The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1853-12-15

From the Hartford Tunes,

| DEATH OF RABELLo.-Amostcy every person vbo
visited The Connecticut State Prison during he past
| seventeen years, Knows something of RabeiL the
| Maniac lie was confined for numbering a bov and
was SO furious most OF the time that the Directors OF
the Retreat for the Insane decided that he could not
DC better provided for than he was in the prison
tnough the Legislature Of the State had passed res
oluion authorizing his removal TO the Retreat. if the
oicers should deem such step more conducive 10 bs
health or comfort. lie was kept in cell ON The cast
sde oil the prison yard, and visitors could see him
through the gates. and hear him crate his teeth and
rave m madness, IN his native tongue. When he was
more calm, he was permitted TO walk in the prison
yard; on these occasions his caiage was proud his
step naughty, and his person beautifully erect. but
most OF the time he was a raving maniac He was
wei educated, but there "a stery connected with
his history.
Agosino RabelIo Portuguese born in the
Island OF Madeira, about the year 1903 For several
years he was clerk al tha, place in the house of an
English wine merchant Subsequently he wen, To
Brazil and for five wears took charge Of an English
library, lie then returned To Madeira and was put
on board OF vessel and sent to the United States
lie landed IN Philadelphia, an inPane man. He
sra!ed through the country, usually lingering about
and sleeping 81 graveyards and living upon charity
ne appeared Wiling 10 work for a living, and in
March, 1885, he taken into the family Of Mr.
Beers Beardsley, Of New Preston, in I.itchfeld
County,
On the 9th Of April. Ferris Beardsley, an onlv
sun, aged IA years, went into the yard early IN the
morning to get some hre-wood. He carried an axe.
Kaheiio followed him, took the axe awav and al once
cut his head open, killing him immediately He cut
oft OF The boys legs and otherwise muiated his
person Rtbello theu went into the house, took up
small bundle OF clothes and started of. He was
shortly after arrested, as be washing the blood
OF the murdered boy from his h .ds and clothes at
brook by the road side. He acknowledged the ,nur.
der, and said that he killed the boy for treadins On
MS toes the previous evening, and that he had right
to kill him for that insult.
He tried for murder before Judges White and
Williams at Litch6eld in August, 1885. The eri-
dence taken mostly related to his sanitythe murder
beng admitted Ii appeared bv number Of witness
es, that he in the habit of lingering about grave
yards, often sleeping in them, even in drenchng
rains that he often acted if in terrible Passion
declaring that every body sainst him. that his
friends were enemies;" that he had fallen out with
HE parents and brothers and sisters in Madeira and
he would rather die than 10 return there that he
seemed haunted with the idea that he Was constantly
lnsulted and injured, and that chd,en we're scnt TO
insult him. lie had peculiar notion about his toes
and If any one hit them, or touched his foot he
would ty INTO great passion. As test, after his
arrest, physician purposcly trod his toe if hy
accident, when he went into furious passion, his
pulse Increasing thirty beats in Il minute He de.
cared, You did not hurt my foot but YOU did my
feelings"
The jury brought in verdict Of not guilty of mur-
der on account OF his insanity and the Court ordered
bum TO be c3nhned TO prevent his njurins others.
II appeared that ne ha. previously attempted Kill
man with axe, who acciden,y rolled stone against
his foot. lie was placed in the State Prison, where
he has remained for several years, a wild mauiac -
For several years he has G,iied in strength, and be-
came enlaciaed. Some months since MS limbs began
70 swell, and dropsy set in. He died in the prison
hospital on the morning Of tie 30th uIS. aged abou,
80 years. AS be approached fNal dissolution, he ap.
peared more rational and conversed ike "A sane aian.
He declared that he wanted die--that he had no.
thing TO live tor, and hoped ni Tor his troubled
spirit beyond The grave. He said that no oue could
estimate the troubles and tue suerugs that he had
passed through. and alluded particularly 10 severe,
sharp pains that had frequently darcd from his
bowels upw ard reaching 10 his back and head He
seemed TO be worn out, aod died IL comparative
ease,