The Sun. — 1857-03-25 (London, England)

THE EXECUTION OF 3L4TRACCIA.  Matraccia, the Italian who, as reported in the essengc., was some short time back condemned to death by the Court of Assizes of Aix for a series of extraordinary murders at Marseilles, was executed in the latter city on Saturday morning. AA four o'clock he was awakened by the chaplain and director of the prison, and told that the petition for a commutation of punishment, which be had sent to the Emperor, was rejected, and that he was about to be executed. He received the announcement with the greatest calmness, and getting up, seated himself on the side of the bed, and took some coffee and smoked several cigars. At six o'clock he attended •inacs, and during the service he appeared very devout. The mass was followed by a sermon, which seemed to make a great impression on him. The service was attended by all the prisoners. When it was concluded, Matraccia was taken back to his cell, and supplied with breakfast. Shortly before seven the clerk of the Court of Assizes read to him the text of his condemnation, the chaplain translating it into Italian. Ile listened to the reading and translation with great resig‘nation, and when they were concluded embraced the clerk and all the persons present, most of whom were so affected that they shed tears. Shortly after, the executioners of Aix and Nimes, accompanied by an assistant, arrived, and proceeded to pinion the condemned. He was then freed from the irons on his legs, mid he asked if he could not be allowed to walk to the scaffold, but was told that he must be conveyed in a cellular van. lie then begged, as a special favour, that ho night be accompanied by ens of his friends, a countryman, who had been with him all the morning, and that his parrot, which was in a cage in his cell, might be taken with him to the scaffold. Both these requests were granted, and be was placed in a van, the chaplain being in attendance on him. Arrived at the scaffold, which was erected in the place St. Michael, and which was surrounded by an immense crowd, consisting of at least 30,000 persons, the vehicle stopped, and the cage containing the p...rrot was, to the surprise of the spectators, first placed on the scaffold ; the criminal, his friend, and the chaplain tben alighted from the van. Matraccia cast a glance at the guillotine, and embraced several persons who were present. Then supported by his friend and the chaplain, he ascended the steps of the scaffold, and in doing so it was observed that lie slightly trembled. When he reached the platform he kissed with great fervour the crucifix which the chaplain presented ; then he embraced the chaplain and his friend and then, turning to the parrot, ho said in Italian, " Your master is about to die, and he embraces you for the last time !" Afterwards he advanced towards the front of the scaffold, and cried to the people, " I demand pardon of the inhabitants of Marseilles for the scandal I have oceasione.l! Pray for me, for in a few minutes I blind pray fir you !" He was then seized by the executioner', and in a few seconds all was over.  A letter from Smyrna gives a few details concerning the loss of the Roscoe, already known by telegraph. An Austrian steamer having arrived with intelligence that a vefsrl, laden with coal,-was on fire near Ghediz, the admiral dispatched the Brandon, steamer, to her assistance. She proved to be the English brig Roscoe, which was on shore, and burning furiously in consequence of the inflammable nature of the cargo, and the wino blowlug fresh at the time. The crew, nineteen in number, had got into three boats, and been able to save some of their property. Just after the arrival of the steamer, the trig, having burned to the water's edge, filled and went down. The crew were afterwards taken on board the Brandon and conveyed to Smyrna.