The morning call., 1893-01-17
TWO ON ONE BEAM.
Double Execution in British
Columbia.
A Chinese and an Italian Pay the For
felt of Their Crimes at
NanaimO.
Special to THE MORNING CALL

NANAIMO, B. c., Jan. 16-A double exc
cution took place here this morning. the
criminals being a Chinaman named Sing
Kee and an Italian, Dominica Taragnello.
The execution, which took place in the jail
yard, was almost private. only officials and
press representatives and the jury being
present. Sing Kee passed fairly good
night sleeping at intervals. He was very
penitent, and listened attentiveIy to the
minister. A priest was with Taragnello
all night. He slept at intervals, but was
very restless and anxious. Neither partook
of breakfast. at o'clock sharp a loud
moaning announced to the spectators that
the procession had left the cell. and then
the condemned appeared. headed by the
Sheriff. The Chinaman walked firmly and
stood under the gallows quite calmly.
Taragnello had to be dragged along by two
officers. He refused to stand at first. He
moaned all the time. crying ont in Italian,
81 am not the man" Good by, II wish
was in hell instead of JAIL"
The exeeutionsr soon pinioned them and
fastened the moose and covering around the
head Taragnello was supported by an Off
Ger. Suddenly the drop loosened and the
bolt shot beneath. The Italian died almost
for over two minutes. He tried to loosen
his hands and legs, kicked about and nearly
loosened his legs. He uttered groan, and
then all was still. The bodies were kept
hanging several minutes aud then cut down
and the usual inquest WAS held. The au-
thorities were well satisfied with the man
ner in which the law was carried out. Both
were sentenced at the last assizes.
- ~ \
of Cavelero. another Italian, at Mortified.
The case was entirely one Of circumstantal
evidence. bnt strongly pointed out Tarag-
nello as the murderer. On December "a,
1891, Taragnello married Rena Corso and
lived at Wellington. working in the coal
mines. About june he went to Alaska, and
his wife went to live with Cavallero. the
victim. at Northfeld. TaragneIlo returned
unexpectedly on the evening of September
%. A man went 10 Cavelero's house, and
when Cayallero opened the door stabbed
him with a large knife. The murderer. sup
posed to be Taragnello, rushed into the bed
room. evidently seeking to wreak vengeance
on his wife. She was out, and be then
fed. Cayellere lived till morning and made
a statement that he thought the murderer
was Taragnello, but could not swear to it.
owing to the darkness and quekness of the
deed. Iaragnello was arrested two days
after on the railway train en- route for
Victoria. A witness identified him as hav-
ing been in the neighborheod the day of the
murder and proved his arrival from Alaska
just before. Witness heard him threaten
before going to Alaska TO stab any man who
was intimate with his wife. During the
sentence TaragDello showed brayado. A re-
prieye was refused by the Government. then
be changed and became quiet and paid
great attention to the priest. He protested
his innocence to the last.
Sing Kee committed the murder of an
other Chinaman at the cannery on Rivers
Inlet. He robbed a safe. and when the
Chlnaman came to get his money he shot
him. He was perfectly indifferent to his
fate all along. ate his food heartily and
seemed happy enough. He stated that his
foes had bribed witnesses to tell lies, but
that after death be would return to earth
and revenge himself.