The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1892-03-19
ROMEO AND JULIET.
The Old story. with Modern Access
sorlcs, etold In Naples.


In the criminal court OF Naples tho
story OF Romeo and Juliet In modern
life was told recently. Lieut. lie. %
OF the Tenth regiment OF artillery.
while stationed In Palermo fell des.
perately In love with Catherine Notar-
bartolo de Villarosa beautiful youag
woman The Notarbartolo family is
among the most powerful in Sicily.
where good deal OF the old feudal
system fourishes in spite OF tho
Italian unity. Donna Maria Bentirag-
ma widow Notnrbartolo. and tho
mother OF tho young woman. had
brother executed in 1859 for political
offences, and she was banished. but
she returned TO Sicily with Garibaldi.
Although she Is GA 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 Notarbar-
tolo mansion. He had been shot
through the heart, and pistol was
found at his feet The evidence for
the prosecution was that he had boon
called into the house by Catharines
old nurse Calogera Tinnirello and
that Catharine's brothers. who were
his sworn enemies, had waited for him
at The entrance and, had shot him.
francesca Notarbartolo, who was ac-
cused OF having organized the plot
had previously fought a duel with the
lover. II was one-sided fight how
ever in which all the fury was with
Notarbartolo. Leone. who was an ex-
pert swordsman foiled all his desper-
ate attacks and allowed himself to be
killing the brother OF his lady love.
Francesca was also the recognized
chief OF the Malta society at Palermo.
Eleven times he was on the point OF
being arrested says the New York
Sun. but on each occasion he was
saved by the Malta, and at one time
he was concealed In the house of
near relative OF the chief OF police.
The trial OF tho case extended
through two years in Palermo. and
then the venue was changed to Naples.
where 1t 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 Notarbartolo did not
deny anything OF the love affair be.
tween their sister Catherine and the
young officer; they simply confined
themselves to q denial OF the charge
OF murder. One of them. Pietro. de-
clared in his examination that Leone
was completely unknown to him when
he received the following note:
SIR: love your sister Gather
inc Pronounce tho last word. II it
should be No give you my word
that shall abide by it and insist no
longer"
In describing the effect OF the letter.
Pietro said: Il spoke OF that letter to
my mother, who said: The young
man is crazy. The marriage is i'm
possible. informed Lieut. Leone OF
this decision and advised him to post
pone as far rs possible the stupid no.
ton OF getting married. We parted
on the best OF terms. A few days
afterward while we were at dinner,
we heard pistol shot outside the
door. We came down and found
Leone dead at the door. He had just
sent a bullet through his breast"
Other witnesses gave the details OF
the duel In which Leone was kind
enough to allow himself to bs wounded
by the brother OF his expected bride.
Letters were then produced to show
that when the broken hearted lovers
were parted by the orders OF the proud
old woman and OF the terrible BROTH
ers. who sustained her decision.
Leone for time accepted his fate;
but on receiving burning and fearful
document from Catherine begging
him to continue his suit and asking
him II he had ceased to love her. he
weakened and determined to return to
Palermo. His brother officers urged
him not to go. They will kill you"
they said.
We'll let them kill me-" Leone
said; II can't give up my love-"
Several OF his comrades testified
that he never had any idea Of suicide.
The evidence pointed to murder or a.
least to manslaughter. for quarrel
between Leone and the brothers was
also described. Francesca Notarbar-
tolo was convicted and sentenced to
five years imprisonment Tho others
were acquitted, and now Catherine IL
crazy.