The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1874-12-18


Accordingly. the assassins were admitted by |
Beatrice, and One-third of the blood money |
paid them in advance. The daughter admin |
istered an opiate to her father, and while he |
was sleeping under its influence the braves
were introduced into the chamber. Again
the two women and the lover awaited to hear
of the death of him who opposed their happi-
ness. Again, they were disappointed The
two asSasSins returned in haste declaring that
they could not kill the old man who slept
so peacefully and looked so venerable and
helpless. At this Beatrice started toward
them in o rage. Vile braggarts," she ex-
claimed, lis this the way you rob the people
of their money? Since your cowardice will
have it so, l myself will kill my father"
Strengthened by the girls determination, the
men returned, and completed the murder
The body was thrown from the window into
the garden beneath, but in its fall was caught
by the limbs of a tree, and there hung sus-
pended until late the next morning. 1t was
given out that the old man had fallen acct
cidentally. and had been killed by the limbs
| entering his body.
History leaves it doubtful as to the state of
intercourse between the Count and Beatrice.
| Some authorities say that she was forced to
| submit to his incetuous embrace while 9TH
| erS say that the murder intervened before his
design was consumated. There appears to be
| no doubt, however, that he entertained pas
sion for her and made unholy advances to
/ her.
1t seems that no suspicion of foul play was
| aroused until the conduct of the assassins gave
occasion for it. They received large reward
for their work, and repaired to Naples to en-
joy it. There imprudent conduct excited
suspicion, and inquiries were made in the vii
lage near which the castle was situated. A
washer-woman told a curious story about
some bloody Sheets and other evidence was
gathered. The two bravos were arrested and
put to the torture. One of them confessed
everything. The Cenci family were arrested
and imprisoned i'll Rome. Guido was warned
in time, and made his escape. 1t is related
that he cut off his hair, begrimmed his face,
and acted the part OF a charcoal burner; He
went about the streets selling. In this dis
guise, with his mouth stuffed with bread and
his hands filled with onions, he passed the
guards who were in search of him, and made
his way to the frontier.
While in prison Beatrice developed those
!. wonderful traits of character that have made
her famous All the other members of the
family, guilty and innocent, confessed when
put to the torture. Beatrice alone maintained
, her innocence. Again the torture ap-
piled, but her fortitude was mistaken. Her
wonderful beauty is said to have moved the
heart of the executioner, and her heroism
aroused the sympathy of all Rome. The
feelings and was removed and another sub
stituted But all in vain. The girl continued
: to cry: II am innocent, l am innocent"
Mario, the bravo who had confessed, was in
troduced into her presence in order that his
: testimony might be confirmed the law re-
quiring that a confession obtained by torture
/
cused in order to make it available. When
e confronted by her he was SO daZzled by her
/ beauty and daunted by her courage that he re-
voked all he had said, and rather than Grim
e mate her, he expired on the rack.
fl Meantime, public interest in the case became
intense. The high rank of the family, the
e Odious reputation of the deceased, and, more
than ALL the beauty and fortitude of Beatrice
) combined to increase this feeling. Farinaccio
the most eminent advocate in Rome yolun
i teered to defend the accused. It is said that
the confession of Beatrice was obtained
5 through his influence with her, and that he
t advised her to make confession and rely upon
8 Justifylng the act Other accounts say that ii
f was obtained by bringing all the other members
f OF the family into the room of torture witt
: her. when her eldest brother exhorted her tt
confess, whereupon her fortitude gave way
I house, wish for its dishonor. 1t is your Will
: then be it So
:, Notwithstanding the efforts of renowned
;. counsel, the sentence of death was passed upon
$ the two sons. Lady Lucrezia and Beatrice
e The Pope afterward reprieved the youngest
# son. The people If the city greatly ex
n cited when the Judgment of the court was
e made known, and many petitions for a re
d hearing of the case were presented to the Pope
= In consideration of these petitions, he ordered
that the execution be stayed for twenty on,
V days. but during this interval all event oc
a CURED which precipitated the fate of this un
d fortunate family. A young noblenan of thu
t st. Croee family murdered his mother in
o | most shocking way, and fed 1t is said tina
l. old Count Cenci had advised that crime. Tht
o rope received the intelligence OF this murde
It with the most impetuous Indignation. De
i claring that parricide was becoming epi
Is deInic in his states he refused all further in
e tercession behalf of the Cenc family. Th
& immediate execution of their.sentence was or
E. dered. At II o'clock in the night, it was an
r nounced to them that they must die the mex
3 morning. They spent the balance of tile nigh
Is in dress-making.
e Upon receiving the announcement of he
doom Beatrice ordered the costume and head
d dress in which she is represented in the famou
;. painting by Guido Reni. All that night tn
b carriages of the nobility were driving rapid,
II about the city, the occupants eager to Obtain
n n pardon. But all in vain. The next morn
IS ing the two women and the elder son were let
8 to execution. The eterrible scene witnesses
g by an immense concourse of people. Bea
q trice's firmness was unshaken to the last
If in language eloquent that the bystander
l. were melted to tears. A moment later the ex
?. Ecutioner held something out in his hand
z and cried i'll loud voice: This is the heat
st of Beatrice Cenci, Roman maiden
It The suburban villa was granted to the car
l. dinal nephew, on condition of making it
is garden in which the Roman public might b
s. free to enjoy itself forever. This condition
II was faithfully kept, and, according to MI
- HiAard, the Villa Borghese is the most perfec
v model of the beauty and magnifcence c
a which the Italian garden is susceptible
y was kept open to the public from the begin
= ming of the seventeenth century till 184S
Is since which time the gates have been closed.
e BOB GIBBONS ..BLIND"
e Judge servis, the Associate Justice of tn
m - -