St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-02-15
STABBED WITH A PIN.
A Shocking Duel Between
Desperate Women Fol-
lowed by Murder.
One Danseuse, Crippled by a
Wound, Takes Strange
Revenge.
Jealousy Of a Gallant Athen-
ian Wrecks Two hopeful
Lives.
Result of a Terrible Quarrel
Between Two Beautiful
Rivals.

4hA
Vienna Special.
Filtration and jealousy have just cul-
minated IN terrible tragedy at Athens.
A popular theatricaf troupe, which in
cluded well-known Roman star named
Margherita Stefanoni, has recently been
performing at the Grand theater in the
play of Flora Mirabilis." Two
of the leading dancers. Margherita
and another lady named Mile.
Ernesta Baroni, were guests at the
Hotel d. AmeriQue. Both were eX-
tremely beautiful creatures, and counted
their admirers by the hundreds in every
town which they visited. In Athens
they created the widest sensation
among the gallantS. One gentleman IN
particular, a well-to-do Greek merchant,
was most profuse in his attentions to the
two girls. and as he was handsome and
attractive, as well as the posseSsor OF
considerable wealth, there was quite
little rivalry between these two spoiled
beauties over their common admlrer.
Lately Mile. Stafanoni has imagined
herself somewhat ill-used by her friend,
as an agreemen had been made between
them that neither was to receive
more attention than the other from the
Greek. Both the girls were engaged.
Mile. BarOni being about to wed rich
young Roman, while Margherita Ste
fanOni was shortly to become baroness
by marriage. The Greek has lately
shown himself more aSsiduous to Mile.
Baroni, and there has been quite a con-
siderable amount of ill-feeling between
the two in consequence. On the night
of Dec. last this ill-feeling eliminated
IN A TERRIBLE QUARREL
And the two beautiful rivals, whose OBJ
ject of contention was but for matter
of personal vanity, a question OF the
most trivial Importance, finally agreed
that the only way in which the affair
could be settled would be by fighting
duel. The proceedings were kept
strictly quiet. no one but fe-
male friends being permitted
to know anything of what
was going on, and the seconds them
selves being female members Of the
troupe. In order to avoid suspicion, the
conventional hour for such affairs was
not the one selected, but about midday
the two principals and their seconds
started for quiet spot which had been
decided uron as tbs rendezvous in the old
part of the city. Here, i'll a picturesque
spot, which had once probably been the
banquet chamber of some gay Athenian.
but where the sward was now as green
as emerald and surrounded by the
crumbiing walls of an old palace, the
two lovely combatantS faced each other
twenty PAGES apart and brought their
pistols into position ready for the signal.
Some half a dozen shots were exchanged
before blood was drawn and then Mile.
Stefanoni fell to the ground bleeding
and wounded.
IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT A BULLET
From her rivals pistol had pierced the
right limb just above the knee, and this
of course ended the fight, as Mile.
Stefanonl had tainted. The wounded
dancer was taken back to the
hotel in a carriage, it being given
out that in clambering over some ma
sorry her foot had slipped and she had
broken her leg. The bullet was eXtri-
Gated from Mile. Stefanoni's leg, but it
was found that her career as danSeuSe
was over, permanent lameneSS being i'll
evitable. The knowledge that her
career was ended at the age of
seventeen, at profession which
had already brought her so much sue
cess. caused Mile. StefaOni the most
poignant regret, and several times eX-
pressed a rebelief that the bullet had
been purposely aimed at her leg by her
rival in revenge. She also regretted
that it had not wounded her in some
fatal spot, so she might have been
spared the modification incumbent ON
her position. Mile. BarOni treated these
remarks of her friend as those of a
spoiled child. Although only one year
her senior, Mile. BarOni was person of
much more mature mind, and had been
dragged into the quarrel against her
wish by the impetuoslty of her friend.
She did not desert her even in the face
of these bitter remarks, but continued
to occupy the same sleeping chamber
with her and to contribute to her COM
fort as much as possible. A few morn
oings ago the proprietor of the hotel OBJ
served Mile. Stefanom leaving the
hotel. as he thought, stealthily, at an
early hour. 1t was the first time that
she had left her apartment since the
accident, and
THE LANDLORDS Suspicious
Were at once aroused that all was not
right. He accordingly instructed a
chambermaid to go to Mile. Stetanoni's
apartment and investigate. The cham
bermaid returned in few seconds stat
ing that Nile. Baroni was lying upon
the bed in dying condition.
A physician was at once sent for,
but he did not arrive on the
scene until to late to render the
dying dancer any assistance. The
reason of Mile. Baroni'S death was not
at first apparent, and it was thought
that she must have died of heart dis
ease. The suspicious disappearance OF
Mile StefanOni, however, caused more
thorough investigation to be made, when
small and almost unnOticeable wound
was found on the left side of the body
The physicians then said that Mile. Ba.
rOni had been stabbed by some long
sharp instrument, probably pin, which
had penetrated the lungs, causing
death. Shortly afterward a long sill
yer haiIpin belonging to one OF
the ladies was found concealed in one
of the window curtains. 1t was
examined and traces of blood were
found upon it. Mile. Stefanoni has beer
arrested and has confessed to having
murdered her friend for revenge, be
cause she crippled her for life. The
case is one of the most sensational anC
painful that has occurred in a long time
The two girls were little more than hill
dTen, and, although fond of gayety, pos
sesSed SpOtless regulations. But for thu
unfortunate meeting with the cause o.
their quarreling they would both have
been happily married in few months
Mile. Stefanoni will now have to answer
to the charge of murder, and if no
hanged will nrohahlv cnnnd tho ra