The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-07-01
MEROLO WILL DIE
THIS MORNING
Is Entirely Resigned and VIII Go Bravely
to His Fate.
HE SPENDS HIS TIME IN PRAYER
This Morning His Confession Will Be
Heard Again and Mass Will Be
Celebrated in His Ccll..Wants to
BE Buried with His Rosary About
His Neck..His Version Of the
Shnntiuu
Shooting.

Crescenzo Merolo will this morning
with his life pay his penalty to the law
for the murder of Emanuel Loro at Old
Forge on Feb. IL, 1894. He will be
hanged in the county Jail about 10
O'Clock in the presence of not more than
fifty persons. Sheriff Clemons has been
besieGed for the last week by those who
want to see the execution, but they
have been uniformly refused the COW
eted pasteboard that would admit them
within the portals OF the Jail this morn
ing. The door will be closed at 3 o'clock
and thereafter no one will be admitted
Sheriff Clemons has refused to state at
what hour the execution will take place
but it will probably be about ~
O'Clock.
Merolo knows nothing of Mondays
attempt to secure a respite for him. He
is cool and collected and entirely re-
signed to die. During good portion of
yesterday two priests, Rev. Dominic
Peruzzi. of Hazleton and Rev. Dominic
Landro We're with him and he repeated
ly assured them that he had no fear to
die and would go to the scaffold without
n fear. His confession was heard yes
the priests were not with him the con-
demned man spent his time in prayer
and meditation. His spiritual advisers
say that he has strong religious convic-
tions and a firm belief in the efficacy of
prayer. For a week he has been alb
staining and has used food very spar
ingly.
ARRANGEMENTS FOR TODAY.
From midnight he will abstain from
eating or drinking anything. At $50
this morning Rev. Father LandrO will
read mass in a chapel at st. Joseph's
Founding home and during the half
hour it will last Merolo will be offering
up his prayers in his CELL At 7.SO the
priests will be at the jail and Merolo's
confession will be heard again. Mass
will then be celebrated In his cell and
he will receive holy communion. Yes
terday morning. at the request of Me-
rolo, Father Landro offered up a mass
for the repose of the soul Of the mur-
dered Loro.
In talking with the condemned man
yesterday afternoon Father Peruzzi
was moved to tears and Merolo chided
him gently and told him not to cry for
him; that he was willing to die and
atone for his offense against the law.
He would willingly give his last drop
of blood to bring Loro back to life. but
that being an impossibility he had no
word Of complaint against the law that
requires his life for his transgression.
During conversations with the clergy
men, Merolo made the following state.
ment concerning the shooting, which
was related to a Tribune reporter yes
terday by Father Peruzzi:
AIEROLO'S VERSION OF 1T.
1T had formed no intention Of killing
I.oro, but my heart was bad when l
met him and the deed was done. had
some trouble with Loro a week or SO
before and my friends told me that
he was going to kill me and they urged
me to be prepared for him and not allow
him to get any advantage over me.
On the Sunday of the shooting l was
drunk when l met him. had just been
warned about him and what he would
do to me and the sight of him inflamed
me. We spoke harshly and l drew
my revolver and fired the three shots
that killed him. Five minutes later