The Sun. — 1862-12-30 (London, England)

EXECUTION IN MALTA.  MALTA, DEC. 24. As in most Roman Catholic countries, there exists in Malta a confraternity styled "La Congregazione dei Rosarianti," who in the case of a criminal having to undergo the punishment of death take a very prominent part in everything connected with the sentence. For several days prev.ous to an xecution the members of this society, arrayed in a white dress from their head to their heels, with two small holes for the eyes, visit the different towns and villages collecting funds, which are handed over to the priests to say masses for the soul of the criminal, and for his release from purgatory. About 40 hours before an execution the condemned is placed in a chapel expressly built for the purpose, with two Capuchin triests, who never quit him till the execution is over ; and the latter shows extraordinary zeal in bringing criminals to repentance, and pref aring them for their future state. To the credit of the Roman Catholic clergy, no p, rson, it is said, has been executed without having previously confessed. Previous to the criminal quitting the chapel the hangman declares that he has no bad feeling towards him, and that he merely obeys orders. He then kisses him. On the road to the gallows the Capuchin priests hold tablets on each side of the prisoner's face. On these tablets are images of our Saviour. Criminals are hung upon a gallows, and the hangman jumps on the shoulders of the criminal till he is dead. Six convicts drag the car, and it is understood they generally get six months remitted from their sentence for so doing.  From the time the criminal leaves the chapel the confraternity in a manner take charge of him. They form a procession in front, with a cross lighted on each side, and it is their especial duty to see the ceremony carried out with decorum, to render it solemn and impressive, so that it may have a beneficial effect on the spectators ; and in this they succeed, for the crowd at an execution in Malta is serious and reflecting, and impressed with a religious feeling of sorrow.  During the execution the confraternity pray in a devout posture. The body hangs two hours, after which the senior member of the confraternity claims as his especial right the privilege of untieing the rope from the corpse. The members receive the body, and carry it to the place of interment, where it is buried in a sack. All this is done by the confraternity themselves, without any other assistance, and thcugh the duties are so disagreeable, it is considered a very high honour even by the highest classes to belong to the order.  The hangman's bituation is anything but coveted. He receives about £4O per annum, and a trifling gratuity for every execution.  In July last a maid servant, Catarina Bary, was found murdered, and the house, which was next door to the officers' quarters, robbed. Ihe police have shown great judgment and sagacity in discovering the murderers and burglars, and last week Giuseppe Attord, coachman, and Giuseppe Chetcute, fruit seller, were tried and condemned, principally on the evidence of a confederate who turned Queen's evidence. The police feretted out some 80 wit • nesses in support of the charge, the jury unanimously found them guilty, and on the morning of the 22d, at 8 a.m., the sentence was carried into execution, and the two prisoners were hanged from one gallows at the same time. They entered the chapel on Saturday at 3 p.m., from which hour they may be said to have been dead to the world. The honour, for such it is considered, of untieing them from the gallows fell to the lot of two of the confraternity, one of whom is said to be Count Prezioso. The members had been actively collecting funds for some days previous, and re' turned to town shortly after twelve o'clock of the day of the execution, after their arduous, unpleasant, and fatiguing duty,  The execution has cast quite a gloom over the town. The crowd felt it deeply. The prisoners acknowledg their guilt, said they had been the victims of gambling, and persuaded their countrymen to avoid gambling.  A