The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-01-28
PIANTINIIN A NEW LIGHT
sgLIrA'S MOTHER HOLDS BIN UP
AS VERY MEAN MAN.

she Declares Him Full OF Vicss and
sustained Ia Part by a LOGGER in
Piantinis House-The Italian Rep
resented as Madly IN Love With
selita for Months.
ATLANTA, GA, Jan. 27.-The mother OF
seiita Muegge, the young woman who was
shot by Piantini. the Italian, at the Metro
politan hotel last Tuesday night, to-day
gave to the public letter in which she says
that Umberto Piantini is the meanest man
that ever lived, aud has all the vices and
bad qualities. By means only known to
himself be won the heart OF the purest girl,
until she was his victim. She would do no
wrong and wanted to die through his hands
He brought desolation and despair IN a
happy and honest family. He deceived
the best Of fathers, his wife and
every one that came in contact with
him. He made believe at home that
MIR. Beutell's establishment, where he W as
at work. was closed in consequence of bad
weather, and spent tire time at her side
She had forbidden him the house, but under
pretext of his relationship he was FREE
duent visitor. This letter is regarded as in
the nature of development that may pos
sibly knock a good deal of the romance out
OF the affair. The girls mother is firm in
the belief that her daughter was persuaded
to go into the hotel by Piantini, and that he
attempted to murder her. the girl being
subservient TO his every command on ac-
count of her iutatuation for him.
THE CHARGE SUSTAINED.
The girl has not herself made any state
ment in regard TO the shooting but the
statement made to-day by young man
named Win SEWERS, who worked with
PiantiDi and lived at bis house, and who has
been q constant watcher at the bedside of
the wounded girl, gives further strength to
the charge of the girls mother. SEWERS is
the party who has heretofore given to the
press most of the information regarding the
affair, the family declining to talk about it,
He has heretofore shielded Piantini on
every point and on that account his state
ment to-day, which is strongly against the
wounded Italian, though not explicit, has
awakened new interest Ia the sensational
affair.
SEWERS STORY.
In his statement be says: Heretofore
have tried not to tell the true character of
the man, and have not done SO, but now
think it should be known. He has been
madly In love with Selta for months !
spoke TO MIN ABOUT IL at Varl ouS times and
on one occasion he was so affected that he
wept, but back OF all his seeming good
nature was violent temper and horrible
character Selita was a pure woman and
there is no doubt but what she was enticed
to this hotel by him and when once there
he committed the terrible deed. She had
told me that she ordered him never to come
to her fathers home again and he had. begged
her to allow him to come during this
week. This she agreed to on his promise
never to come again.
sELITA UNDER A CHARM.
His power over her was wonderful. She
feared him, a'd he exerted terrible influ-
ence over her. Just before his visit to the
Plantini home on last Tuesday night, which
was his last, she said she dreaded him, and
could not look into his eyes, that they fright.
ened her. She never went away from the
house with him, and their meeting at the
hotel was arranged at her fathers house on
Sunday night.n
Pantini's condition Ia not improving, and
the physician in attend lnce SAYS be may die
at any moment. II he RECEIVERS the girls
mother will prosecute him.