzo,
and doomed to death. This sentence was
confirmed by the regent and ordered TO he
carried Into execution at The expiration of
eight days.
In the meantime nothing was left untri-
ed by The nobility to shake the resolution Of
Isabella. Prayers, promises, threais--aIl
were employed---oll were dsregarded.
Their attempts to corrupt the people prov
ed equally unsuccessful. The Neapollans
saw clearly that the interests of the regent
and their own were embodied in this mat
ter. They continued firm und immovca-
BILE.
The eight days grace accorded the Car
nccioli had expired. On the ninth, at day
break, u scaffold, hung with black drnpe-
ry, was erected in the great market place.
An immense multitude in short time as
sembled there. From every quurter of the
city crowds came pouring to witness The
solemuiiy Of this execution. Extended as
the market place was. it soon became filled
to its utmost extfemties, with eager spectn-
tors. The dense mass collected within its
limits, had The appearance Of solid body.
Il seemed really as if scarcely ray Of
light could penetrate between the people
composing it, so closely were they pressed
together. In u short time, Raymond mp
pcared, escorted by the guards, preceded
by the monks of the order of ST. Francis,
chanting the requiem for tho dying, and
followed by the execulioner aud assistants,
carrying the heavy scimetar used for the
decaptulation Of criminals in those days.
Raymond's last moment did in no wise be-
lie the hardIhood Of his former life. lie
mounted the scsffold with firm step, cas-,
n contemptuous glance at the mU,itudes
gathered around the place of punishment,
and moionng the holy fathers to be silent
calmly submitted himself 10 meet his doom
One instant the ponderous blade-ihe ter.
riblc instrument of death gliters in the air
The next the multitude beheld the head ol
Raymond, upheld by its long hair, wriihine
and gasping in the imn0veabIe hand Of the
excculioncr. At this terrible sight thrill
of horror ran, like an electric shock through
that immense assemblage. They pi,ied
the criminal while they acknowledged the
justice Of his suffering. This feeling pres
emily passed away, and new anxiety seem
ed 10 take p0ssrssiou of their souls.
The scafloId was quickly cleared Of the
body ard Of every yesiige of the tragedy
Just enacted upon il. The headsman retir-
ed from the block-the instruments Of his
office were concealed, and himself and as
sis,ants retired from gaze.
I Murmurs now began to be heard, grad
ually proceeding from mouth to mouth, and
swelling into distinctness until q confused
sound like the muiter Of distant thunder,
broke from the excited populace. They
imagined that Justice was about to be de-
frauded of half her due aud were loud in
their cries Of Indignation.
Scarcely, however, had their first feel
! ings found vent in words, When a 1sw pro-
cession was seen advancing towards the
/ market place. The same solemDItlcs ms
attended the first were observed in this.
/ The execuiioner and his assistants were
there. Friars were again chanting The re-
QUEEN for the dying. Guards marched IN
the same mournfnl silence; |; and in their
midst appeared Antonio Caraccioli--chaln-
ed, pale and detected, the picture ofreInorse
and despair.
Arrived at the foot Of tho scnffold, Anto-
Mo resumed his courage. He tfod its ia
tai ascent with firm step and noble grace !;
and on reaching the platform, turned aud
addressed the plying spectators. lie de-
clared his entire innocence Of the murder
Of Rocco del Arrizzo, and prayed forgive
ness for the wrong he had committed on
Constance, as he forguve those who had
brought upon him this unmeriied doom ol
death and disgrace. Constance" ex-
claimed Antonio, +" has always been below.