The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1853-08-19
From La Presse
THE STORY OF MENDACO.

small Italian town IN Piedmont Men
daco was person of fortune, and held
the position Of syndc or mayor Of his
native town, Veigotii, some twenIy-fouI
miles from Genoo. He became violently
ehamDured Of young and handsome
woman ofthe same place, Maria Glusto,
al the same time widow with four chill.
dren. After SOME time, Mendaco, with
the connivnnce of his mistress, resolved
10 get rid Of his wife by killing her. His
scheme was most artfully conlrived. On
.he night selected fol the murder, he
invited two of his friends TO snp with
him and his wife, as he stated his inieh-
ton Of going on journey the next day.
He took care TO display, on this occasion,
the most afectionate kindness for his
wife, who after some time, retired TO rest,
leaving her husband still al supper with
his boon companions, whom he piled 80
cop;ously with liquor, that they fell al
last intoxicated on the floor. The mis-
iress Of Mendnco, as concerted, now
made her appearance, md the two
wrctches sci about their horrible work.
Stealing iuto the chamber Of the sleep
ing wife, the husband succeeded in stran-
Cling her with q cord, while his accom-
pice smolhered her cries by stopping
her mouth with her hand. The deed
once done, the assassns coolly pros
ceeded TO carry out the plan previously
settled on. While the woman washed
The linen Of the bed and floor, the hus>
band carried the corpse into the adIoin-
ing gerden Of neighbour, with whom
his wife had lately had violent dispute,
thus hoping 10 cast this foul murder on
an innocent man. AT dayhreak Menduco
reused up his drunken companions of
the previous night, and the three left the
house together. In few moments Men.
daco pretended that he had come off with.
out money, and returning together 10 the
house, he cried out from the outside to
his wife to throw him his purse. His
paramour who was secreted in his wife
chamber, awaiting this ingenious mangu-
vre, threw out The money demanded
without showing herself, and Mendaco's
friends naturally thought and declared
that his wife was in her bedroom when
they all left The house in company.
When tho murder was discovered, suspl-
cion naturally fell upon the unfortunate
man in whose grounds The body was dis
covered, and he was arrested and thrown
into prison. This nefarious plot was
however. providenially defeated. Two
of Mendaco's children had overheard the
dea'h cries Of their unhappy parent, and
in spite Of the menaces and entreatles OF
the gully father, they revealed what they
had overhead. The arrest OF llIs true
criminals followed; upon trial, they both
confessed aud accused each other, and
we,e both condemnedto death. (Sad TO
relate the poor man who was first arres-
ted, and detained in prison, lost his senses
from terror.) Upon the first trial both
were condemned to death; but second
one was ordered for some informality.
The result was the same, and second
condemnation VAS registered against both
the criminals. Repeated effor,s were
made to save the woman from execution.
A depuInlon of noble ladies, belonging
10 the Miseticordia, went lately from
Genoa to Turin to intercede with the
King and Queen for Communication OF
the sentence, but the case was too afro
cious 20 merit 4. .t
The 30lh of April WINS named for the
execution Of both, at six O'clock, A. M
Even before daybreak the streets were
filled with anxious mulliludes to witness
the melancholy procession. The SOL
diery lined both sides Of the way from
the prison 10 the spot of execution, which
is situated Mt the extreme end ofthe Ole
Mole, as il is termed in Genoa. AT
quarter 10 six O'Clock singh cry was
heard from the Mole "A la Porta," which
announced the arrival of,he criminals at
the gate aforementioned. An involun
tary movement, like shudder, passed
cverthe multitude, and broatlless silence
ensued. In few minutes was seen q
cross covered with black, and carried
high IN the air. The members of the
Misercordia, in black cloaks, and with
their faces masked, followed. The wretch
ed woman then appeared, borne on chair
by two monks, for terror had deprived her
Of all strength, and nearly Of conscious
ness. A detachments Of gendarmes sue
ceeded. Every eye was straining after
Mendco, but he had been humanely de-
iained at the gate below till the execu.
tion of his accomplice was over. In
few moments more The executioner as
ceDded the fatal ladder, followed by the
miserable woman, who was sustained on
either side, A priest mounted the other
ladder, and prayed in a loud voice while
the cord was fastened to the scaffold.
Suddenly the poor wretch was seen
swinging in the air, having been pushed
from the ladder by an assistant below.
TO The general horror, the chief execu'
tioner then sprang directly on the head
of the dying criminal, supporting himself
against the beam above, and tried by the
weight Of his body, and the pressing
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