Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1904-09-02
BLOOD ATONE MENT
Tragedy Is Added to Series Of
Events Surrounding Morgan's
Purchase.
STOLEN CAPE Is CAUSE.
ancient Ecclesiastical Vestme1t Was
Taken from Italian Church and
Sold to American.
SUSPECT TAKES HIS OWN LIFE.

Ascot, Italy, Aug. 3O.-Tragedy has
boop added to the series of events which
have followed J. Pierpont Morgan's pur-
chase. q few months ago, of an ancient
cone. said to have been stolen from the
cathedral in this city. H.,
The photographer Rockingham, VINO
was arrested on August II for comphcltX,
in the theft, committed suicide in his cell
by hanging himself to one OF the bars.
The accused man had been morbid
from the time of his detention, and at
first tried to starve himself to death, re-
fusing all nourishment
Priests May Be Implicated.
4 dispatch from Ascoi August p said
that a sensation had been caused there
owing to the fact that Mgr. Santareli,
the rector; Father Lucid. professor;
Father Dangelo, administrator of the
seminary. and Father OrtOlani, the par
ish priest Of AncaranO, had been sum-
moned to appear before the court investl-
eating the theft of the cope.
During a search of the house Of Roc
chiggiani the authorities found the sum
of $4,000, which. it was claimed, in
creased the seriousness of the case
against him, as he was looked upon as
being poor
Theft Caused Sensation.
The cope is an ecclesiastical vestment,
and the Ascoli garment is almost price
less. 1t is Il beautifully embroidered
piece of work, done in France IN the
Thirteenth century, and it was presented
TO the cathedral of Ascoli by Pope Nicho-
las ". who sat on the throne Of Peter
from 1888 to 1892.
1t mysteriously disappeared while re-
pairs were being made to the cathedral IN
1902 and the town was stirred to its
depths. Later it was sold to j. +. Nor
gan, the American banker, who, it is as
serted, insisted on having a photograph
of the seller. with his autograph.
The remote cathedral town, situated
in eastern Italy, regarded the vestment
with veneration. and when it disappeared
felt as if it had lost its eve lamb and the
Italian police left no stone unturned TO
discover the guilty parties. There is
widespread belief that the photographer
acted only as agent of principals higher
up The recent summons of the rector
and others at Arcoi strengthens this be-
lief.
Photographer Newcomer.
Rockingham was a Florentine, who
went to AscOi two years ago and set up
a small shop, which was recently fitted in
the most modern style, while he himself
went on series of tours abroad i'll order,
as he says, to study the latest develop
ments Of the Photographic art. He re-
turned to Ascot about August 10, from
Cairo. according to his story. but from
London, as the police are inclined to
think.
A few months ago a handsome cope
came into the London market-it is
thought from Paris-and was bought by
Mr.. Morgan. Mr.. Morgan offered to lend
it to the South Kensington museum for
exhibition, and for the last few months
it has been placed i'll the tapestry room
there.
Some of The museum authorities de-
clare that it is not an example of French
art, but that it was made in England
more than 600 years ago.
The basis of the cope is of brocade.
formed by gold threads woven on n
kind of canvas, and into it are worked
fifteen whole and four half circle medal
lions representing religious subjects such
as the Virgin and Child, the Head of
Our Lord, the Crucifixion of st. Peter.
and figures of the early popes. Except
that the pearls formerly strewn pro-
fusely over the tissue were sold to pay
war tax raised in the time of Ma
poleon l.. the cope remains in perfect
condition.
Seek to Recover Vestment.
Suddenly it was found out that this
was the long lost cope of Ascoli. The
discovery. when it was made, came as
general surprise.
At once it was felt among Catholics
that the cope must be recovered, and
rumor had it that Cardinal Nannutelli
had undertaken. during his recent visit
to London, to approach Mr.. Morgan with
view to its being given up. But Mr..
Morgan was not in England at the time,
and the cardinal had no such mission.
When the cardinal left England he had
not moved in the matter personally,
though he is credited with having writ
ten to the bishop of Ascoli, Bartolomeo,
Ortolani. advising him to write direct to
Mr.. Morgan. And there the matter
stands at present.
POLICEMEN BADLY HURT.