Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1892-04-06
ROMEO AND JULIET.
THE OLD, OLD STORY REToLD WITH
MODERN ACCESSORIES.

In the criminal court Of Naples the
story Of Romeo and Juliet in modern
life was told recently Lieutenant
Leone, of the Tenth regiment Of artil-
lery, while stationed in Palermo, fell
desperately in love with Catherine No
tarbartolo de Villarosa, beautiful
young woman The Notarbartolo fam
lily is among the most powerful in Sicily
where good deal of the old feudal sys-
TEN fourishes in spite Of the Italian
unity Donna Maria Bentiragna, Widow
Notarbartolo and the mother of the !
young woman. had brother executed |
in 1859 for political offenses, and she |
was banished, but she returned to Sicily |
with Garibaldi Although she is sixty |
four years of age she administers the
rich patrimony of her family The
beautiful Catherine was her youngest
child
The question before the court was
whether the young officer committed
suicide or was murdered by the brother
of the young girl. His body was-found
at the door of the Notatbartolo mansion
He had been shot through the heart
and pistol was found at his feet. The
evidence for the prosecution was that
he had been called into the house by
GATHERINGS old nurse Calogera Tinni-
relic, and that GATHERINGS brothers, who
were his sworn enemies, had waited for
him al the entrance and had shot him.
Fra ac, SEQ Notarbartolo who was ac-
cus-d f having organized the plot had
pre- iously fought duel WITH the lover
WIS 4 one sided fight, however in
VIII ch al the fury was with Notarbar-
tolo leone, who was an expert swords
ma /. foile all ms desperate attacks, and
allowed himself to be wounded rather
tina run he risk of killing the brother
of his ladylove. francesca was also
the recognized chief of the Malta society
in Pal ,rno Eleven times he was on
the po.nt Of being arrested, but on each
occasion lie was saved by the Mania. and
at one time he was concealed in the
house OF Il near relative OF the chief OF
police.
The trial of the case extended through
two years i'll Palermo, and then the
venue was changed to Naples, where It
lasted for eighty days Love letters IN
abundance from Leone to Catherine
and from Catherine to Leone were read
in which the tender passion was painted
with all the high coloring peculiar to the
italian school. The brothers Notarbar-
tolo did not deny anything of the love
affair between their sister Catherine and
the young officer; they simply confined
themselves to denial of the charge oil
murder. One of them, Pietro, declared
in his examination that Leone was com
10 him Nyban hp
ceived the following note:
SiR-I love your sister Catherine. Pronounce
the last word. II 1t should be NO" give yoc
my word that shall abide by II and insist nc
longer.
In describing the effect of the letter
Pietro said. n spoke of that letter tc
my mother who said. The young maj
ia crazy. The marriage is impossible
informed Lieutenant Leone of this decls
ion and advised him to postpone AS far ~
possible the stupid notion OF getting
married We parted on the best o
terms. A few days afterward while w
were at dinner, we heard pistol sho
outside the door. We came down AM
found Leone dead at the door. he ha'
lust sent bullet through his breast
THE medical reports seem to estah
lish that Leone did not kill himself, bu
was murdered the president OF tn
court remarked,
"On the contrary" Pietro responded
He shot himself in the heart Lover
ALWAYS shoot themselves in the heal
and bankers always shoot themselves
the head. Whether it is the heart
tho brain, it is always the affected par
that they aim at.
The old nurse, who carried the letter
of the lovers, denied that she induce
Leone to come TO the house,
The deposition of Leone, ST.. the fatht
of the Young man. was particularly dr.
matte. He said: When learned thu
nv son was in love with one OF the NJ
tarbartolo young ladies | knew that
was all over with him. All the lovers
the young ladies were killed by u
brothers Notarbartolo. francesca kilie
Roccardo and his brother-in-law Co
pola."
"lf struck down Coppola, the
cused Francesca interrupted, lit was b
cause he began to court my sister 20
starce and then deserted her to mai
Low, 90 my sister Maria. And now po
Con stance is crazy from love
lyon are also accused Of having kill'
Lieutenant Leone. Why did You II
away after the tragedy?" the preside
asked
''.3ecause knew that would be 81
pected | have already been in pris'
for beating policemen. and know wh
il is to be shut up in four walls.
Other witnesses gave the details OF t
duel, in which Leone was kind enou
TO allow himself to be wounded by I
brother Of his expected bride. Lett'
were then produced to show that wh
the broken hearted lovers were part
by the orders of the proud old WON
and of the terrible brothers. who 81
tanned her decision. Leone for time
cepted his fate, but on receiving oui
ing and fearful document from Gait
rine, begging him TO continue ms $
and asking him if he had ceased TO &c
her, he weakened aud determined TO
turn to Palermo His brother ONO
urged him not o. 20 They VIII
you," they said.
"Well. let them kill me. Leone sa
II can't give up my love-
Several Of his comrades testiiied u
he never bad any idea Of suicide !