Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-05-17
"Rettini," in an Entirely New Roe
In New York.
PHASES OF DESPAIR PHOTOGRAPHED.
The Italian Lieutenant Makes an expIana-
ton Of His Peculiar Conduct
Failing in His Wooing He cat
rieS Out His Threat.

tlemen OF New York, among whom was
MIR. G. +. Secchi de Casali, editor and pro-
prietor OF l. Eco d Italia. To this gen.
teman Bettini, it seems, unbosomed him.
SELF His intention was to go to Montana
aud visit Gov. Crosby, of that Territory.
He had known the Governor when the
latter was United States Consul at Flor
ence, Italy, and a friendship had sprung
up between them. While Bettini's object
was not TO
Visit the West
with purpose OF settling there, he re.
marked that he might remain in America
il the opportunities suited him. He de.
layed his departure for the West, however,
from time to time, and in the early part OF
April went to Fortress Monroe TO see the
arliliery school there. Bettini is a good
looking young fellow Of twenty-five years,
with pleasant address and gentlemanly
manner. He soon ingratiated himself into
| society at the Fortress and became quite q
favorite with the ladies', both resident and
visiting. Among the families sojourning
there was that Of Mrs Josephine NJ Aver,
who was accompanied by her daughter,
Miss Leslie Aver. Bettini was introduced
TO these ladies soon after his arrival and
as the sequel proved, Immediately fell dss
| perately in love with the daughter. The
Aver family returned TO their residence in
this city in the latter part OF April, and
and Bettini, following them, took up his
quarters at the Windsor Hotel
Three Phases OF Despair Photographed
| Bettini's stay at the Windsor was char.
acterized by his becoming known TO every
| OOdy in the house. and II is said he was
| what is .called popular He was, when
not in one Of his moods, considered very
good, company, though his partiallty for
! jewelry snd extraordinary utterances
broaght him occasionally into ridicule. To
tie guests Of the house he had said that
he had intended to kill himself; that he
had come to America with certain amount
Of money, and when thst was gone he pro-
posed to so, too. At first these sanguinary
threats were regarded
With Horror by HIS Hearers,
but as day after day went by and Bettni
turned up regularly with a good appetite
for his meals, they came to look upon his
sayings as those Of harmless eccentric.
His devotion to Miss Aver it seems, had
not abated, and he called at the house twice
marriage to the young lady. About a week
ago he called for for the third time and was
received by Miss Aver in the parlor. After
few moments he turned the conversation
to suicides, and made the remark that were
he seriously thwarted in any desire he had
at heart he would consider suicide proper
remedy. He had talked in this strain be.
fore at the hotel, but the idea was a new
one to Miss Aver and she was rather in.
clined to laugh at it.
Bettni, however, not relishing this,
showed his pistol with the remark
with this pistol shall some day take
my life. Naturally
Miss Aver Was Much Alarmed
into other Cbannels. petLlnl, however pio'
duccd three photographs and handed them,
one by one, 10 the young lady.
The fir. showed him seated at desk, or
table, with his left hand supporting his
head, his body stretched out at full! length
and the ight hand hanging over the arm
Of the chair grasping a pistol. This was
designed 10 show the meditation OF des-
pair.
The second showed him sitting bolt up
| right, the left hand pressed TO his heart
the right hand raised and bent inward with
the pistol pointed toward the right side OF
the body. This was designed to show the
| decision OF despair.
The third showed him standing up with
the muzzle of the pistol pressed against the
right temple and the
Finger Pressing the Trigger.
| The eyes were upturned and the face show
| Il calm anticipation OF the inevitable.
| his was designed 10 show the moment oi
action.
These pictures and the display OF the
| gristOl to Miss Aver were doubtless intend
| I'd to impress on that young lady's mind
| the fact that suicide was quite simple al
| fair 10 IN expert. Bettini then took his
| leave, leaving Miss Aver in q fright.
On Sunday evening al dinner B'ttinl was
| observed to be more than usually solemn
| and tailed good deal about the sad side
| OF life. I}ettini's manner was that OF aman
| laboring under great excitement lie aP'
reared 10 be under the influence OF some
| stimulant. After few moments OF con
versation Miss Aver noticed that Bettlni
while he talked kept his hand on the little
| pocket where he kept his pistol. Becoming
| alarmed, Miss Aver excused herself mo-
ment, and going into the other room re-
| ouested that Mr.. Trowbridge should re-
main in the house until Bettini had gone.
When she returned Bettini asked her II
Mr.. Trowbridge was yet gone. She replied
that he had not; whertat her visitor seemed
somewhat disappointed. About halt.past
nine Mr.. Trowbridge came into the parlor
and said
Are you going down to the hotel, Mr.
| Bettni?"
"No, am not" Bettini replied, sharply.
Left again alone with Miss Aver Betuni
applied bimsef vigorously TO pressing his
suit The young lady's fright had
Reached n Painful Point,
when Bettini suddenly leaned forward with
bis band on the butt Of his pistol and
said
will you be my wife
Miss Aver says that for moment her
fear almost overcame her. The repeated
threats OF suicide and the generally san
culinary conversation OF Bettini had almost
convinced her that he was out OF his mind.
Her only thought then was 10 temporiZe.
She was literally in too much fear TO do
anything else so she said
II have not known You very long, MI.
Bettini; hardly long enough to answer 80
serious a question. You must give me
time"
NO, will give you no time. lou must
answer me, yes or no, now:
Miss Aver replied that she could not
then rive a definite answer, and after lev
more words Bettini left the room and the
house. He had been gone but few mo,
ments when two pistol shots were heafd
outside.
A Last VIII and Some Love Letters.
Before leaving his hotel for the: layer
mansion, Bettini had written lumber OF
letters. One was addressed TO Mr.. DE "a
sail, one to Col. Lienello Bethni' ms unGle, n.
Verona, Italy, and two 70 Miss Aver. he
had also made his will. The will and the
letter 10 his uncle are In the bands OF the
police. The letter TO Mr.. DE Casali was de-
,iyered to that gentleman yesterday: 10
De Cssali Bettini expresses himself IN the
most e1travsgant terms Of friendship, anu
| thanks his friend sean and again Tor his
| many Elndnesses to him. He says in the
| letter that he aad resolved TO take his LIE
il Miss Aver rejected his suit-
Miss Ayers Brothsr's Views.
kr. Frederick Aver, brother Of Mis-
Aver. says hat IL vas or sunday evsni1G
TIA! he FIST Learn I'd Of Btttini's Pscu!I a,
conduct His sis'aT bad be'1 .ht'J lc'd
TO him at Fortress Monroe, bat he hafon
cslied at the bo use If this city four times
The statement thst Lis s'er had r'c'lr
sr.d him and then n iectet him wss lite y
ts!se. ss she knew bu: Er!e OF lin, tne
never regarded bin 20 'he i'yht OF -1is"-
WHEN BettiDi ASKED her on SUNDAY even
;re 10 mary h'n she had nc: rtItc.e'
MIN. because she wss Arid Of him VI
Aver thinks nat Il SH !it''J th" i
liz !sS visited h, b. Lc sI;E 'se ~
, .'cr Of