The New York herald., 1879-08-01
FRANCISCO PORCELLOs STORY.

night tins battle Like q man. We are nAttns s@AA'S
trouble with him. ft
So said the good natured jailer OF the Tombs ush-
erng a reporter of the HERALD through the dreary
courtyard of the prison yesterday afternoon Inc
reporters errand to visit Francesca Porceiio'
that is true name OF the Italian who assassi-
mated Michael Bolender The murderer lay in cell NO.
on the ground floor. Before the open door stood
group prison officials. eagerly discussing his refusai
to drink and his recent attempt TO commit sui
eide, and among them on stool sat Keen eyeu
keeper, specially appointed to watch his movements
aud report the least change in his bodily condition.
On a straw mattress, III the padded CELL his hands
linked together and bound with the leather mun.
his fastened beneath the coverlet to the wood
work of the bed. lay Porcello. His coarse sailors
Shirt thrown open at the breast. showed the swollen
muscles OF his neck. His hair matted, his face
unshaven and under his brows were two grayish
blue eyes that shone with singular sofness when he
talked of his home in Italy and of his wife, But
whenever stranger entered the cell they cleaned
with sudden and quite irrational hatred and suspi-
cioD. That has been the trouble with the man from
the first. The the prison authorities have
tried to use him kindly the more he is convinced
they his enemies
BY MACHINERY
He had that morning been submitted to process
which absolutely necessary to keep him alive.
He had resoutey refused for three days to let meat
or drink pass his lips. He had entering
the prison to starye himself, and fulfilling his
oath. The priests visit on Wednesday had in
no way changed his mood. Soon after dawn. there
fore, two fellow prisoners introduced to his
cell, tho muff unlocked in their presence aud
the prisoners arms, weak and haccid, were
passed under theirs and the three brought
into the corridor walk up and down for hour.
Porcello could scarcely put one foot before the
other. His head joggled from side to side
"If we can make him walk briskly. said Warden
Finn all uiya m to
But the prisoner either could not would not. be-
stir himself. He looked helplessly. pitifully
At length the Warden thought it better to send
for Dr. William l.. Hardy. the city physician. who
promptly decided that strong measures must be
taken file of keepers entered Porceilo's cell.
pinoned him to the bed and brought stomach
Of milk and tour ounces of whiskey we're
administered to the patient who struggled with such
when the process over. made the walls echo with
his bellowing DR.. Hardy then said -"Henceforth.
my friend. advise you to eat your meals yolunta.
Porcello made reply. Probably he had not UNDER
stood. In any case he was thoroughly cowed. He
turned on his side and kept silence In this posture
the reporter found him few hours later. II am
friend. not enemy said the latter. in his own
language.
An.coi The thought OF friendship wss 50
far from the poor wretch that he was startled
his quietude. He looked up hurriedly and then
with gesture OF true Italian politeness moved his
legs far to the left as their cords would allow.
and made room for his visitor on the mattress.
Surprised by this unexpected touch of nature. the
Warden urged that the man be asked why he refused
to eat. Porcello hesiated then shrugged his shou-
ders in a peasants hopeless way. and murmured.
chow can be they have not poisoned the
life" he continued. 'and they may have it. am
ready to give it them now by my own hands. do
not cling to life; but they shall not poison me,
and look of strange horror passed his
features. ignorant and superstitious rather than
brutal.
.If we loosen his hands will he swear to make
further attempt on his life?' asked the Warden.
No. The prisoner would not swear. He was in
desperate circumstances. he said, and knew 1t. HS
had nothing to live for. Why should he not kill
himself if he wished?
Listen, Francesca" continued tho Warden, treat
ing the prisoner AS tendery as he would child
tnere is nobody in the prison but wishes you we'll
act like a coward. We will give you whatever food
you desire if you will brace up and be man..
1t useless. Porcelo first pleaded that he was.
sick and his stomach would hold nothing: then said
that everybody against him; that he had neither
friends nor money and that his wife being kept
from him; and then he turned his face to the wall
and was silent. SO the Warden left him alone with
the reporter. with whom he talked more freely.
THE MURDERER S STORY.
His name, he said Porccllo-not Portfolio
Francesca Porcello At home. in Italy, the girls
well called Little Pig" He thirty-eight years
old and had lived until six years ago, at little
was a fisherman. as all his people had been before
him. He always rather wild as a lad. but was
considered very skiltul his business. and
popular for his singing of sea songs. When the
grand people came down from Genoa during the
summer months to rusticate in the village he was
always their favorite boatman, and the fEe ladies'
loved to hear him sing. 80 fcscafor deH oada, and
all his store of serenades and barcarolles. Some
times he would drink little and quar-
rel with other fishermen the beach,
but he had never drawn knife upon anybody.
his wife, when he married her. was one of the pret-
tiest girls in the place. and the fashionable folks
would stop to admire the grace of her bearing or the
busy with his she with her pots and pipkins.
and kept house very happily. Poor? Aye, OF course
they were poor. and had much TO do to keep body
sn,lt thar. bnff thqyb budf Nh
and feast days, and occasionally flask OF wine IL
their visit to Genoa that ruined them. They
went day to dispose of their fish, and the
glitter of its shops its gardens and its palaces
too much for both of them. They determined to go
| to America and grow rich. SO he who had hitherto
been all his life known familiary as ''Cccco," as
sumed his full name of Francesca Porccllo, and set
| sail with his wife for New York.
''Did you have difficulty in finding work.? de-
mandcd the visitor
"Che" replied. Porcello with calm scorn. II was
always good workman. None OF my comrades had
keener eye stronger arm than j. found an
Italian aborcr whom had known at home, and he
said that for S5 he could get me place. had still
few savings and gladly paid the money. So
found my SELF installed at Slausens candy factory.
/ on Dey and Church streets. l worked under
(here he paused, and. seeing the old look of
| turn the reporter hastily nodded); yes. worked
! fve perhaps He never found fault with me.
never auarrelled with my fellow workmen. l
! never drunk lived quietly ut home with my wife.
rcgrettng always that had left Italy, and knowing
that | should never have money to return. The
neighbors liked We paid our way; gave
offence to nobody.
MApDESKD BY DESPAIR.
Then (his voice growing husky was suddenly
discharged. had committed no tault whatever, but
was thrown out into the streets. went to him.
and applied for work and as often as went 1t was
refused. scraped together all the money that was
left mel swear tell the truth. l gave him this
money to take back He accepted the money on
these terms, and when came to work said he knew
nothing about my money; and this (thc man said
with such concentration bitterness to lead the
hcarer to believe that he spoke truly or else had
been deceived by somebody more cunning than him
self, every cent had, was gone. / could ind no
other employment. My home broken up. My
wife, for whom l would have worked my fingers
to the bone. went out into the streets
! to beg. The police arrested her and she was
committed to prison. Then grew desperate.
| called upon that and said Give me back my
place He laughed and turned me from the door.
/ l went away with the devil in my soul. went home
and drank. l drunk next day-drunk all tho
day till sunset. The rest you know.
''Sang AS they carried me TO prison-did l? oh. l
was once good singer. saw nothing. heard moth.
Nm. l..H4 IL anl