The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-04-21
KEY OF DEATH.
A Little Needle That Carried Murder
with IL.

with It.
In the collection Of curiosities preserved
in the Arsenal OF Venice there is a key, OF
which the following singular tradition - re-
lattd: About the year 1000 one OF those
dangerous men in whom extraordinary
talent IS only the fearful sources of crime and
wickedDe.s beyond that OF ordinary men
came TO establish himself as a merchant or
trader in Vsnics. The stranger, whose name
was Tebelfo, became enamofed OF the daugh-
ter OF an ancient house, already affiancsd to
another. Re demanded her baud in mar
rieee and was, OF course, rejected. Enragsd
at this he studied how 20 be revenged.
Profoundly Fkilled In the mechanical
arts, he allowed himself no rest until he had
invented the NEST formidable weapon which
could be imagined. THIS wGs a key OF
large size, the handle Of which was so con.
strueted that IL could DE turned round with
little difficulty; when turned, Il discovered
Il spring, which, on pressure, launched from
the other end needle or lancet of such
subtle fineness that il entered into the flesh
an buried itself there without leaving ex-
teTnel trace. Tebaldo waited in disguise st
the door OF the church in which the maiden
he loved was about 10 receive the nupiial
benediction. The assassin sent the SENDER
steel unpeTceived into the breast OF the
bridegroom.
THE wounded man had no suspicion of
injury, but seized with sudden and sharp
pain in the midst Of the ceremony, he faint.
ed, and was carried to his house amid the
lamentations OF the bridal party. Vain was
all the skill OF the physicians, who could
not devise the Gauss OF this strange Illness,
and in few days he died. Tebsldo again
demanded the hand of the maiden from
her parents, and received second refusal.
They too, persisted misersbly In q few
days. The alarm which these deaths
which appeared almost miraculous
oceasioned, excited the utmost vigilance OF
the magistrates; and when, on close
examination OF the bodies, the small
instrument was found in the gan
every one feared for his own life. The
maiden thus cruelty orphaned had passed
tie first months of her mourning in e con-
vent, when Tebaldo, hoping to bend her to
his will entreated 10 speak with her ct the
CRATE. The face Of the foreigner had ever
been displeasing TO her, but since the
death OF al those most dear TO her 10 had
become odious as though she had pre-
sumption OF his guilt, ara her reply
was most decisive in the negative
Tebaldo, beyond himself with rage,
attempted to wound her through the
crate, aud succeeded; the obscurity of
the place prevented his movements
being observed. On her return to her
room the maiden felt pain in her breast
ard, uncovering it, she found it spotted with
single drop OF blood. The pain increased ;
the surgeons who hsstened to her assistance,
taught by the past, wasted no time in con
lecture, but cutting deep into the wounded
part, extracted the needle before any mortal
mischief had commenced and saved the life
OF the lady. The State lnquisition used
every means TO discover the hand which
dealt these insdious and irresistible blows.
The visit OF Tebsldo to the convent caused
suspicion TO fall heavily upon him. His
invention discovered, and he persisted on
the gibbet."