Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-05-13
TOOK ROUGH ON RATS
LOUIS RAGGHrANTI ADOPTS THIS
WAY TO END his IL
TOLD PUlENDS OF HIS INTENTION.
They Thought lie Was Joising-His
Body Found Yesterday Morning
over Cuicci's Bar, No. 4 West Broad
STREET.-THE he Buried Here.

Louis Rigghlanti, an Italian who has
been residing here for the past fourteen
years. was found dead in his room over
the saloon OF c. Cuicci No. west Broad
street. early yesterday morning. He had
retired very late after having had seve-
raj drinks. and tod a number Of his
friends and acquaintance that they
would see him no moro alive. 1t was a
plain case Of suicIde-a deliberate and
careful plan to destroy himself after
most horrible fashion.
Rough on rats was the agency employ
ed, and while put into bottle Of wine
SO as to make II the more palatable, death
was mono the less exoraciating and ago
mixing.
Early in tho evening Ragghianu dropped
into the drugstore OF Mr.. J. T. Lewis
No. east Broad street. and asked for a
package Of rough on rats. saying that
h. wanted to Kill some Of the pcstiferous
rodents. The clerk thought nothing
strange about the purchase, so the Gus
homer was accommodated. Ragghianu
talked with q number Of friends and ac-
puaintances during the early part of the
night. and 10 al of them he said that
he was about 10 leave them forever, or
that they would see him no more. He
had often spoken Of suicide, but no one
thought he was IN earnest. or that he
would ever think Of attempting such a
thing He had been drinking during
the past few days, but had always been
given to drinking quite freely. and was
known TO have taken as much as a gal
lon OF wine In a day.
REFUSED To TELL HIS TROUBLES.
on Tuesday evening he entered Cuiccis
place and took several drinks Of whis-
key. He told his friends that he was
going 10 DO something strange.
They talked freely with him and tried
20 find out what was the matter with
him. but he refused 10 tell. He went
nwayf and it was learned that he had
gone TO the saloon OF another friend.
taken several drinks, and told him good
BY.
lie then returned TO Cuiccfs place and
drank n bottle Of wine with two friends.
lie took another bottle and a wine glass
md went up stairs into a room. telling
all good-by. and declaring that he was
going TO sleep. In the room he mixed
n box Of rough on rats with the wine.
tasted g. and came back downstairs and
medicine TO put him to sleep. and that he
wanted 20 take a parting drink before
going away.
The barkeeper refused. declaring that
ne would not drink with n man who was
going 10 die. though not thinking that
the man really intended to.luh himself.
Ragghianti finally said that If the bar
tender would take a drink with him he
would tell him HIS troubles. The men
~1a nj Daruifonff cirQrair-
marked. "No: my troubles must die VITA
me" He then went back up stairs.
About II o'clock the barkeeper went up
stairs and saw Ragghianu laying on the
bed He shook him, but the seemingly
drunken man begged to be let alone, say
ing he wished TO sleep. The barkeeper
went to his room IN another part Of the
house and retired.
FOUND DEAD on THE FLOOR.
About o'clock yesterday morning the
tarkeeper went into the room and found
his friend on the floor. his head resting
rear the fireplace and his feet drawn up
The body was limp. but the lfe-light had
gone out.
A colored woman who sleeps on the
premises heard groans and cries during
the night and a noise like a man fall
ing. but she thought that a drunken
man was suffering and said nothing.
The deceased had been in this coun-
try about fourteen years. He was at
one time in business for himself but
was not steady enough to be successful,
and failed. or late he had been work
ing as a barkeeper. and his last employ
ment was with Mr.. X. Francone. He
has a brother living here by the name of
Dario Ragghianti. also a bartender. but
all his other relatives are living in Italy.
Tie burial will take place here to-day.