The Pontypridd District Herald and Rhondda Valley, Llantrisant, Caerphilly, and Mountain Ash News. — 1893-08-05 (Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

DRATH.  At the Central Criminal Court, before Justine Wri,ght, Andrea Scotto di Carlo, an Italian seaman, 20 years of age, was indicted for the wilful murder of an unfortunate woman named ILIDB Thompson, at Rotherhithe. Mr. C. F. Gill and Mr. Horace Avory (instructed by Mr. Frayling) prosecuted on behalf of the Treasury; and the prisoner WWI defended by Mr. A. Hutton (instructed by the Italian Consul). On the night of the 24th ult, the woman Thompson was found in Silverlock-street, Rotherhithe, witk her throat out in a very shocking manner. A man was seen running away from the spot in the direction of the docks, and the prosecution sought to establish that that man was the prisoner, but the evidence was almost entirely of a circumstantial character. The prisoner was proved to have been in the ootnpany of the deceased on the night in question, and to have returned to his ship between I and 2 o'clock in the mm Mug. The next day the prisoner told the captain of the ship that he had had a row with a woman, and had used a razor, and he asked the captain to assist him in going to Sunderland to escape arrest. The captain did so, and at Sunderland prisoner was afterwards arrested hiding under some sails in another Italian ship. In Ulu course of the evidence for the prosecution, the woman McCarthy, who was in company with the deceased woman on the night in question, and who at the Police-court denied that the prisoner was the man who was in their company, notwith• standing that a number of witnesses swore the contrary, was put into the box, but asked no questions by the prosecution. In examination she adhered to her statement. Mr. Gill subsequently called the Italian interpreter, to whom prisoner made certain observations in the course of the proceedings before the magistrates, with the object of examining him with regard to those admissions; but Mr. Hutton submitted whether that could be done.—Mr. Jnetice Wright said Mr. Gill was legally entitled to give this evidence, but prisoner might have been under the impression that the interpreter was in the position of a Confidant between him and the authorities. Mr. Gill, in these circumstances, said he would not press the evidence; and his lordship, in concurring in this course, congratulated the learned counsel on having returned to one of the best traditions of the English Bar,—Mr. Hutton, in defence, urged that the evidence was not sufficient to establish the identity of the prisoner, and that if the jury did not take that view there was an entire absence of motive, and that the crime was one of manslaughter and not murder.—Mr. Justice Wright, in summing up the case, said he did not think the jury could consistently, either with oaths or their common-sense, say this was not • cue of wilful murder. The question was entirely one as to the identity of the prisoner--The jury, after half an hour's deliberation, found the prisoner guilty, but strongly recommended him to mercy on account of his previous good character, his youth, and the provocation he received owing to his having been robbed. —On being asked whether he had anything to say why sentence of death should not be passed, the prisoner said, "I did not murder that woman. It was the captain got me off to Sunderland."—Mr. Justice Wright then passed sentence of death in the usual form, and the prisoner was removed. Mr. F. Freke Palmer, the solicitor who acted on behalf of Andrea Sew ti di Carlo. the Italian sailor who has been condemned for the murder of Jane Thompson at Rotherhithe on June 25, has decided to draw up a petition to be presented to the Home Secretary.