Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-28

HOUNDED FOR YEARS
BECAUSE OF A DUEL
Terrible Revenge Taken by Members of the Italian
Parliament Upon Count Furruccio Macola for
Killing Their Leader, Felice Cavaotti.

menacingly upon Macola. IT curse you
and all your broodp'
Even then little more presence of mind
on the part of those present might have
saved Cavallottf. Surgeons declare that he
died of suffocation from the blood of his
wound, and say that if his windppe had
been cut and tube inserted to enable him
to breathe he might be alive today. But
fate willed otherwise for, while the doc
tors hesitated about applying such stern
measures, the impulsive, hot-headed Caval-
lotti looked once into the eyes of the grief
stricken countess bending over him. half
smiled, and died. Countess Cellere was like
a woman distraught. After tenderly lay
ing the body of her friend on the grass, she
rose, and, Selling Cavallottfs sword, would
have flung herself on his opponent had she
not been held back by those present. Final
ly, however, she grew calmer, and, with a
mien full of menace, walked beside the
dead man, who was conveyed into her
house. and buried a few. days later with
great pomp.
What the authorities thought of Macola's
responsibility for his rivals death Is shown
by the fact that the proceedings against
him were purely formal and that he was
not even obliged to resign his seat in the
chamber. But for the count, what was to
be a lifelong tragedy had begun. Despite
his innocence in the matter, Macola brood
this the more profoundly as he was never
allowed to forget it, the members of the
extreme left, the dead mans parliamentary
friends, having determined to revenge him
by unceasing persecution of his involuntary
slayer
That persecution has been carried on with
a "reminiscences almost unbelievable in this
day and generation. From the time when
their resolution was taken, Cavallottfs
friends absolutely refused to allow Macola
to speak in the house, but villified, attacked
and boycotted him at every turn, often
showing a heartless ingenuity in the torture
they inflicted. If the count rose to speak,
his opening sentences would be drowned by
cries of "Cavallotti! Who murdered Cav
allotti?" and Kisses, whistles, insults and
threats of physical violence would follow
until the unfortunate deputy sat down in
despair.
At first the treatment only aroused a de-
termination on Macola's part to live down
his remorse and fight his enemies, but the
strain was too great. Nature stepped In,
and from that day out the count had not
only to contend with pitiless human antag-
onists, but with physical weakness This
unequal contest has lasted for nearly seven
years, which for Macola have been years
of WEAKNESS, Illness and Encouragement
with occasional flashes of his old brilliancy
and wit love of controversy and Joy in
public life. In those years his stanchest
supporter and comrade has been his wife,
and only the Countess Macola could de-
scribe what this time has meant to her.
During these dreary years the devoted
woman had been obliged to watch her hus
bands remorse and see the disorder which
attacked him slowly work its way, weak
ening his physical force and brain power
and destroying his nerves Count Macola's
wife has done all that woman could do,
but without avail. 1t was to be.
What the public believes to be the last
scene in the tragedy was enacted the other
day, and those who witnessed 1t declare
that the memory will never pass from their
minds. For many months Count Macola
had not attended parliament. His spirits
had somewhat improved in the interval,
and as a new chamber was to meet the
much-tried conservative deputy fancied
that he might be allowed to speak without
molestation. He hoped that seven years
opponents. So, after writing one of the
most brilliant speeches ever prepared by
him, Macola went down to the chamber to
deliver 1t.
AS he rose, notes in hand to begin his
address, a hush of expectation fell on the
house. and for a moment all air-minded
men hoped that the conservative leader
was not to be interfered with. Then, with
out a word, the entire extreme left rose and
left the hall in a body without a glance al
the speaker. Macola turned pale, but did
not lose his self-possession, and CHANGING
at his notes began his speech. Suddenly,
however, he stopped, hesitated, consulted
his notes, and then went on. Again he
stopped. looked about him in a daZed man.
ner. said few words, trembling violently,