The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-07-02
THE GALLONS In ITALY.
A COMMENTARY ON TIVE hBoBTsH-
MEkT OF ClPIThL PUNISHMENT.
The Krtfe's Deadly Work at Tr.jep's Forum
"A Murderer DefviuR the Roman Guards
A Terrtbte veudetts-Prerspt Action.


"A Tcrribte vcusesss-Pre-pt Action.
Correspondence Of ne london Times.
ROME, June 13.-The commission occu-
pied I'm revising the italian penal code have
unanimously decided ia favor Of the abolition
said 20 have been abolished for some time.
However beinous the crime NAV be, or even "
murders his soul, Italian juries generally con-
trive to accompany their verdict with the to
evitsble "extenuatine circumstances" which
save the offender from the highest penalty OF
law. There are from tune to time rare instances
oI unauallnea verd'ets being returneai ~
Filomens Ricoi-" Ia bella Rrsnarola"-wss con-
demned to death; but against him the people
tUn either bore down what sentimental feeling
OF pity the Jurymen may have entertained
minds the usual foar Of vindictivo daegers.
But whee 1 sent you the account OF
opsrs conssms,,,an ems aa the her ppob-
ability Of the sentence being COMMITTED bv the
Judges Of the Court Of Cessation, and so 1t has
been There are certainly instances Of criminals
who are led out to sufef upon the scanold, as In
the case Of two desperate rufiiaDs who were ex-
ecuted a short time back, nut these examples
are very few aud far between. The present Min
lister OF Grace and Justice, Signor Mancini. has
ton Of capital punishment. TO bring about this
reform In the penal code has been one OF the
objects Of his lie. Hts most powerful speeches
have been made to further this end. On accept
Ing the portfolio he now holds, he made the alb
clifton OF capital punishment a positive condi-
appointed under his administrations commits
sion composed OF leading Italian jursts 81 the
day-have seconded his desire without dissen-
tient voice, aud Il seems probable that their re-
commentator may receive parliamentary and
royal sanction.
AS II oy way of commentary on their report,
two murder have In one week, and simultan-
eously with the recommendation to mercy given
by the commission. been perpetrated within the
one small locality surrounding Trajan's Forum.
Giovanni SOtiietti, a dOufkeeper in the Ministry
of War, had invested his savings In taking a
I'm 4 IQuor kaut ltatrO Habplli. In
the Piayza Colonna Trajans. The week before
last dtmcultes arose between the partners;
money was required to meet some joint obitga-
tion, and Rabelli either refused or was unable
TO provide his quota High words ensued, both
strong language, and Rsbelli went on enrased.
For some days they did not meet. On sunday,
the 4th inst. at little after midnight. Rabell.
returned to the house In the Pazza della Pilot Il
where Sonetti lived. knocked. aud the door was
opened by the man himself. few words
passed on the difference between them, and then
Rsbeili, suddenly drawing out a long kitchen
knife with which he had come provided, rush
upon his partner and. stabbng him violently In
three places-the neck, the arm, and the
left side-st etched him upon the ground.
At the injured mans cries mis- vile
and two little boys spran0 from their beds and
ran into the room. screaming loudly for help,
and In another moment Rabelli had lain the
woman beside her husband, with fearful cash
In the stomach. BY this time the nelghbors
were aroused, and as Rabelh heard people com
log up the stairs, he brsndished his bloody knife
aud dashed down through them into the street.
followed by Two soldiers. who were speedily
faced them with his weapon, but quickly turned
again, and fed at the top OF his speed toward
the T1ber, crying out that he would throw hint
pension bridge, close to the little Temple of
Vesta, some police succeeded In stopping him,
and he fell to the ground, overcome with ex-
citement, and yelling ike a wild beast In the
mean time those VINO made their way into the
house found the two poor children vainly
deavoring to help their parents-the father In
the asooies of death, ana the mother mortaliy
wounded.
A few DAYS afterward the Piazza Trajana was
again the scene of an almost parallel case. A
few doors from tue shop kept by ltabelli and his
unfortunate victim, Sofiietti, Ii the forge of n
bi cksmitn named IppoIito he haldi For some
time the man had noticed that things dsap-
finalng his door always locked as lie left 1t, and
showing no indications OF It's having been tam
thief must make bis way into tho forge through
an interior window. Some police we're sat to
rect, and lad OF IL the son of certain Orsste
di Batttsti, who lived nea- by, having been scene
to enter through the window, WIS taken IN ~
granite. As the father heard OF
bis sons arrest he determined upon his
VENDETTA" The next evening-Friday last
he walked quietly up TO Reibaldi who
was standing at the door Of his fOrse. smok-
ing his pipe after his days work, and, In fun
SIGHT Of the people passing by, Drew a long
Knife from within his sleeve and buried II up TO
the handle In heibalul's breast, and then. bend
ns over him as he fell, dealt MIN rapidly Ave
or SIX other blows, rendering him corpse be-
fore he could either CRY out or utter word.
I he thing was the work OF an ms .ant, but Il
n
Sicurezza was passing close by. and, hearing
the cries of the spectators. rushed up. The
moment ID BIttisu saw tnem, maddened with
Jury as he was, he sprang at the two nearest,
plunged his knife In the throat OF one of them,
killing him on the spot, ana dished On up the
rise OF the Via Magnanapon. the Guardie, with
their dirss drawn. and the people after htm.
Brandishing his knife he did against
any VINO attempted to get near hun, Il
was time for mild messur,s. One OF the
Guardie Drew his revolver with his left hand,
and. having fred three shots which missed him,
hit him IN the side with the fourth. Then he
turned and stood at bay, but, in face Of the
baked dirks of the Guardie, and the cries Of the
people, "Give II him! Give IL hin! Down witn
the assassin - he surrendered, and was taken
OF to the Hospital Of the COnsOiazlone In a cab,
Others following with the bodies Of his Two
victims. The poor Guardia has been buried
with almost military nunOrs. The funeral
march was PLAYED by tue band OF the National
Guard, and the body was followed by several
companies ~ the Guardic VI Pubblica SicurezZa,
the Municipal Guard, the Prison Guard. the
ROYAL Carr biDesrs, and large number OF polce
oiiicials. healed by SlRnor Hulls. tho QuesInr of