The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-10-24
The Tyra ei sxinliml,

I'aly, dt all cdiIy HOu Ill tHc
morning on the 18th of
May, 1901. All pedestrians fed as if dis
mayed at his approach, and well they
might, for he was no other than Sigis-
mondo-P o-Pandolfo-Malatesta, the autOcrat
of Rimini, and one of the worst tyrants
of his terrible period.
Malat sta was followed by an escort of
archers, and as he turned around cor
ner and directed his steps towards the
Courthouse, an arrow, shot by an un-
known hand, fell at his feet. Malatesta
picked it up with scornful smile. A
parchment slip was fastened to the point
of the arrow. On this slip the following
terrible words were inscribed:
"Accursed Malatest,, thy end is draw
ing nigh. 1t will be both horrible and ig-
nominious."
As Malatesta read these words he
turned slightly pale. But he quickly re-
covered his equanamity. Casting a side
long glance at the house from which the
arrow seemed to have come, he muttered,
with terrible smile:
"That house shall be torn down to-day,
and on its site | will construct gallery
of paintings and statuary. 1t shall be a
noble ediice, and t will add to my fame
as one of the best patrons of the fine arts.
As for the inmates of the house--whv,
they shall he attended to this very morn
ing"
The procession entered the courthouse,
where Malateota Immediately descended
to the gloomy basement of the building.
In this basement were located the dun
geons where the prisoners of the state
were confined; also the torture chamber
with all its dreadful paraphcrnaIia.
During the rel gn of the infamous NAL
atesta these dungeons were always filled
with the victims of the tyrant's viadict-
iveness, and the torture chamber resound-
ed day after day with tie heart-rending
screams and profound groans of the un-
fortunate persons whom Malatesta's S
hangman and his assistants tormented.
On the morning of the 9th of May, 1901,
the torture-chamber was TO he the scene
of truly revolving spectacle. When
Malatesta entered the apartment, over
which two torches cast their lurid light,
he took his seat upon stone estrade. A
secretary took his seat at his feet.
"Have the prisoners brought in" Or
dered Malatesta.
The secretary rang a bell. A minute
later side door opened. The sound Of
clanking chains were heard. AT last a
mournful procession, headed by the hang
man and his assistants, entered They
were ten heavily-ironed prisoners. TAey
were only half-cIad in the coarscst hem
pen garments. They looked pale and
emaciated Their eyes were hardly able
to bear tie glare of the tOrchights.
"Call their names" said Malatesta.
The secretary read off the following
names:
Palvicino Aeisiello, Enrico Aesiello,
Michaele Aesielo, Guglicmo Pallavici-
nj, Alfonso StrAyera, Manfredo Biffonini,
Andre Borania, Marco Tristany, Antonio
Montani.
As soon rs the name Of prisoner was
read he was rudeiy pushed one side
by the executioner. When the reading
of the names had been completed, the
secretary said:
"They are all here, Principe
Malatesta rose to his feet, and said, in
terrible voice:
"You are all accused of being traitors
TO the state of Riminiw
ave are not" firmly replied the priso-
ners. "We have tried to save the Rcpub-
lie of Rimili from your traitorous ma
chin9tions, Pandolfo Malatcstam
'Ha! ha! ha" Laughed the tvrant.
"Who elected you Prince of Rimini%
cried the elder Aesiello, venerable man
of seventy.
"No onc!7 said another prisoner. ale
is usurper and a tyrant."
Malatcs fairly foamed with rage
"Maledetti!' he rOared.
"You arc accused by everybody in
this city except by your minions and
henchmen."
"You vii speedily die the death of a
dog" gravely said old Aesiello
"But first you shall die; and the ravens
and hawks shall eat your rotting car
casses, while |, after my death, shall be
remembered as the benefactor of Rimini
as he who adorned his city with the
most beautiful edifices and monuments"
"History does not lie!" said Aesiello,
solemnly.
"a truce to ali this nonsensew shouted
Malatesta. "Executioner, perform your
putty" The scene that ensued beggars de-
seription. For three solid hours the un-
fortunate prisoners were tormented with
all the devilish ingenuity Characteristic of
the cruel Italian torturcs Of the Middle
Ages. The object of this torturing was
to wrest from the sufferers the confession
that they were traitors in the State of
Rimini. Eight of the prisoners remained
firm Two Of them, unable to bear the
dreadful agony, said all that Malatesta
wanted. He was delighted.
"Carl Borani and Antonio Montani;"
he said, "are shrewd." They will get off
with simple decapitation. As for the rest
OF you, this fate is in store for you-you
shall be knocked down with hammer,
and then your hearts shall be cut out by
the executioner. As for you, old Aesiello,
| believe pincing you prior to death with
red hot forceps will do you good. You