Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-11-20
THE THREE ITALIANS HUNG.
Supported by Spiritual Consolation,
They Meet Fate with Comp afative
Indifference.

Supported by Spiritual Consolation,
They Meet Fate With Comparative
Indifference.
Giovanni Azari, Ignazio S1verti.
and Agostino Gerald, the convicted
murderers of Fillipo Caruso, were
simultaneously executed on the gall
lows in Chicago on Saturday. From
an early hour in the forenoon a con-
siderable crowd gathered in front OF
the Criminal Court building,
through which all had to pass who
wished to enter the Jail, but none were
admitted who could not show permit
from Sheriff Hanchett. A strong line
of policemen was formed around the
entrance steps 10 the building, and
promptly repressed any tendency OF
the Gro wd to break through and enter
the building. Numerous bailitfs were
also stationed in the Jail yard and In
the jail itself, to prevent any unseen
ly disorder or to help in the necessary
arrangements for the execution. The
doomed men, up to the minute they
were conducted to the scaffold, were
kept secluded in the Jail library,
where, after waking from their nights
sleep, apparently a sound one, they
were attended by Father Morrettl and
two other priests connected with the
Roman Catholic Church of that city,
who administered
RELIGIOUS CONSOLATION
and the rites OF the church TO them
up to the time of their last minute on
earth. Mass was celebrated IN the
library room at o'clock in the morn
ing, and the sacrament OF the holy
communion administered to the con-
demned men. No excessive emotion
was manifested by any one OF the
three, though they evidently felt, and
deeply, the earnestness OF death and
its terrors. The thoughtless and Jok-
ing remarks were no longer heard
coming from their lips. They seemed
resigned to their fate. With preJu-
dice common to ignorant minds, they
at first refused to don the new suits OF
clothes which had been made for them
by the orders of the sheriff, expressing
a wish to be executed and buried In
their old garments, but they were lin
ally persuaded to do so by the priests.
When told, a few minutes of 11:3O
o'clock, that they must bid their last
! fare wells, they promptly arose and
gave final leave taking to several OF
their countrymen and others who had
done them kindnesses, and expressed
their readiness to march TO the scat"
fold. They were first, however, be-
fore being led to the scatfold, taken
into Tailor Folz's private office, where
THE DEATH WARRANT,
q recapitulation of the court record OF
the proceedings in the case, duly at
tested and signed by John Stephens,
the clerk of the criminal court, was
read to them.
The doomed men were seated IN the
chairs. AS seen from the front, Sill
vestri was at the left, Azzari in the
center, and Gelardi at the right. OF
south side of the corridor. Sivestri's
face bore look of resignation. AZ
zari's expression was one OF despera
tion-he was typical brigand. Gel
ardi, the most intelligent and humane
of the three, showed more indications
of feeling, but he also illustrated to q
greater degree than the others, the
manly power of self control. The
spiritual advisers were constantly by
the side of their charges, speaking
words of consolation, placing the
crucifix to their lips, ard uervlng them
to the final ordeal. In few moments
| the victims arose and stood erect their
hands were menacled, the straps were
buckled, the shrowds were put on,
and then the white caps shut out the
world The nooses wers adjusted,
the signal given, and then
THE DROP.
Three bodies clad in white were
dangling and swaying. Gelardi never
moved a muscle. Sllvestri gave two
or three convulsive witches and was
still. Azzari, the head devil in the
devilish conspiracy, struggled for sew,
eral minutes, and the general impress
sion was that he was dying by strang>
uIation. DR.. BIuthardt and other
medical gentlemen present soon dis
PEELED this idea. Thew ,und on ex~
animation that the pec&s of all had
been broken by the fall. The knot
| that should have remained stationary
under Azzari's left ear slipped around
under the chin, and the observance of
this fact, in connection with the dying
mans contortions, gave color to the
report of strangulation. Azzari acs
tually suffered less than his compan-
ions. His pulse, after TIE fall, did not
exceed Ga, while GelardI's was up to
100.
sThe sheriff ordered the corridor
cleared of all but jurors and members
of the press, and the order was enforc-
ed. Then tho bodies were lowered,
one by one, Gilardi's being the first,
examined by the physicians and plac-
ed in the collins awaiting them in
front Of and beneath the scatfold. In
few minutes the lids were closed
forever, and, with their contents, they
were delivered to E. G.. Nell, presis
dent of the Italian Charitable Society,
under whose superintendent they
were taken to Calvary Cemetery for
interment.