The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-09-01
Murder OF a COuntess---TerribleC Crime
In q Railway Carriage.

Naples (Ausnst lOl correspondence Lcnunn 1lHe-.
Every one here has been Mortified by the
details of murder which was committed
last Thursday nj eht in 4 frst-class carriage
Of the night train from Rome to Florence.
The victim was the Countess Amanda Sar-
torres Ribrandi CattancO da Noyara-a long
name, but you must take it as it is. Sepa-
rated from her husband, to which it is ne
cessary to allude, she came from VoGhera,
in the north of Italy, to Naples about q
fortnight since, and took lodgings ct San
Paola, village near Nola. Here she was
in the habit of receiving every evening seve-
raj officers Of q cavalry regiment, among
whom was Lieutenant Negri. One eve
ming last week the cries Of the Countess,
in a half-sufiocated tone, were heard be-
sccching for help, on which the landlord,
Sicnor Contieri, went Out on the stair
case. fred q shot, and met Negri running
down. He then went to the Countess,
who confessed that she had come to San
Paolo in order to see Negri, who had some
letters or papers of hers which he refused
10 give up; that after her "society" had
left her that evening he returned, having
sent away the servants under some excuse,
and closed the doors, when he endcavored
to force her 10 write letter to her friend
stating she had committed suicide. What
could have been the motive for this can only
be imagined On her hesitating to do this
he snatched dagger from her hand, which
she carried for self-dcfencc, and was in the
act of striking her, when she fed to an
other room, followed by her maddened
lover. The dagger was again upliitcd,
when the pistol-shot fired by the landlord
seemed to paralyzc him, and he made his
cscape. In Contieri's apartment she re-
mained all the night, and Negri returned
10 ask her pardon, insisting also on re-
naming in another room. On the next
day wednesday, several of the officers of
the regiment, hearing of the affair, came
to the house to protect the Countess, who
determined to return to Voghera the next
day-Thursday last. Two officers and the
landlord (Contieri) accompanied her as far
as Caserta, where they left her, the Coun-
tess refusing their society any further, add
ing that she no longer had any fear. On
the train arriving at Isoletta, the station on
the Roman frontier, the body of the unfor-
tunate woman was found extended on the
floor Of the carriage, revolver at her feet,
pistol-shot in her head, and her hands
covered with blood and cut as if by glass.
More than this is not known at present.
Some assert they saw Negri get into a third
class carriage, drcssedsas q civilian; IN the
same train by which the Countess left, and
that his cap was found near her. If so, he
is suspected OF having walked along the
footboard TO her carriage, and of having
shot her through the window. OF him no.
thing has yet been heard. This horrible
tragedy, which report almost in the same
words that il is described in all the Journals
of Naples, has created here Gn immense
sensation; in all its details it is most
revolving, and might furnish another Mrs.
Radcliffe with material for IL sensational
romance. \ highly ly-respectabl journal, in
defending Ncgri against the imputation Of
theft, also says there can be no ground lor
the suspicion in the simple fact of his hay
ing loved . woman so desperatclya as TO muir
dor her. :: He was not naGrGiS 51yet.
He was well-born, rich, honest, and only
vain" In another passage he is described
as unfoitunate.n Thus it is that crime
is condoncd, aud that sympathy with il
generates that prevalent sentimental feel
ing against capital punishment. Wonder
full to relate, however, Neapoiitan jurles
have within the last two months brought in
yerdicts in three cases without O dttenuantt
circostunzc." Justice still hcaitates there
are the Court of appeal aud the royal mercy
to be Invoked. The probabilities arc that
the sentences of three heinOus Murdcrers
will be committed.