The Sun. — 1869-03-25 (London, England)

THE PAPAL STATES.  (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) ROME, iNIARCH 19.  A horrible murder, which has caused a great sensation, occurred on Wednesday evening at the Piazza Fiammella, in Rome. Major Fiocchi, a field officer in the Pontifical Artillery, was returning from the barracks late in the evening, and on entering his house was stabbed to the heart on the staircase, before he had time to ring the bell or summon assistance. His servant, alarmed by his groans, arrived in time to find him alive, and at once summoned the surgeon and the parish priest. Major riccchi's state was found to be hopeless, but he retained his senses to the last, and received the last rites of the Church with great calmness and devotion. He had recognised his murderer, but refused to name him. "May God forgive him, as I do," he said, " and bring him to repentance." These were his last words, and no remonstrances could induce him to give a clue to the police. A terrible explanation of this reticence was found next day, when a person, to whom suspicion was directed by Fiocchi's servants, was arrested with a blood-stained knife still in his possession. He confessed the crime and its cause. He himself was a cmiale," or server of writs, and he states that he was employed to murder Fiocchi by the brother-in-law of the latter, an " avvoento," who had married his sister, and concerning whose marriage portion there lied been a family quarrel of long standing. Poor Fiocchi had no other enemy, and the murder was evidently not the work of a common robber or of the vengeance of any political sect. The advocate was immediately arrested, and both he and the actual perpetrator of the crime will be tried immediately. The funeral took place yesterday at St. Andrea della Valle, in presence of an immense concourse of persons, and with the .attendance of all the regiment of Artillery, as well as General Kanzler and his staff. The horse of the deceased was, according to Roman military usage, draped in black, and led behind the coffin.  The Pope has addressed a brief to the whole Christian world, conceding a plenary indulgence to all persons who shall assist at mass and receive Holy Communion, being penitent for and confessed of their sins, on the• 11th of April, in unison with his own jubilee, or fiftieth year mass, to be offered that day at St. Peter's. Thig brief is dated the 10th of March, and is given under the Ring of the Fisherman, a mark of great solemnity. _  One of the most singular incidents of the present Holy Week is the arrival of a large band of Hungarian gypsies, eighty in number, to see the Pope, and to witness the ceremonies. Their chiefs were received by his Holiness yesterday, and formed a most singular novelty in the ever•curions crowd of St. Peter's. Their wild but handsome features, black plaited tresses of hair, velvet dresses trimmed with Astrachan wool, long knives, and immense silver buttons and chains, were a striking contrast to the civilisation around them. No one knows why, or whence, or how they came ; but they are encamped outside the Porta Cavalleggeri, are visited by all Rome, and are perfectly well conducted. Some of the women are singularly beautiful after the true gipsy type—never seen save in the countries where the pure Romany caste is rigorously maintained, and where its blood is never mixed with that of the European races, as in Spain and Hungary. A gentleman, giving a small coin to one of the tribe, whom he mistook for a beggar, was nearly beaten by the men who witnessed the insult. The King of Italy has decided on offering for sale the beautiful Villa Ruffinella, near Trascati, and the Palazzo di Ferenzo, or old Tuscan Embassy, in Rome. The reason of this step is the pressing need of ready money felt by the sovereign, especially since his morganatic marriage with the daughter of a drummer, and the necessity of providing for his numerous children by her, whom. he has acknowledged and legitimatised. He is now placing large sums for this purpose in foreign securities.