British Miner and General Newsman : — 1863-01-03 (London, England)

EXECUTION AT WINCHESTER.  FERDINAND° FETREANI, an Austrian sailor, Was executed on Tuesday morning at Winchester for the barbarous murder of the captain, the captain's Wife, and the first mate of a British ship named the Winthrop, on the 4th of October last. On the ship putting into Rib Grande, Petreani was given into the custody of the authorities, au.d by them sent to England, were the matter was investigated by the Southampton magistrate and the miscreant fully committed on the charge of triple murder. At the trial, which took place at the Winchester assizes on the 10th inst., before Mr. Justice Byles, the prisoner said, through an interpreter, that, "lie was forced to do it," but after a lengthened investil gation the jury convicted the murderer, and he was sentenced to death without hope of mercy. A point. of law having, however, been raised at the trial as to whethet the ship on board which the murder was committed 'WM or was hot a British ship as proved by the register, the learned judge, after due deliberation, decided that it wall not a point for the court for the consideration of crown cases reserved, and the law was therefore left to take its course. Since his condemnation Petreani has behaved himself with calmness and propriety, never having entertained any hope that his life would be spared. The by. Father Pacificos, of the order of Capuchins, visited him on Saturday, the 13th inst.' and since then been in daily attendance upon him. On Monday he visited the prisoner at the usual hour, and at his request remained with hitit throughout the night, which was passed in constant prayer. 'What statement he made to the rev father is of course sebret ; but through Dr. Saunders, one of the regimental surgeons in Winchester garrison, and who is an accomplished Italian scholar, it has been learnt that the criminal full§ acknowledge his guilt, but attributed the commission of his crime to the woman, who desired to cohabit with him, and constantly importuned him. Her desires, however, he rejected; and on account of that she was always setting the captain and the first mate against him, causing him constant annoyance and illtreatment. He averred that he never should have Contemplated his crime but for the manner in which he waa treated, not with violence, but as to the difference with which he was used, even compared to the most menial of the crew, particularly instancing the fact that when they were able to buy soft bread they were allowed to do so, while he was restricted to the ordinary ship's biscuit. He expressed himself in the most grateful terms of the manner in which he had been treated by the governor and the other officials, whilst in confinement, and contrasted it in the most emphatic words with that to which he would have been subjected if he had been incarcerated in his own country, where he would have been loaded with irons and subjected to the utmost indignity. At a quarter before eight o'clock yesterday morning the under-sheriff, W. Brooks, t sq. ; the governor, Henry Barber, Esq.; the surgeon, Dr. Lyford ; with the other prison officials, visited Petreard in his cell. The culprit expressed an earnest desire to Calcraft, the executioner, to be almost stripped of his clothing, an anxiety which was acceded to as far as consistent with propriety by the governor, and the wretched man was denuded of his coat and waiscoat, displaying a very finely worked fronted shirt. Father Pacificos all this while continued the repetition of the prescribed formularies of the Roinata Catholic Church, and the repetition of the prayers by the culprit was distinctly heard by the persons in the lanes opposite the gaol some time before the procession was visible upon the scaffold. On reaching the drop the father Confessor, who 'waved the crucifix incessantly in front dt the criminal, exhorted him to repentance, and the wretched man, who trembled violently, joined earnestly in the devotions. In the midst of the _prayers the drop fell, and the priest, kneeling by the side of the body, continued on the scaffold repeating the prayers untiil half-Past eight, when he descended, and thanked the governor for his kindnes§ to the culprit. The body vitae cut down after hanging the usual time, and the crowd dispersed.