The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-08-25


with Zioba, t'this poor boy did not kill
my husband-the murderer will never be
found!'
And she burst into a wild food of
weeping.
Zioba was then examined alone. He
was asked to explain the possession of
these drawings, and said the woman whom
he had drawn-for he was painter-was
not the jewcler' widow, but a young girl,
Mattea Carmeri, the daughter Of his tall
or, who had sat to him as model of We
nus. Mattea was called, and it was found
that her features certainly rescmbled
those of Norma Lucrezia, but not suffi-
GENTLY, however, to convince the Coun-
? Gil that the drawings represented her.
Mattea swore that she had sat to him as
a model.
Zioba called several Of his fellow stu.
dents with whom he had been on the
night on which the murder occurred.
They testified that Zioba was with them
until ! o'clock in the morning, but that
about IL he left for two or three minutes,
and returned somewhat excited. But as
they had all been drinking wine they did
not take especial notice of his excitement.
added to the name and the drawings.
was committed, Zioba had disappeared for
two or three minutes and the scene of
the murder was quite close at hand-and
he was unable to account for this time
satisfactorily.
The Council now issued proclamation
calling upon all citizens of Venice who
knew Zioba's character to appear before
them. Among those who obeyed this
summons was nobleman by the name of
francesca Cantarini. He told curious
story. He said that not long ago Zioba,
whom he had known as friend to his
family, was in prison for debt Of fifty
Tires. Zioba sent for him and told him
that the Jew who had loaned him the
money had confessed to him that he had
only been thrown into prison for the pur-
pose of giving an enemy of Zioba's an op:
portunity to have him safely assassinated.
The Jew had at first readily consented
to set Zioba this trap by loaning him the
fifty lires-having been bribed by the
rich enemy Of the youthful painter-but
in moment of weakness he told Zioba of
the plot. and said he could escape if he
only paid the fifty Tires. Zioba, after
telling this astounding story, implored
Cantarini to loan him fifty Tires, in order
that he might escape the dagger of the
assassin, who, no doubt, was already hired
by his enemy, and the witness gave him
the money. This was all he knew
The Council began to be more hopeful.
At last motive for the deed had been
ascertained. Zioba had been in fear of
assassination, consequently he had mo.
tive Of revenge. Was it possible that
Toldo, who had bribed tho Jew to set the
trap for young Zioba?
1t was at once thought to be the most
| important to find the Jew, 80 as to ascer-
tain who Zioba's rich enemy was. After
much difficulty he was found. He testi.
fed that it was Toldo, the rich jeweler,
who wanted to have Zioba assassinated,
and thought that it would be done while
the latter was in prison. Hence he in.
duced the Jew to loan the money to Zloba'
to suddenly demand the payment of the
debt. and to throw him into prison.
Thus the motive had been found. Toll
do was proven to have been Zloba enemy.
But why did he want the young, hand
some painter assassinated? What was
Zioba S oftensc? The drawing pointed to
a possible criminal intimacy between Zioba
and Toldo's bewitching wife, but the lat
ter declared that she had seen him until
! she was confronted with him before the
Council. AS nothing further could be as
certained, and Zioba would not make a
confession, the Inquisitors made all the
| necessary preparations to put him on
the rack. But before the terrible instru.
| ment oftortue Zioba weakened. and declar.
ed that he was the murderer, and that
he was willing to confess.
This confession was substantially as fol-
lows: One day Norma Lucrezia Toldo
came to his studio while he was painting a
Venus. Like many other ladies she came
to look at his pictures. She admired his
Venus greatly, and he CALAMITY said:
II had beautiful model for this Venus,
but if you had been my model, think
she would be still more beautiful unless,
indeed, your splendid costume hides any
imperfections.'
This nettlcd her vanity, and SO pleased
was she with the young artist that she
| determined to sit to him. The drawings
found in Zioba's room were then made. A
criminal intimacy followed. Lucrezia
gave Zioba key to her house. and
once, while he was at her house, To!do
retarned unexpectedly, and, in efecting
his escape, Zioba ran over his little daught-