Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-02-28
From the Bueno Neville, of Turin
Trial of the Maidias at Florence for Prot
estant ProselytiSm.

The abode OF Prof. Bolognini, well known for his
talents and exemplary virtues in the Univ. rsty oil
Bologna and P lisa, was surrounded by the police,
expecting find the terrible consprator; but as he
was already on his wayto for,lgn land, the po-
lice was satisfied by carrying off mis- Bible in the
Italian language. Next came the arrest LfCouni
Gnicciardini, member OF one of the wealthieSt
and most illnstrious families of Italy, with sever
al Others accused of ProtestaniSm-the total num-
Der not being less than fifty persons, of all ages
and condition. Count Gu:cciardn was the only
one released from prison; button condition that he
should leave the country. This gentleman is al
present in Scotland.
A traitor sprung out among these Italian puIi-
tanS, who, TO recover his freedom, denounced all
his brethren, in whose communion he had often
prayed. His name is Hassquale Cassacci; he ac-
cused Sig Madlai and his wife of Protestant prs
elytlSm, and of having spoken and prea ched against
the Catholic religion. But before entering into
the particulars of the trial, let us give a short
sketch of the lives OF those two unfortunate be
ingS.
francesca Madia, son of farmer, was born
among the beautiful hills of Casentino, not great
distance from the city of Florence. At an early
age he left the patenal roof and went to the city
in the employment OF several patricians. Having
learned French ard English, he raYeled IS cour-
Ter with foreign families, with whom he visited
many parts of Europe and the United States.
Rosa Madai, from Rome, had lived in uondon
more than twenty years, when she returned to Ita-
ly; she met francesca .adiai at Florence, whom
she had known before, beyond the Alps; they be-
Protestant chaplain. They furnished house and
let 1t TO foreign, and particularly English families.
While the wife was busted about domestic con-
Germs at Florence, the husband. who enjoyed tx-
cellent health, continued his travelling life until
lately, when he decided pass his last days with
his wife, in the midst of his relations. The Ma
dlaIs were put in separate cells at the Bargelo'S
prison; and after several weeks of strict confine
ment, the government notified them that their trial
would take place the 4th ofJune, 1852. Be-
ing too poor to employ counsel in their defence,
Signor Colorado Maggiorani, one of the most learn
ed Jurlsts OF Tuscany generously and gratuitous-
~ Offered his services to the two prisoners, and his
example was initiated by three other eminent law
yerS, viz: Vincenzo Saluagnol Adriano Mari, and
Leopoldo Galeotti.
Great anxiety prevailed among the population of
Florence as 10 the result of these proceedngs-a
great many citizens applied for admission to the
Halls OF Justice; but the government notified that
the trial should be conducted with closed doors.
At 10 O'Clock, a. NJ, the gendarmes brought
thee prSonerS-PaSquale CaSSacci, the informer
francesca Madiai and Rosa his wife. The few
persons present were surprised and moved with the
tranquility and frmneSs OF the two accused.
AT the commencement of the trial, tbs presiding
Judge asked from francesca Madiai if he was born
in the bosom of the Holy Mother, the Roman Catho-
lie Church. a. Yes sir, was the reply; but now
L am Christian according TO the gospel.
Q. Who has made you such, and does there ex-
list N act OF ahjuratlon amongst those you uni
ted to? A. My convictions have existed for many
years, but have acquired strength from the study of
the word of God.
Q. Who advised you to leave the Catholic
faith! A. Nobody; it has been a matter between
God and my own soul.
y Q. Have you ever made public abiuratiun?-
IA. Yes sir.
Q. When and how? A. When l took the
commu nj on in the Swiss church.
{ Q. Have you distributed among the people any
publications contrary TO the dogmas of the Roman
Church! a. No, Sir; the tracts gave the PEG.
pie 10 read contained only passages of the Holy
scriptures, but nothing OF controversy between the
two communionS.
Q. Did you ever hold religious meetings in your
house? A. Yes, Sir.
q. What did you say and do! A. That we
were all believers in the Evangelical Church. and
aas such we need to congregate and pray.
Here CaSSacci said to the president that many
were Catholics, and francesca Madiai and Rosa
t(hlS Wife, persuaded to leave the Papal Church.
z. What have you to say, Francesca Madiai,
INST the deposition of the present witness! A.
cThoSe who were yet Catholics desired to become
acquainted with the eternal truth, and under such
circumstances could not refuse them adnittance
to my house.
q. Have you ever had any religious controver-
'sy during the time you spoke against the Church!
A. Yes, sir, ONLY when was provoked; | spoke
of the dogmas of the Church contrary to the BIZ
bic, but never have used, during this conversation
any disTespectful language.
Hereupon the President ordered francesca Ma
dlal to sit down. His wife ordered to stand UP,
q. Have you changed your religion for any ma
terlal object? did you ever receive pecuniary re-
Enumeration? a. No, sir, l have uot changed my
former religion lightly or to please men; in such
case l could have done it when was in England,
where lived seventeen years.
z. What then could induce you to take that
step! A. The reading of the Bible convinced
me OF the error and contradictions Of the Roman
doctri ines.
Here the presiding Judge imposed silence on the
prisoner.
Q: Have you ever made any public abjugation?
A. Yes sir; as soon as became firmly convinced
oil the truth Of the Evangelical doctrine abandon
ed the church, and E:ade a public confession of
faith by partaking of the Lords Supper.
.. Where did the public confession take place?
A. In the Swiss chapel al Florence, when the for
mer laws OF our country gave and protected reli-
gious liberty.
Q. Have you at any time, called the Holy Apos-
ties men of hatred? a. No, sir, that accusation
is totally untrue. have never been guilty OF such
thing, and shall prove the contrary by the words
OF ST. Luke, chapter Kill, from verse 2Sth tn 3lSt.
but the Judge interrupted Rosa Madiai, saying,
eve are not speaking abont religion now" Tn.
defendant replied, GAS am accused of religion,
| am to answer, AMI defend myself on that SUBJ
iect."
The President with stern look, bid her silence,
for the second time.
2. Have you ever said that the Christian reli-
ligion has but eight commandments and that our
crend allows fonicaton?
The prisoner hereupon rose Indignantly, and
said in high tone of voice, that her only reply
10 that infamous charge, she should he allowed 10
say the ten comma ndnents, III order that they
might judge whether there were eight or ten.
"Silence!'' was answered by the court upon
which, being angry, the defendant replied s'that it
was not justice to impose silence ones own de-
fence.'
The Judge appeared somewhat mder and asked
the prisoner if she and her husband observed the
ten commandments?
Ger anly, she answered, as God dictated them
10 Moses on MountSinai.
Here the word silence repeated, and the ex-
animation of Rosa Madiai was closed by the Judge
saying that is sufficient
The small audience, composed of few English
gentlemen, who had been admitted through the
influence Of Sir Henry Bulwer, were struck with
the simplicity and sincerity of the MadiaiS.
On the following day the witnesses were exam