The Virginia Gazette

Extract of a private Letter from Venice, Feb. 23.

An Affair has happened here, which shews to how great a Degree the human Mind may be corrupted, and to what Excess Persons are capable of going, who have lived long in a Habit of Vice. Francisco Panizo, by Birth a Neapolitan, who had discharged, for seven Years, in the Palace of one of our Nobles, the Post of Maître d'Hotel, or Steward, with a tolerable fair Character, went on the 13th of January to a House near the Church of St. Pertiniani, in which a Gentlewoman whose Name was Angelica, and with whom he had long had an Intrigue, resided in a handsome Apartment. They were seen by the Neighbours to go out together to a Ball, supped afterwards at a Publick-House, from whence Panizo conducted her home, and is supposed to have promised he would make her another Visit that Night.

Having digested his black Design in his Head, he returned again to his Master's House, and, after the Family were gone to Rest, went out again to visit his Mistress, from whose Lodgings he was seen to go in the Morning, with a large Bundle under his Cloak. He proceeded directly to his Master's, where immediately after Dinner he packed up all the Plate that he had in his Custody, and about three o'Clock took Water. His Gondola carried him to the End of the Canal, where he got into a large Boat, with four Rowers, which Boat set him on Shore in the Ferrarese.

The next Day, being missing, the Nobleman, in whose Service he was, caused his Room to be broke open, and found all his Plate gone. Two Days after the Neighbours gave Intelligence to the Magistrate, that Angelica was missing with her Servant. Upon this, an Officer, with proper Assistance, was sent to the House where they lodged, to visit her Apartment, the Door of which they found carefully locked, and the Windows shut up.

In Pursuance of their Instructions they proceeded to break into the Room, where they found that unfortunate Woman lying on the Floor, by her Bedside, in her Shift, with five Wounds in her Bosom, and the whole Chamber almost covered with Blood. In the next Room they found her Servant in the same Condition, except that he had ten Wounds. Every Trunk and Box in both Rooms were broke open, and all Things of Value gone. The Neighbourhood unanimously fixed this Murder on Panizo, for his Intrigue with Angelica was not at all a Secret.

The Council of Ten being informed of what the Officers of Justice had seen, and of the Person who was suspected, an Officer, with a certain Number of Sbiri, were dispatched in Pursuit of him. They followed him so close, that at length they came up with him at Pisa, where he was secured, and upon an Application to the Regency of Tuscany, in the Name of the Republic, delivered and brought back hither under a Guard. Yesterday having confessed both the Robberies and Murders, the following Sentence was passed upon him, viz.

To be carried through the Streets of this City, and to have his Flesh torn off with Pincers at five different Places, then to have his Hands chopped off, and to be dragged at a Horse's Tail into the great Square, where he is to lose his Head on a Scaffold, and to be quartered; the Head to be fixed on a Pole, and the Quarters to be set up in the usual Places.