NO “UNWRITTEN LAW” FOR CANADA.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 2, 18 August 1911, Page 2

NO “UNWRITTEN LAW” FOR CANADA.

Gicat sympathy is expressed throughout the Dominion over the ease of a young Italian woman, Mrs Angelino Napolitano, who was sentenced to deatli about five weeks ago for the murder of her husband under particularly tragic and painful circumstances, and a monster petition, which is supported by the Italian Government, is being prepared with a view to securing a repi ieve. 0 Mrs Napolitano, who is only 28 years of age, has four children—two boys and two girls—whose ages range from three, to seven, but the saddest point about the case is that she is expected to give birth to another child next month, and it was for this reason that her execution is delayed until August 9th. The Napolitanos came to Canada from Italy about ten years ago, and two years ago settled at

Sangato, Marie, Ontario. The husband was employed in the steel mills, and they lived happily together until last October, when Napolitano said' that Ik? was tired of working, and suggested to his wife that she should earn her living in an immoral manner. She indignantly refused, hut he threatened and ill-treated her so that after attempting to commit suicide, she determined to kill him to preserve her honour, and for the sake of her children. On Easter Sunday, whilst he was asleep, she crept to their bedroom and dashed nut his brains with an axe. She made no attempt to escape, and when arrested made a full confession. Her defence made a great impression on the Court and the jury, but the only possible verdict was murder, and the study sentence “death.” The Dominion and provincial authorities, whilst admitting the exceptional circumstances, do not wish to extend clemency in such cases on account of possible ill-effect on the thousands of hot-blooded Italian and Southern European immigrants, who might consider it as upholding the “unwritten law” in Canada.—Toronto correspondent “Daily Telegraph.”