The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-02-19
TRIAL CT TEE MADlAI.
Official IOcumeuts and letters in the Case.
Interesting letter of Archbishop Hughes.
rp ANsI. ATED FOR THE NEw YORK HERALD.
- rEr..ul thn Rnona NnreIiA OF rnrin


10 arrest what they styled the heretics The abode OF
prof Boornni well known for his talents aud eXem-
pary virtues il the University OF Bologna ana pl5a,
was surrounded BY tie ponce expecting 70 hhd tne
terrible conspir.t0r; but as he was already on his
way 10 foreign land the police was satisfied by car
rying off lis Bible i'll the ltali1n language. Next
came the arrest Of Count GGiceiardini, member OF
one of the Wealthiest and most lustrious families
of Italv with several others accused Of Protestant
tsm-the total number not being less than fifty per.
sons of all ages and condition Count Guicciardini
was the only one released from prison; but on condi
tion that be should leave the country. This gentle
man is al present in Scotland.
traitor sprung out among these Italian puritans,
who to recover his freedom denounced all his breth-
rem in whose communion he had often prayed. His
name is Pasquale Casacci; he accused Sig. Madiai
and his wife OF Protestant prose ytsn ana OF having
spoken and preached against the Catholic religion
But before entering into the paI1 ,aIs OF the trial
let us give short sketch Of the lives Of those two un-
fortunate beings.
FRANCISCO MADIAI, son Of farmer, was born
amongst the beautiful hills Of Casentino, not great
distance from tie city Of Florence. At an early age
he left the paeTnal roof and went to the city in the
employment OF several patricians. Having learned
French and English, he travelled az courier with TO
reign families with whom he visited many parts Of
Europe, and even the United States.
Rosa MADIAI, from Rome, had lived in London
than twenty years, when she returned to Italy;
she met Francesca Madiai at Florence whom she
had known before, beyond the Alps; they became
husband and wife, and were married by Protestant
chaplain. The weak state of her health did notalow
her TO mlngie anew III the hardslips OF an ardlouS
and agitated life. Having added her few savings to
those OF her husband they furnished house, andle
II to foreigners and particularly to English families
Not having either classical nor a mddling educa-
tion, natural strength of ingenuity and spirit,
wanting in conversation and bodily vgor, imposes
ed Of any social rank or conspicuous adheren-
ces, they could not dwell on vast and dangerous
enterprises; so their whole care was moderate in
dnsry, in order to reap romt the means OF existence.
While the wife was busted about domestic concerns
at Florence, the husband who enjoyed excellent
health, continued his travelling life until lately when
he decided to pass his last days with his vile, in the
midst OF his relations We must add that both had
forsaken the religion in which they had been bap-
TIED and openly acknowledged belonging to the
Swiss communion. The Madais were put in Sepa-
rate cells ut the Bargelos prison and after several
weeks of strict confinement the government notified
them that their trial would take place on the 4th Of
June, 1852. Being too poor to employ counsel IN
their defence, Sgnor Odoardo Maggioran, one Of
the most learned urists Of Tuscany, generously and
gratuitousy offered his services to the two prisoners,
and his example was initiated by three other emf
nent lawyers, viz Vincenzo Salvagnoli, AdrianA
Mari and Leopoldo Galeotti.
Great anxiety prevailed among the population OF
Florence as to the results of these proceedings-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.
The presiding judges Gas therewas no jury were
Mr.. Neryini, who during the whole trial appeared
very bitter against the culprits Cocchi the inferno
eating Judge, the same who received a hard rebake
during the State trial of Guerrazzi; AMI Bicehiera
the public prosecutor.
At 10 o'clock, A. NJ, the gendarmes brought three
prisoners into the court-Pasquate Cassacci the in
former was the picture of an unhappy man
francesca Madiai appeared happy to see his vito
again, and pressed her hand and Rosa (his wife)
was pale and trembled with emotion. The few per
SONS present were surprised and moved with the
tranquility and frmness of the two accused.
AT the commencement Of the trial, the presiding
Judge asked from francesca Madiai If he was born
in the bosom OF the Holy Mother, the Roman Cahc-
lie Church. A. Yes, sir was the reply but now
am Christian according to the gospel
@. Who has made you such, and does there exist
an act of abjuration amongst those you are united
To? A. My convictions have existed for many years
but have acquired strength from the study Of the
word Of God.
@. Who advised you to leave the Catholic faith?
A. Nobody; it has been matter between God and
my own soul.
Q. Have you ever made public abjuration. 4.
Q. When and how? A. When | took the com
munion in the Swiss church.
q. Have you distributed among the people any pub
church, a. No sir; the tracts i gave people to
read contained only passages Of the holy scriptures
but nothing of controversy between the two COM
munions.
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 tile Evangelical church. and as such
we used to congregate and pray.
Here Casacc said to the President that many were
Catholics, and Francesca Madai and Rosa (his
wife, persuaded them to leave the Papal church.
Q. What have you to say, Francesca Madiai,
against the deposition of the present witness? A.
Those who were yet Catholics desired to become
acquainted with the eternal truth, and under such
circumstances could not refuse them Abundance to
my house.
q. Have you ever had any religious controversy
during the time you spoke against the church? A.
Yes, sir only when was provoked; spoke OF the
dogmas Of the church rs contrary to the Bible, bat
have never used during this conversation, any dis
respectful language.
Hereupon the President ordered francesca Madiai
to sit down. His wife was called 10 stand up.
Q. Have you changed your religion for any mate
rial obect:-did you ever receive any pecuniary re-
Enumeration? a: No, sir, have not changed my
former religion lightly, or 10 please men: in such
case could have done it when was in England,
where lived seventeen years.
q. What then could induce you to take that step,
A. The reading OF the Bible convinced me Of the
error and contradictions of the Ron!ish doctrines
Here the presiding Judge imposed silence on tic
prisoner
Q. Haye you ever made any public abjqration
A. Yes sir; "a soon Gs became firmly convinced of
The truth Of the Evangelical doctrine ! abandoned
the church. and made public confession Of faith BY
partakng OF the Lords supper.
O. Where did the public confession take place
A. In the Swiss chapel, at Florence when the former
laws q our country gave and protected religious Il
berry.
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 woris
OF St. Luke, chapter xii, from we're 18th to 3lst
But the Judge interrupted Rosa NGdiai, saying 1--WE
are not speaking about religion now" Inc defend
ant replied, :" As | am accused Of re gion, | am 70
answer, and defend myself on that subject.
The President, with stern look, bid her silence,
for the second time.
Q. Have you ever said that the Christian religion
has but eight commandments, and that our creed
allows fornicat0nl
The prisoner hcreupon rose Indignantly, and said
IN high tone OF voice that her only reply to that
infamous charge, she should be allowed to say the
Ten commandment in order that they might judge
whether there were eight Of ten.
"Silence, was answered ~ the court: upon Which
being angry, the defendant replied that Il was
not justice to impose silence ones own defence
The Judge appeared somewhat mder, aud asked
the prisoner if she and her husband observed The ten
m