The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-02-25
TWO WOMEN ON THE BLOCK.
THE LAWFUL END OF THE RABY FIRM
ERS OF NAPLES.

THE AWFUL END OF THE RABY FARM
KRS OF NAPLES. ...t
Tho NecIks OF Two Murderesses Barred
to tho Axe-Rose Porro and MarRarite
Coraldi Expatiating their Unparal-
leled Grimes.
The two baby farmers of Naples, whose az
palling crimes have already been narrated,
recently paid the penalty for their deeds on
the block In the Caslle d'Novo, near Naples.
The prisoners were brought before Judge
and Jury, and after brief trial, curing which
the most revolving details OF their terrible
crime were ELECTED, both Rose Porro and Mar
garlte Coraldi were sentenced to death. The
ecene In the courtroom on their being pro.
nounced guilty was affecting in the extreme,
the women sobbng hysterically and kneellng
In the dock to suppIicate for mercy. A Naples
letter thus describes the execution :'',N
Early yesterday morning, when hardly q
soul was astir in the narrow and bolsterous
thoroughfares of Naples, an omlnous looking
vehicle stood In front oil the Projects cham
ber, near the Chiaja. On The uppermost floor
Of the prison is the chapel, where the con-
demned women were attending maas-theIr
last mass-and the monrniul strains Of the
"Mlserere.n ohanted by the Sisters 10 their
choir, could be heard gloOmily waiting
th: ough the long corridors. Ths prisoners,
still IN black, kDelt near the altar, and at the
appointed time received their last commu-
MON.
TO THE EXECUTION.
Towards half-past six the prisoners, Hanked
by an escort OF ten gendarmes and preceded
by three. clergy men, moved tom the chapel
to the van In front Of the prison door. Tne
van contained the prisoners, the chaplain and
and bis lieutenant, and the usual guards on
the outside. While the van was rolling over
the pavement on lis way to the Castle d'NOvo,
which Ia built right on the edge OF the Bay Of
Naples, many bursh comments were made
from groups of straRglers, while an occasional
a., sThe Lord have mercy upon them n Tor
we'll they ali knew tile mission Of the rusty
wheeled black van oil the PRISM. During the
tedious drive ibe prisoners prayed and sobbed
alternately, and spoke little aud only in whis-
pers to the kind sisters Of Charity, who
never ceased Offering Them religious
consolation. guard OF policemen &C,
their hats when the van drove up and the pre-
feet made his appearance. The gates being
thrown open, The trembling prisoners were
led through long, stony passageway dark
eDed by high walls. Upon reaching the
rooms OF the jailer, the slsters, assisted BY
other women. removed the closks and bon.
nets of the prisoners. The priests, sisters OF
charItv, and prisoners then knelt aud prayed,
the officials standing round with bowed and
uncovered heads. at the close Of The prayers
for the dying, the executioner appeared,
wearing 0lack mack and black sipgIet shirt.
Assisted by the jallpr the e1ecultoEer PIN
ionpd the arms OF the criminals. The plain
necks were removed, and all being ready the
living cortege moved through TWO passsge-
ways until The place OF execution presented
itself. It was very unique tight.
At the extremity Of small, stone.
surrounded and stoue.bottomed yard
Is fat rock shaped into platform about
eight feet tquare and two In height. On one
emu OF this old slage, upon which only The last
act Is ever performed, there Is 9 very narrow
step, for only the exrcutloner and his help,
the jailer, use u. In the centre OF the platform
stood block, the old block mentioned above,
With atitlle bolt or hook In iroat Tor fastening
the neck securely. The unfortunate women
when confronting this scene prayed aloud and
cried hysterically. The usual prayers were
recled, and when concluded the jatier passed
to the executioner long instrument IN an
ancient looking scabbard OF leather covered
with steel aud brass pls.iDgs. The execu-
lionpr, though evidently g. young MAP,
sorrowful craft. He adroitly unclasped tne
heavy scabbsrd, drew forth
LARGE GLIsrENNG AXE,
with blade like colossal razor, and took up
bis position on the rear OF the platform. The
criminals eyes were bandsged with long
strips of linen, which left enough TO bind tho
head TO the block.
Rose Porro was arst conducted to the block,
and when the ja,ler was about to place the
linen over her eyes she staggered back and
made violent movement with her hands %
II che would burst her pinlons. But the chap
lain's voice calmed her, and according TO bis
sdmonilion abe repeated The divine prayer,
'.Into Thy hards, o Lord, commend my
epirit." and fell upon her knees. Margarite
('oraldi was removed to the entrance OF the
yard. and prevented from witnessing her ac.
complice's death. The prison bel! OF
clergy and nuns were praying tervent-
ly, and Rose Porro's white neck was
made fast TO the block and exposed to the
glittering axe Of the executioner. The ohlef
warden OF the castle, who may be called
sheriff, came near the platform In company
with Two medical men and the Sindsco. The
chief warden motioned to all present to pre-
serve strict sileDce, and then turning toward
the execulioner he raised bis right hand-the
signal for the fatal blow. The executioner,
whose mask had been staring welrdly at the
sheriff awaiting that signal, lifted his weapon
and stepped TO the lett side OF the prisoner.
He raised The axe about one loot from the
neck of Bose Porro by way OF taking aim,
and then swinging 1t above his head. he
brought the heavy blade down with all his
might, and
THE HEAD DROPPED OVER THE BLOCK.
The truIk rose nearly foot and a hall, az
II living, by the sudden spasmOdlc action OF
the severed nerves. A litter was Immediately
at hand, and The trunk and head OF what was
Rose Porro, the infamous baby farmer. were
removed, and Margarine Coraldl was led TO
the block. She prayed constantly, and did
not evlnce any great tear until her head was
forced on the fatal stand, when she uttered
brief, nervous scream. Her head was not
completely severed with the first blow. TIE
skin of the front OF lhe neck remained uncut,
and the body, springing back, exposed .
ghastly gap which made every spectator shud;
der, and caused the platform to be smeared
with blood. pail was thrown over the body
and it's head, and both were removed on
litter to await, like Porro's corpse, burial n
unconspcratad ground. The fulfilling OF the
exrcutiOner's contract waa to wipe and whee