The Hillsborough recorder., 1874-04-01
BEATRICE cENUI.
The Story Of a We,a-kao,on Face

In the picture gallery Of the Barberins
Palace. at Rome. hangs the portrait of
young Roman girl, painted by Guido. Il
ss beautiful but melancholy face, whose
soft look Of sweet, sorrvwful eyes aud
touch Of prison paleness, reproduced ia
chrome, are so frequently seen in psrloI
and shop windows. For all the famou,
paintings in Rome, none is better known
Or more copied than this. 1T derives pc
culiar interest from the history Of her
whose features il Is raid to represent.
Francesca Cenci, the head Of one Of the
oldest and wealthiest families Of Rome.
WASH man Of violent temper, and, in bis
household. intolerably cruel. Two of his
SONS we're assassinated at bis insHgation.
Az length. unable longer % endure his
cruelties and tyranny his family appealed
to the Pope, Clenlent. VIII. for protect
ion. the petition was miscarried, aud re-
nlain,sd of course, unanswered.
Oh the night Of the l5th of September,
1893, Frnncesco was murdered. lie was
found with an enormous nail driven into
each Of his cyes--a mode Of assassination
which indicated chat at least two persons
we're engaged in the work. one Of them
was finally captured, aud upon examina-
lion. charged the wife, . son, and the
daughter. Beatrice, with having prompted
the deed. They bad. he testified, put the
victim to sleep by administering narcotic
draugLt. and then bad introduced himself
aud bis accomplice irto Francesco's cham-
Der. They we're arrested and imprisoned
in the Castle Of 81. Angelo. where they
we're from time to time. as was the practice
during the middle ayes. subjected 10 the
tortures Of the rack 70 force them TO con-
fcs the crime. As was frequently the
case with the accused, whether guilty or
not. preferring death to tiis lingering ag-
ony. the mother and brother made soufes-
sion. But for nearly year Beatrice con-
tinued 6rm in her declarations Of inno-
cence. At last new method Of torture
was devised. TO inflict which would make
II necessary 20 cut of her hair. which is
described rs being the most silken, the
longest, and the most marvellous in color
ever seen.' At this she turned pale.
Touch no: my head she cried. let
me die without mutilation. And to save
her tresses she, too. yielded. 1@..
Her beauty, the belief in her innocence,
the courage she had shown. bad won the
sympathy and compassion Of the whole Rc-
man popnlace. aud the Pope was besieged
with petitions to grant her pardon. This
be was nearly persuaded to do, when ut
tie trial. her cause was most eloquently
pleaded by the counsel appointed for the
defense. and il vas shown how probably a
man 80 generally disliked aud dreaded as
Francesca should have had enemies outside
his own household to plot against his life.
Other murders Of similar character occur
ring about this time, induced the Pope to
refuse pardon. and IL is thought that his
decision wasiufuenced BY the considerations
that in the event Of their condemnation
the property Of the prisoners would come
into the possession Of the church. They
we're. therefore. publicly executed on the
piazza Of the bridge Of 81. Angelo, Sep
tember 9th, 1899. All the windows.
roofs and balconies 10 the vicinity were
flled with people to witness the scene, 50
great was the interest felt for the beauti-
ful and youeg heroine. - Fr,N FrrEy
The portrait BY Guido is said 10 have
been painted just before her execution,
and during her confinement Ia prison. Her
story has furnished food for many 70
nance, and has often been represented up
on the stage. She is still generally sup
pisod 70 have been innocent Of connection
with the crime. and for every one recalling
this passage Of history, the picture has
strange fascination.