Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-09-16
( ROMANTIC sticIbE IN NAPLES.
Betrothed Lovers BOund with
Cords Found Floating fn the
Beautiful bay What n nanker's
ObsNinncy Did. * II. @ANTa


From the 0bservaterc Romano. August lO.l
A melancholy occurrence, which has
no parallel in the records Of romantic
crime, recently took place in Naples.
In ths River diChisja resides Signor
Seraphino RisSi, who isD the official
agent in Naples Of tie Royal Lottery
bureaus, and the ewner Of magnificent
silk bazaar and private banking house
on the Toledo. He has son, Giovanni,
and two daughters. Mrs. Rissi died
several years ago The SON had long
lived in an English boarding house, in
the Strada Santa Catrina di Chiaja, kept
by one Byrne.
} In old Bombay's hourishing days, a
groom was sent to England to purchase
valuable horses, While in London his
majesty s groom died. By the old King S
permission the horses were given to
Byrne, who was an expert jockey.
Byrne went to Naples and was engaged
in his majesty's stables. Step by step
he advanced to the position of master
of horses. When the old King was dy-
7 ing he did not forget the horseman.
/ During the brief and unhappy reign of
Francis the Second, Byrne retained his
old position, and when the new King
was driven from Naples, his Queen
promised the horseman that he or his
| family should never want as long as her
purse could assist them. Byrne had
saved money, and when quiet reigned in
Naples, he fitted up a commodious and
respectable boarding-house, which has
ever since been the favorite resort Of
tourists in moderate circumstances.
Young Giovanni Rissi had been for
several years visitor at Byrne's house,
ostensibly to- procure q knowledge OF
English, but really to court one of
Byrne's daughters Mr.. Byrne had two
daughters, Eliza and Martha, who were
accomplished and of great beauty.
Eliza, the elder, added to her remarka.
BILE personal charms an amiability OF
character sufficient to win the most fas-
tidious., She formed union with young
Rissi, and both lived with the firm de-
termination Of becoming one day man
and wife. The marriage day was finally
settled upon, but Rissi's father objected.
Mr.. Byrne was indignant at the elder
Rissi's objection, and refused to permit
his daughter to hold further commurica-
ton with the bankers son.
/ From the 9th to the 9th instant, which
Iincluded the day assigned for their we'd
ding (August 81 nothing was heard OF
Miss, Byrne or Giovanni Rissi. Rumors
of an elopement were inevitably the
general belief being that they had fled
to Wemys' Bay, near Greenock, Scot
land, where, Miss Byrne had many
4 friends. oAbout o'clock on the evening
| Of the proposed nuptial day, when the
evening sun had just set over the grand
bay of Naples, and while thousands
were going to the princely grounds Of the
Villa Reale to hear the music or revel in
| the luxuries of the daintily-fashioned
saloons, the attention of a policeman
was attracted to something which was
occasionally rolled by the tide up the
convex walling of the garden on the
/ bay. Tresses, the folds of silken dress
4 and also the garments of man made
the gend arme hasten to the authorities
of the dead house and announce what he
had seen. The morgue boat, with its
dusty covering, was sent to the spot and
the objects were hoisted on board. A
Young man and woman bound together
With cords around the ankles and necks
were revealed to the men in the boat.
4 The girl had been beautiful, The pearly
lteeth. chiseled features and splendid au-
burn tresses put the corpse mongers out
\ oftheir routine Of cold carelessness for
/ once. The portly form of the we'll
known and universally admired Clio
vanni Rissi was then discovered.
The music insthe garden was hushed,
and the news. Of the discovery sped
through every circle within the Villa
1 Reale-nobles, untitled aristocraey, and
Iplebeians The point Of the public gar
den, opposite gloomy Vesuvins, where
| the corpses were found, was thronged
with spectators, and the boat ives fol
lowed on its way up the bay to the dead
house. A phial of prussic acid was
found on Rissi, and it was proven that
he and the girl died from the effects OF
poison. The bodies were taken to the
late dwelling of Miss Byrne, and after
ward the remains of Giovanni Rissi were
sent to his fathers house.