The Sun. — 1860-04-12 (London, England)

EXECUTION OF SERAFIN MAIVZ4NO.  The Spaniard, Serafin Manzano, who was convicted at the recent Wilts assizes for the murder of Anastatia Trowbridge, at Ashcombe, was executed yesterday (Wednesday) in front of the new prison of Devizes.  The demeanour of the prisoner after his conviction was mild and gentle, and every facility was afforded by the authwities of the prison for supplying him with the means of religious consolation. An Italian convert from Romanism, named Ferraro, who is staying in Devizes, was admitted to the prisoner's cell, and at first it was stated, that the unhappy man preferred him as his spiritual advircr to any other person. Mr. Burt, the Mayor of Devizes, who understands Spanish, was subsequently requested to have an interview with the prisoner, and on his complying with that request the wretched man expressed a desire to see a Roman Catholic priest. Catholicism was, he said, the religion in which he had been brought up, and immediately the question was put to him he drew a crucifix from his breast and kissed it devoutly. The Rev. Mr. Clarke was accordingly requested to attend tie prisoner to the time of his execution. An image of the Virgin and Child was placed in his cell, and the prisoner continued throughout most attentive to his religious duties. On Sunday the prisoner wrote letters to Mr. Alexander, the governor of the prison, and his wife, thanking them for their kindness during his confinement, and assuring them that he was about to suffer martyrdom unjustly. He likewise addressed a communication to the governor's children, charging them never to be disobedient to their parents. His own father, he stated, was a millionaire, possessing two silver mines, but that through disobeying him God had chastised him. He added that he had two sisters (nuns) in a convent, called the convent of San Francisco.  The prisoner slept but little during Tuesday night, and appeared to feel his position most acutely. He drank a little tea, but ate nothing for breakfast. The priest was in attendance upon him between 8 and 9, and remained with him up to the hour of execution-12 o'clock. Calcraft, the executioner, arrived on Tuesday afternoon, and slept at the prison. The High Sheriff (li. N. Goddard, Esq.) and the Under Sheriff (West Awdry, Esq.) arrived shortly before 10 yesterday morning. About hall-past 11 the unhappy man was asked if he had any request to make. He replied that he desired nothing but the prayers of those around him, and still continued to protest his innocence. The prison bell commenced tolling at a quarter before 12, and the high sheriff then proceeded to the condemned cell, and demanded the body of the prisoner, and the usual process of pinioning having been gone through, he was handed over to the executioner. The mournful procession, headed by the priest bearing a lighted taper, and reading the recommendation for a departing soul, wended its way towards the drop, arrived at which the wretched culprit mounted the steps without assistance, and having placed himself beneath the fatal beam, appealed to the multitude to pardon him. He remained on the drop nearly ten minutes when, the sacrament having been administered, the signal was given, the bolt was drawn, and he passed into eternity without a struggle. The culprit was 29 years of age.  -Three or four thousand persons had assembled in the vicinity of the prison, and all appeared to conf"uct themselves remarkably well. After hanging the usual time the body was taken down, and interred within the precincts of the prison. This is the first execution that has taken place at Devizes for alewen years.