The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-08-09


ment is inflicted in Italy; and if any |
man ever deserved the benefit of exten
uating circumstances, Misdea did. But |
he was soldier, and military laws are
more severe than civil law. Misdea's
history and crime were worthy of
scientific study, however, and more
good to society might have been gained
by keeping him under observation than
by shooting him in the back.
Misdea was young Calabrese, and
was serving his soldier years when he
committed the crime for which his life
has been taken. He was so particularly
mild and gentle in his speech and man
ners that his fellow-solders looked upon
him almost as an imbecile and frequent
ly laughed at him accordingly, without,
however, causing frown to fur
row his brow, or even momentary
flash of anf er to light in his eyes. He
had almost completed his soldier years
without any complaint whatever being
brought against him, either by his
superlors or his companions. Yet this
man suddenly awoke one night with a
terrible desire to kill his sleeping COM
panions, and then. and there, in the
darkness of the night, he fell indls.
criminately upon his companions,
striking right and left, with the fury of
mailman. The terror and confusion
that ensued can be imagined. No one
saw or knew whence the fatal blows
came till light was procured, when
Misdea was seen frantically rushing
about, with his eyes out of their sockets,
and his hands red with blood. He had
killed eight of his companions before
he could be secured.
The following morning all Italy
clamored for Misdea's blood. He had,
however, to be tried, and tried by court
martial. The highest and greatest In
Naples sought permission to be present
at the trial, and it was with the utmost
difficulty that tickets could be procured.
Everyone expected to see repulsive-
looking, gigantic brigand kind of fellow
in Misdea; instead of which they saw
dark, handsome, spare young boy,
with soft, gentle expression on his
mouth, and bright, lustrous eyes,
Drumming over with mirth. He wore
his uniform, also, quite elegantly and
daintily, and smile shone over his
whole face. No murderer 5ver looked
less a murderer. When his counsels or
the magistrates spoke to him he only
smiled. He smiled also when the wit
nesses bore witness against him. MIS-
dea's smile, in fact, soon became a
subject of discussion both in converse
tion and in the press. Was it imbecil-
ity or was it dashp Once, and once
only, did the smile disappear, when he
was asked why he committed the afro
clous crime. Then his lips compressed
and his brow knit and his eyes shot
: lightning, and he hissed out these
words: ''To see if they had the cour-
, age of Calabrese-those Piedmon-
tesel"
All Calabrese hate Pied montese, you
must know. But was that hatred suf-
! iicient to cause such a crimep No.
Four doctors proved that Misdea was
subject to epileptic fits, during which
he was not responsible for his own &C.
tions. Such a man should never be
left unguarded or by himself; but he
could not be punished by death for a
crime from which he would be the first
to shrink when in his right senses.
Nevertheless the court sentenced him
to death-to be shot in the back, "the
most cruel death that could be inflicted
on him." the president of the court
told him, when delivering the sentence
his counsel appealed against the sen,
tence, but to no purpose; the doctors
published letters in the papers, pleading
for mercy, but in vain; the king, who
pardons every crime, even when direct.
ed against himself, was appealed TO-
but in vain. Even the archbishop Of
Naples begged for mercy, but in vain,
When the Chaplain De Luca brought
the tidings of the cardinals defeat
Misdea, and all the soldiers and guar
dians present, knelt to hear the mes
sage. The cardinals appeal to the king
made wonderful impression here, and
the walls were for several days placard.
ed with, "V. G. S. Via Guglielmo San.
) felice." Misdea's sentence was also
placarded ON the walls, and on the for
tifications, as also in all the barracks Of
the town, and throughout the country.
Up to the last hour almost Misdea con-
tinued to believe that the king would
pardon him. "IIe pardoned Passanan-
to-" he kept on saying, Passanante,
you know was the man who attempted
to kill the king six years ago. Up to
the last also he swore to the chaplain
he did not know what he did on the
night of the crime; that he must have
been drunk, but that, anyway, he re-
pented of what he had so involuntarily
done. The Chaplain, De Luca, re-
manned with Misdea from the moment
the sentence was pronounced to the last.
Misdea, like most Italians, had an
image of the Virgin Mary round his
neck, and he kissed this incessantly.
On the evening before his death he ate
macaroni and fried fish. The execution
was fixed for 4. 30 O'Clock in the morn
ing. Misdea left prison at 2.30 o'clock
in a car drawn by four horses, accom-
panied by carbineers on horseback and
a company of foot soldiers. The chap
lain and six soldiers sat with him in
the car.
Misdea smoked all the way. He lis
tened to the chaplain, however, with
r.rnnt ,.nnnnnt rhnr nr.rInnd nt thn