The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-07
A MARTYR TO THOSE HE LOVED.
A Hitherto UHWritten Chapter in the His
tory of DR.. De Castro, a Recent Suicide.

On last Sunday night Dr.. DeCastrO. an Ital-
ian, committed suicide at Newark, n. j., and
LETT a viii which provided that his body should
be dissected, and his skeleton sent TO a museum,
with the skull inscribed: ''This is the skeleton
of DIFF. De Castro, a great traveller aud linguist,
who died as a martyr to those he loved" To
those who knew the mans history that inscrip-
ton had more than a passing significance, for he
was a person who had suffered greatly, in the
later years of his life, chiefly because Of his own
transgressioDs. He had had a stormy life, and
some of the principal events in it were told to a
Journal reporter, yesterday, by a gentleman of
this city, who had accidentally come
into possession Of The facts narrated.
De Castro was born in Italy about
fifty years ago. He came Of a noble family and
was himself a baron. He came to America
about twelve years ago and lived in various
parts of the country, finally settling down in
Chicago. He was a man of striking personal ap-
pearance, fine address and extended attain
ments, and he was soon received in the repre-
sentative society of the city. Eventually he
married a Miss Spencer, a lovely lady, whose
father was then mayor Of the city. Two chill
dren were born TO them, and their domestic re-
lations were tranquil and happy. Mr.. and Mrs.
Spencer lived in one Of the suburbs Of the city,
and about three years ago, one day.
there came TO their home an Italian
woman, ragged and weary, who asked
for De Castro. "What do you want with
him27 inquired Mrs. Spencer. what do 1 Y want
with him! What should a woman want with a
man who is her husband, and whom she has not
seen for years9s She went on to tell that she
had been married TO De Castro in Italy, and that
eight years before he had left her and come to
this country, promising to come back when ne
had made money for them to live upon. For
eight long years, she said, she had patiently
waited for his return, expecting him upon ev-
cry steamer, for he frequently wrote that he
would be back in a few weeks. At last she
could wait no longer, and she found means to
come to America in search of him. When she
had finished her story and showed her
marriage certificate, Mrs. Spencer took her in
the family carriage and drove to tho city, to De
Castrols Office. When the injured wife stood
before him he turned pale, staggered and could
say nothing but MY God, it is no use, it Is no
user' He acknowledged the truth, and not de-
string the scandal to become public, Mrs. Spen-
Ger did not prosecute him, but contented herself
with quietly getting a divorce for her daughter.
De Castro disappeared, and it was thought that
he had gone back to Italy with his first wife
Many months elapsed, when one t~naornlng
a son of Mr.: Spencer's, who had occasion to
rise very early, stepped out into the yard
before 1t was yet lgnr. He saw U man skulKlng
about the grounds, caught him and demanded to
know his business. it was DeGastFo; but so
changed as to be scarcely recognizable, for he
was dressed in rags, and his face showed evil
dences of deep SORROW and suffering XIII me
if you want to-" he said. II don't deserve to
live and | don't care to. 1 loved your sister. /
love her yet; and ever since l was driven away
from her L have been walking around this house
all through every night, watching the light
in her window and occasionally catching a
glimpse of her face. Winter and summer l have
been here. Ibid not.dare to speak to her. L
only wanted to see her and be near her, and now
l suppose 1 must. go away" And he did. He
was seen no more in Chicago His
second wife died of grief, and he drifted to the
East and earned enough TO subsist upon by
writing for the papers, for he was a learned man
and spoke fourteen languages. lie became very
much dissipated, and nothing WIS heard Of him
by his former friends until last week, and then
they learned that. unable to bear his burdens
longer. he had killed himself. "a martyr to
those he loved"