The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1853-03-09
The Persec,,ted R1aalaz.

Frequent reference. of late has been made iri
The foreign news tn the persecution and reported
death ofthe sMadsai, Elrenee. for embracing
the Protestant faith The Buona NoveIla, OF
Turin, publishes an account of the trial and inn
prisonment of francesca and Rosa Madiai, of
Florence; and it is TO be presumed that report is
Authentic. translation OF this accoun; ap-
pears IN the New York Herald of the 9th;
from wi ich the principal facts are thus con-
densed by the Boston Traveller:
francesca Madlai was born in the coutt i.
near Florence; going to the city early for en-
ploy meni, he learned French and English, end
became courier TO foreign families, and travel
ing to foreign lands. Thus he visited England,
and even the United States. Rosa Madiai was
where she resided some II yenrs, in the service
of foreign and other families. On her return
10 Florence she met francesca Madiai with
whom she was previously somewhat acquainted.
| and they we're married by Protestant clergy
man, and paftook Of the sacrament in the
Swiss Protestant Chapel in Florence, Uniting
their little savings, they furnished house and
let ii 10 foreign families, particularly English.
Rosa remained at Florence, busying herself
with the domestic duties, while Francesca cons
Iinued his journeys as a courier.
On the night of November Is, 1851, thess
quiet and inoaensive citizens, together with
nearly fifty other persons. Of all ages and condi-
tions,were arrested by the gendarmes, heretcs,
and thrown into ptison; traitor-a Judas
among the little band Of brethren having betray=
ed :hem TO the police. ThsmMadia,s were
thrown into separet, cells, al bere Ike sa
confinement until June h, f952, when they
were brought to trial; moi before jury, but, q
bench of judges, who sat with closed doors, ads
uniting only a few Engishmen by the interposii.
ion of Sir Henry Buwer.
In answer TO the questions hejudges, Fran
cesco and Rosa both acknowledged themselves
Proies'ants, or "Chrisiiars according TO the
Gospel" declared that they had been induced to
forsake Romanism from reading the Scriptures,
from which they learned the errors ard con.
,radctions Of the Papal Church. In answer 10
the questions: Who advised you TO leave the
Calhoic faith? francesca replied: "Nobody: Il
has been matter between God and my own
soul y He admitted that he had held a meeting
for prayer and religious conversation in his own
house, to which some Catholics were admitted
at their own request desiring TO become ac
quainted with the eternal truth. The Judge
then asked: . Have you everhad any RELIGIOUS
controversy during the lime you spoke against
the chutch2" francesca: .'Yes, sir only when
/ | was provosed; SPOKE Of the dogmas Of
the church rs contrary 10 the Bible. but have
never used, during this conversation, any dis
respectful language"
With this closed Fruncesco's examinations
Rosa was then ques ioned as to her change of
religion, &c. and answered Substantially as
francesca had. Rosa was then sked:
"tiave you, n, any time, called the Holy
/ Apostles men OF hetredl'
A. No, sir; that accusation is totally untrue
have never been gully Of such thing, and
shall prove the contrary by the words of ST.
Luke, chapter xii, from verse 2Sth to 3lst
But the Judge interrupted Rosa Madjai saying
1--WE are not speaking Of religion now" Tn,