Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-06-09
Pio NonO's Penetration.

Letter from Rome 10 Phiiadeiphlh fros..l
There has been great scandal created
lately by the defalcation and disappear
ance of certain Fornari. ComputtstG'
or accountant of the Chapter of st. Pc
ters. At first some sympathy was felt
for him, as it was supposed he had conn
mitted suicide; he went to the Ilber,
shot himself, dramatically, and threw
himself into the river before the guards.
could reach him. His body has not yet
been found, and public opinion is going
over to the one expressed by the Pope,
who said shrewdly:
"Ah, Fornari never killed himself; his
body will not be found in the Tiber. He
fred off his gun, jumped into the river,
and as he is one OF the best OF swimmers,
he swan off TO some boat which was
waiting for him, and is now secure
enough, rest assured of that"
The Pope retired and devout life does
not blunt his native keen penetration
and straightforward judgment of men,
which he forms upon facts and not
fancy, as many Of US.
The following interesting account,
which relates to the Fornari affair, was
told me last evening" and shows how wise
and sagaeious is the Holy Father;
Over two months ago, when His Holt
ness was taking his usual daily walk in
the Vatican gardens, he advanced lit
tie beyond his suit, retaining beside him
Monsignor Teodoli, the Chief of the Fab
RIGA of St. Peter, as if he wished to speak
privately.
Z" You have a very honest man, to be
sure, for Computista," said the Pope
ironically.
"Yes, Holy Father" replied Monsig--
nor Teodolf. He knew that the Com
putista of the Fabrica of St. Peters
Pulcineili, is an excellent aud reliable
person; still at the same time, the Pope's
sharp, sarcastic manner confused and
startled him, while it filled him with
surprise.
How" cried the Pope, turning sharp
ly to Monsignor Teodoli. Do you call
Fornari an honest man2
beg your pardon, your Holiness,
said Monsignor Teodoli, "Fornari is not
our Computista he belongs to the Chap
ter of st. Peters"
Z" If that is the case" continued the
Pope, in severe tone, tell Monsignor
Vitelleschi to keep sharp eye on his
Computista. Fornari. has salary of
fifty scudi month, and with that he has
bought houses, Cerera WAX manrfac-
tory, and entered into stock speculae
tons; and more infamous still, he viess
with the Count de c. in trying to OBJ
tain the graces of a certain Ballerina,
who lives No-Via Frattuca to her he
makes costly presents Tell Monsignor
Vitelleschi he must dismiss Fornari on
the spot.
Monsignor Teodoli started aghast; he
was thunderstruck How could this
pious old man, whose life is that of
devotee and hermit, know all these
worldly sins of the Count de c. and
the Computista of the Chapter of St. Pc
ter's2 He bowed in an embarrassed
manner, and promised to repeat the or
der to Monsignor Vitelleschi, which
did promptly.
But, unluckly, Monsignor Vitelleschi
paid no heed to the Pope's warning and
commands. Fornari remained at his
post. Now, the four Monsignors who
have charge of the cash box st. Peters
are not only responsible for over hum
dred thousand dollars, but in disgrace
with the Pope. Everything connected
with the Holy See is arranged in the
most exact manner. For instance, tbs
cash-box OF the Chapter of St Peters
has four directors, Monsignor Vitelleschi
and three other Monsignori, whose names
/ forget Each Of these Monsignori has
a key to the box, and the lock can not be
opened without the use of all four of the
keys. Now it comes out that Tor long
time Fornari has had these four keys in
his possession, and none of the Monsig
nori have troubled themselves to keep a
surveillance over their agent. The
Chief Director, Mgr Vitelleschi, has to
bear the most OF the burden; for it is
said that the Pope holds him personally
responsible for this breach Of trust.
Monsignor Vitelleschi is one of the pre-
lates whose name is supposed to have
been on the list of those who are to be
created this spring. The Romans, with
their well-known sarcasm, say Mousig-
nor Vitelleschi 81 giocdto IL Cdpello
Cdrdinalizio-the has played his Cardi-
nails hat