A man who in his earlier life belonged to a band of brigands and achieved fame, not only by. the numerous murders he committed but by his wonderful escape from the extreme penalty, of the law, has just celebrated his centenary in a Home for the Aged in Rome. He is known as Antonio Ventura.
In 1862, he was condemned to death by Pope Pius IX. and (says the "Central News") on one fine morning in May was taken on to the scaffold for the law to be vindicated. He was placed in position and the executioner pulled the cord releasing the cutter.
The latter, however, suddenly stopped on reaching the man's neck, which was only slightly cut, and when the executioner was about to draw up the cutter for the purpose of making a further attempt, the Advocate stopped him, explaining that the law permitted only one attempt to be made to execute the same individual.
Ventura was thereupon unstrapped and removed to prison, and considerable discussion ensued auong the jurists as to what should be done in the matter. The Pope decided to commute the sentence to imprisonment for life.
Ventura remained in prison for 50 years, and on his release eight years ago was given employment as a gardener on the estate of the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.