The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-02-19

plOuS, and honest
and were acknowledged to be such by those same
persons who the more wished to aggravate them:
even the eurate OF their parish has done justice 10
the Christian probity Of tie two prisoners testyins
moreover o. having been received several unes, A.
Madiais house. with the greatest and kndest hospi-
taty, and has ever admired their charity ana mo-
desty."
Tie counsel then read to the court letter from
nun belonging TO the Convent OF the "a esane o.
Massa in the valley ofNevoe, near Pescla, wherein
she states on plain truth, Of hay,lg known, before
She took the VEIL Rosa Polni and francesca Madia,
who are now married and living in Florence. "
have lived adds the nun, with the wife, In the
service at several foreign families, for almost two
years and have always esteemed her and her hus-
band Ter their upright honest aud charitable actions
in every respect, although concerning religion they
belonged, 10 my knowledge, to an heterodox comnu-
non.f This declaration is dated the 22d of May,
1852, signed by Sister Rosa Felice Massei and an-
thenticated by Sister Anna Maria Barto, Abbess of
the Monastery OF the saeSane, and by Pietro Fort,
Bishop If Pesca, in Tuscany.
On the morning Of the It'll Of June, the public pro.
secutor summed up the charge, and on the fourth
day the court remained long in consultation; the
votes were divided and enc vote decided the ques-
ton, two being in favor OF acquitta and three OF
condemnation. At last the Clerk OF the Court an
nounced to the prisoners TO stand up, for sentence
was To pass upon them. The presiding Judge read
with a trembling voice. francesca Madiai, the
Court has decided that you should be condemned to
hlty-siX months of galleys and hard labor in the
prisons OF Volterra; and you, Rosa Madia are con-
demned to fortyfour months at the ergqstoio, (the
female galeys) at I-ucca, also with hard labor Be-
sides this, you both are answerabe Tor all the ey-
penses of the trial and subject to three years sreI
lance by the police, after the completion OF your
punishment
PasQuale Casacci, who denied everything was &C
quilted Of the criminal charge, but was detained to
answer two questions against him, by the police, &C
cording TO tie law of April, 1851
The conduct Of tie Madais during their trial did
them tie greatest honor ana awakened the admira-
toO lf na nplj Ia sen
tence with great iTmness and dignity. Fran
cesco was N perfect peace, and received the
final blow IN spirit OF holy submission;
the hand OF friend near By, saying There is need
OF patencc-and the comfort, the joy of the
Holy Spirit never changes with me, however it may
with MY poor body. ] am always happy. God has
leen with me all the time Of my imprisonment, and
lie will always he with me as long as remain in
prison, and | am as sure He will be with me unto
DEATH
Rosa Madiai as soon as she returned to the Bar
CELLO prison. hnelt aud prayed for some time; after
wards she wrote the following letter to her hus-
band -
Ny DEAR MADIAy-You know that have always
loved you; but how much more ought to love you
now that we have been together in the battle of the
Great Kng-tbat we have been beaten, but not van
pushed. ] hope that, through the merits of Jesus
Christ Cod cur Father will have accepted our test
mOny, and will give us grace to drink, to the last
drop the portion Of that bitter cup which is prepared
for Us, with returning of thanks. Ny good Madiai
life is only day, and day OF grief Yesterday we
were young to-day we are old. Nevertheless, we
can say with old Simeon Lord, now lettest thou
thy servant depart III peace for mine eyes hath seen
thy SALVATION Courage, my dear, since we know
by the Holy Spirit that this Christ, loaded with OPP
probIium, trodden down and illuminated, is our
Sayour and We, by His holy light and power, are
called To defend the holy cross and Christ who died
fer us, receiving His reproaches that we may after
wards parcipaten his glory Donot fearifthe punish
ment be hard. God, who made the chains fall from
Peter and opened the doors OF his prison. will never
forget Keep in good spirits; let US trust entirely
in God. Let me see you cheerful as trust, by the
same grace you viii see me cheerful. ] embrace
ycu with my whole heart. Your af1ectionate wife,
(Signed) Rosa MADIAI.
Hcfore leaving the Bargello for his final imprison-
~ with him supply of clean linen, clothes, &c.
But this was not permitted. He smiled, saying,
We'll, all things according TO the will Of Cod He
spoke very laudably of his wife, and requested
friend TO tell her . that his prayer was that God
would go with them to their prisons, and that he
felt that God would be their companion there"
lie was not allowed to his wife, but conveyed
to his goal Of Volterra, and thrown among criminals
few days after he was removed from the common
gallevs, and put into celulary confinement.
Tie same gentleman who had visited Francesca
Madiai while in the city prison, went to see his wife,
who, hearing OF the sudden departure of her husband
became much oppressed; and her mind was also tor
TIRED by the idea, that at her advanced age having
always lived amongst yirtuous and religious people,
she should now be thrown with females of bad con-
duet. At the same moment, and almost unexpected
~ the prison-keeper brought message from the
police that Rosa Madiai should be taken away from
tie Bargello and carried to the prisons Of Lucca.
At this dreadful notice, in presence OF all the at
tendants and gndarnes she burst into fevent pray
or, asking God for more faith, more love to Jesus.
Her kind lawyer, Signor Maggioranl, promised to
60 to Lucca to that everything that could be per
mitted should be provided Tor her; and the physi-
clan, who was also present said that although it
W. hn sylyp pqrtit tn tbp
state Of her health requiring diet different from that
Of the common prisoners, as absolutely important TO
Der life.
Having quickly dressed herself she asked for her
bonnet, and TO remark made by one of the jalers,
why she did not comb her hair, answered, " For what
use as in q few hours they will cut it off, She
bid farewell TO al those assistants and told an Eng
lish gentleman, in whose service she had been
Remember me TO III The brethren, and tell them
should they lie called to follow US, to bear what may
be appointed them TO suffer, but never to forsake
their God This advice was addressed TO the
numerous prisoners who were yet under trial in tie
several prisons Of Florence, accused of the same
crime for which the Madiais had been condemned.
4 special order Of the Tuscan government pre-
scribed that the adias should be entirely deprived
Of all religious service and books of their faith,
should any Protestant clergyman be allowed to
visit thcrn-a rule which is not even applied in the
same country to tic worst criminals. They were
soon separated from all the prisoners and kept in q
private and solitary cethe husband on the hills Of
miles When they allowed TO walk about, il Il
i'll yard surrounded by walls, from which you zee
nothing but the sky.
Dressed after the manner Of al criminals, for the
first weeks they were nourished with the common
and unhealthy victuas Of tie prison, and i was bat
lately that they allowed 10 receive yictuals from
without. In the cell Of Rosa Madiai can be seer
large chain hanging to the wall, as threat in 8se
she should rebel against the prison discipline.
The news that the Madiais had been condemned
for having become PTJtestants, and for proselytsm
against The papal church, awokc the indignation Of
aii the Protestant countries, and even OF liberal
Catholics as may be seen from very elaborate ar
ticle which appeared in the Debats OF Paris. Meet
ings held to protest against the Tuscan govern
men, and finally deputation composed of the post
distinguished citizens Of several countries Of Europe,
started for Florence, in order to impore from the
sovereign the pardon Of tie Madiais. The commit
tee formed as follows
ENGLAND.-The Earl of Roden, Peer Of England !:
Lord Cavan, Peer Of ireland and Capt. Trotter.