Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-09-30
MURDER LIKE BORGIA,S.

A dispatch from Rome says that the
Count Conmartini murder is now monop-
olizing the attention of all Italy. Il
recalls in its horrid cruelty and depra-
vity the historic tragedies associated with
the Italian tyrants in the dark ages.
Count Bonmartini, wealthy, noble
man, married Zodolinda, the handsome,
well-dowered daughter of Professor Au-
gusto Murri, a medical man of European
celebrity. Zodolinda is a typical Italian,
passionate and ungovernable. and even
at the time she was married to Bonmar-
TIM, though only 10, she had developed
morbid taste for sensational and vicious
literature, obtained for her by her broth
ed Zullio, medical student known in
Bologna as a young man of singularly
dissolute character.
Zullio's influence over his sister was
always exercised for evil, and after her
marriage he did all in his power to es-
TRANCE her from her husband, having
also got their father to prevent her mar
riage to young friend of his own, with
whom she had fallen in love.
Zodolinda in her strength of mind and
surroundings and propensities seems to
be the reincarnation of Lucrezia Borgia,
as pictured by some of the medieval
chroniclers. She had numerous admir-
ers after her marriage, and IL months
ago her husband, patient, forgiving
man, separated from her. She had two
children, but Bologna rang with stories
of her amours, and she was literally
public scandal.
Professor Murri never rested until he
brought about an apparent reconcilia-
ton between his daughter and her hus-
band, and with the children the couple
went together to Venice for the summer.
After a lew weeks the trouble broke out
again in the household, and Bonmartini
resolved 20 settle in Padua, in the hope
of removing bis wife from bad in
fuences. He LEFT Venice the 25th of
August and deposited large sum of
money in the bank at Padua, intending
to buy property near that town.
He then went to Bologna, where he
was seen by several friends, afterward
quietly going to his home, house in
the Via Mazzini. Three days later the
other inmates of the houses, suspecting
something, broke into Bonmartini's
apartment, and found him lying on the
floor in a pool of coagulated blood.
His throat was cut and there were IL
dagger wounds on his body. The apalt-
ment was in disorder, and some
feminine wearing apparel was found,
giving the impression, which Zullio
originated, that the Count had been
murdered through jealousy over some
disgrace{ul intrigue.
No clue to the murder could be OBJ
tanned, and Zullio, aiser defaming his
brother-in-law broadcast, sent wreath
to his funeral and disappeared. Suspi-
cion was ,aroused when the police re-
ceived a letter from Professor Murri
stating that Zullio had committed the
murder to avenge his sister, who accused
Bonmartini of ill-treating her. In
qui-ies then elected not only abundant
proofs of Zullio's mad hatred and
jealousy of his brother-in-law, but
he had also been in great none
tary difficulties, having tried,
through the instrumentality of Doctor
Naldi, man of evil reputation, and
gambler, to get loan of $1,000. Naldi
was himself without means until the
day a..er the Counts C'sappearance,
when he paid some debts and left hur-
riedly for Genoa.
1t is now known that the Countess
sent the key of the Counts house to
Zullio from Venice, and he, with Naldi,
who has confessed, lay in wait for him.
While Zullio pinioned the victim, stiff
| ing his cries, Naldi inflicted several
death-dealing blows with large knife.
They then robbed the murdered man
and coolly arranged things to make it
appear that the Count was the victim of
guilty intrigue.
1t was found that the Countess had
teleeraphed Zullio tidings of her hus-
bands movements and of the money she
imagined he had with him, and the cli-
max of the sensation was reached when
she was arrested at her fathers house as
an accomplice in the diabolical crime.
Since her arrest she has abandoned
the pose of bereaved widow, and
adopted an attitude of revolving cyni-
cism. Zullio is still at large, but it is
believed he is in Bologna, while Naldi
vas trapped after vain'y attempting to
hire as surgeon On an American-bound
ship from Genoa. AS revelation OF
callous brutality, as well as incredable
moral degradation, the story ofZodolinda
and Zullio could not be excelled.