The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1876-08-25

W hh'N ptNh huOWH uul lOT DUb Vi tnOSc
indiscretions resulting from what poets love
to call "the master passion" which invaria-
bly, makes trouble whenever it really exists
in bad society quite as efectually as.in good
In 1887, at the beginning of winter, Count
and Countess Fornelli found themselves
domiciled in elegant apartments in tho Rue
de st. Honore, Paris, receiving their friends
with the same courtly grace and generous
hospitality which had distinguished them
ever since they made their first appearance
in London, and were still deemed worthy
members of the aristocracy.
Among their most constant visitors was
young Englishman named George Renwick,
second son of noble family, but exception
ally rich-by right of an inheritance on his
mothers side-for one in his generally un-
enviable position. He was very handsome
fellow, tall and well built, with large blue
eyes, and fine head covered with thick.
golden curls-just the style of beauty which,
in obedience to the law of opposites, would
be most likely to attract brunette like the
Countess Fornclli, and at the same time to
find her irresistible. The theory of that law
was not at fault in this case. The old course
of such afairs-so happily condensed by By
ron-was, in this one, in no wise departed
from, not at least until the finale
"-giances beget oges oges, sighs;
sighs, words; words, a letter;
Which leads to amorous conversation
And adulterous beds,
And broken VOWS, and hearts, and heads.
The young Englishman was too infatuated
to be prudent. He rode with the Fornellis
in daytime, went to the opera with them in
the evening, and gambed with the Count
generally losing heavily-at night.
Did the Count suspect the real reason of
the young mans almost constant presence at
his house? That no one could answer. If
he did, he gave no sign. lie always greeted
him cordially, never hesitated to leave him
alone with the Countess, even for hours to-
gether, and seemed not even to notice the
passionate glances, hand claspings, and whis-
perings from which they could no. restrain
themselves, even in his presence. Mean
while, as was subsequently ascertained, the
Neapolitan's superior skill or fortune at
ecarte, piquet and lausquenet procured the
| transfer of no less sum than f23O to his
pocket from that of the infatuated youth.
One morning, just at daylight, in the
month of November, a gendarme, making
his rounds, stumbled upon a corpse, lying
face downward, at the entrance of a little al
ley running out of the Rue Laftte. The
hilt of knife protruded from the dead
mans back between the shoulders. 1t had
been driven in with such terrible force that
the blade had cleft the heart in twain, and
death could not have been other than instan.
taneous.
Judging from the freshness of the blood
which welled out of the wound, and had moi
yet had time to coagulate in the frosty air
the gendarme believed that the deed hat
been committed but a few moments before
he reached the spot, yet he heard no retreat
ing footsteps and saw no one running away
from the vicinity.
Calling to his assistance one of his fellows
the two removed the corpse to the neares
station, where the knife was withdrawn from
the wound. 1t was one of those terrible We
netian "hame" daggers, with two wayet
edges, keen as razors, nine inches long, near
ly two inches wide at the handle, and witt
point sharp as needle. On the handle
J which was of solid silver, was inlaid in gol'
the letter "F." ....
Before nine o'clock that morning a secre
agent of the police, who was enrolled amon
those assigned to espionage upon foreigners
had recognized the body as that of Georg
Henry Renwick, the handsome young Eng
lishman. By this time, also, another borr
BILE crime had been discovered, and the pei
petrator seized almost in the act of its CON
initial. Another young Englishman-sut
| sequently identified. as William Mason,
commercial traveler-who bore wonderfu
resemblance to. Mr.. Renwick, was Stable
by an assassin, in the Rue Bourgoigne, wit
a knife which was the exact counterpart {
} that left in the body of Renwick. The mui
der was perpetrated an hour earlier tina
: that in the Rue Laftte, and in a clumsie
manner, the victim not being slain at tn
l first blow, but enabled to shrek for help be
fore the second blow ended his life. Th
2 shrek was heard by a gendarme who haT
: pened to be near at hand and who succeede
: after short chase, and notwithstanding tn
rascaPs desperate resistance, in capturing tn
i assassin while.the. ;. blood of his victim sti
covered his right hand.
The man thus captured was an Italian, a
evil-lookipg, sturdy, dark-yisaged villail
who reluctantly gave his name as Anselm
Vetucci. lie was already known to the pt
! lice as a desperate character, and an assOca
i of the most hardened criminals. When a
rested he begged that the Count Fornelli
sent for, averrng that the Count was h
: countryman, had known him in Naples, al
= would aid him in procuring justice.
But the Count, on being told of his arre'
e coolly replied
d "Why should trouble myself about IL
II fellow? | never knew him in my life al
% you say he is scoundrel. He may be
y countryman OF mine, for, unfortunately, N
!, piles, like every other city, has bad men b
! even if he is, | have no desire to shield hi
d on that account from punishment for ho
n rible crime. No, | would not trouble m
II self about him, Chop his head off if "
"a please"
d Upon being informed that the handle
s. the assassin's knife bore the initial "F" Il
d Count said:
+" All! then it may be mine. either lo
70 or had stolen from me, about month ag
W just such dagger as you describe. 1t hi
:. been in my family at least hundred yeal
u and would not have taken a thousand flo
i ins for it. shall certainly come in goo
+ time and see if it is mine; and if it is, wi
70 -ha ha II shall have personal intere
" in the execution of the rascal, who has pro
ably stolen it."