New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1860-05-14
Ns6 OrIsaIrs 4aiIp Crescent
THE CORRUPT JUDGE.

THE CORRUPT JUDGE.
murder was committed in 8 coffee-house In VALET
"a, Sicily, by young man, the son Of people in re-
pectable circumstances. who having words with
mother, on very slight proyocation, drew ont
Znife and stabbed him MORALLY he then made his
.scape, but was captured next day BY officers Of
he police. Notwithstanding the testimony Of seve-
al Witnesses to the fact, and other convincing cir
evidence against him, the prisoner
lying his having been the person who had inflicted
he wound; he even underwent the torture Of the
,avalletto, without coming to a confession. Not
this pertinacity the presiding Judge,
,aflsfied by the evidence brought forward con-
demned him to death. Petitions and supplications
were made to no purpose to the Judge for his inter
cession with the Grand Master, and to the Prince
himself for pardon.
The time allotted being expired, the criminal, ~
Is the custom in Malta, was removed three days
previous 70 execution into the condemned chapel,
where with spiritual adviser, people in that IN.
happy situation pass the few sad minutes remaining
and prayer, for that pardon in the
next world, from which human policy excludes
them in this.
Two Of these trying days had passed, when the
father of the criminal pursuading himself that even
yet q pardon might be obtained for his SON, could
he but succeed in engaging the influence Of the
judge who had condemned him, in his favor, ON the
evening preceding the day on which the sentence
H. Hk68E0E&u
self, just as it darkened, at The door Of tie func-
tionary. Admittance was at first refused; but
douceur to the servant soon opened both the door
and the ear Of he Judge to the supplicant.
An abrupt negative had already been given in
terms the most unequivocal, when the distressed
parent, taking from under his cloak bag contain
ing one thousand Maltese CROWNS large sum for
the time and plaee-put It on the table, giving the
judge to understand that double that amount
would be forthcoming in the event Of pardon be-
eing granted to his unhappy son. The judge re-
manned for several minutes silent and absorbed
in thought; at length he told the father, in low
voice. but plain terms, that late as 1t was, and diff
fcult from that and other circumstances, he would
STILL though the result was far from certain do his
best to avert the cruel doom impending over the
young man. After little further consideration
he dismissed him with an order Of admission to the
prison, where under pretext Of taking last leave
OF his child he was to devise some plan OF getting
the priest out of the way, and OBTAINING him as
long possible, in order t., leave the judge sufii-
cient time to complete a-design which he had
already conceived.
Somewhat consoled and relying on the Judges
ingenuity, the father retired. Complying with the
directions given him, he saw his son, engaged the
priest to carry him home, and keep him occupied
in discourse until he had found time to carry his
plan, whatever it might be into effect
The Judge, in the meantime, eager to insure the
remainder of the sum promised, had formed his
project; application SO late to the Prince he knew
was not only useless, but might bring discredt and
suspicion on himself, as he had reported the case
from the commencementa as one calling for asevere
and awful example. Sending for the jailer, who
kept watch over the prisoner during the night,
and was considered as sufficient gnard, from the
latter being heavily ironed. and the chapel within
the prison walls, where = single call would i'm.
mediately bring efectual assistance, he pretended
to have still some doubt respecting the guilt OF the
young man, and feigned himself anxious to know il
he had yet made an open ayowal Of his crime,
the disclosure made to his spiritual adviser, being
as our readers are aware, under the sacred seal o.
confession, never in the most distant manner tt
alude to, much less to be divulged, without incur
ring the guilt Of sacrilege.
Having heard the mans reply, the Judge, under
pretense of retiring to his library to consult some
authorities on the subject left the room, directing
him on no account to move from the spot before
proceeding to the prison. entering the chapel, be
told the young man, who he found in state oi
| mental agitation, wayeriDg between the fear oil
approaching death and the hope, slight az il was
held out to him by his father, that there was still a
chance of safety for him, provided he complied
| Immediately and exactly with his directions
am now about SO he said, " to release you.fron
| your letters; but you must be aware that in an
island SO limited in extent as that Of Malta, thers
| is not the slightest chance of Your escaping ths
vigilance and research Of the officers OF justice
alert they will naturally be the instant you or,
found missing frem these walls take, therefore
i this dagger,'' and he drew one from under hi
/ vest, proceed instantly to the coffeehouse Il
| which you committed the murder--it is not late
you will certainly find people there at this hour
enter boldly, take good care that you are seen an
i recognized by all present, resolutely plunge tn
weapon into the body Of TIE person nearest you
and Immediately escape. leaving the rest to me
but recollect everything depends on your dexterit
/ and Dispatch
of eternity, and fresh from the pous exhortation
| of a minister of that God whose laws he had al
! ready so grossly and heinousy offended, readily
consented, at the suggestion of the willy judge,
4 cover himself from the consequences of one muir
| der by the commission Of another still more afro
| cious. He took the knife and left the chapel. Hi
! internal adviser remained behind In state OF anx
1 iety and agitation few minutes relieved hin
from his suspense; the coffee house was not Ia
| distant from the quarter in which the prison wa
1 situated. The young man returned confused ant
4 trembling, as persons recent from the commission
of any dreadful offence are wont. Having ascer
/ tanned the success of his abominable Vaccinations
| the Judge carefully reconsgned the murderer Il
| his fetters, and recommending secresy and pres
| ence of mind for his own sake, took his leave.
With hurried and irregular steps, he had rushe
into the coee-house, the scene of his former crime
| his haggard eouutenance, his violent emotions, til
wild glance Of unsettled eye, Instantly drew I'll
i attention of all present, as he stood for mOmen
the object Of their gaze. An exclamation of wonde
ran around--it was surely the prisoner under sen
! tence of death. mol that was impossible We
4 how remarkable a likeness The desperate maj
/ gave them but little time for question and conjec
/ tnre, before, turning rapidly round, be plunge,
4 his dagger into the bosom of an unhappy indyid
| ual who was standing near the door, and disap
| peared with the rapidty of lightning his unfor
/ tunate victim fell Immediately, uttering feebl
4 cry. Medical assistance was at hand, but SO hom
| was the thrust, that in few minutes he was al
| ready corpse. The unexpectedness and sudden
i ness of the blow, the confusion and alarm OF Til
i beholders, who fixed to the spot In terror
amazement, effectualy precladed any attempt
arrest the assassin =
/ A murder so openly and daringly perpetrate
soon threw the whole city of Valetta into conste
nation; thousands flocked to see the bleeding body
Many people had beheld the dsed and recognize
4 the murderer; but, thought appeared to then
the culprit lying in the condemned chapel. an
awaiting his doom in the morning, they never for
moment entertained o suspicion of its being reall
y so. Valetta was very populous, and containe
many strangers. The murderer was therefore, j
the opinion of all, an unknown person, bearing
striking and remarkable resemblance to the prise
ner, perhaps the very individual who had bee
guilty of the prior crime. The wonderful an
strange tale soon reached the ears Of the Judge
that impartial magistrate at once perceived th
strong probability that the identity Of the prisone
under condemnation had been mistaken; his rese
luton is asserting his innocence, which had Away
appeared extraordinary, warranted this opinion
To satisfy however, himself and the public, he i'm
mediately sent to the prison to ascertain il til
prisoner was really still in custody. Being 500
convinced upon this head, he took upon himself t
suspend the execution, which was to have take
place soon after daybreak, until these extraord
nary circumstances should be satisfactorily lnves
| tgated.