The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1906-12-30
A REMARKABLE CRIME
How Luigi Avenged His Sweot-
hearts Death.

What is the most remarkable case
you ever dealt with in your expert.
enee as police oflicial?"
This question was asked of John
Hayes, chief Of police of Kansas City,
who has been many years in the police
business. The chief sat for several
minutes without replying Finally he
leaned back in his chair and told this
story;
THE most remarkable case ever
knew Of, or ever heard Of, was that
of Luigi, the Italian barber 1t hap
pened Is years ago, when | was a city
detective. ! became acquainted with
Luigi young Italian, who was then
the proprietor OF fruit stand on
Walnut street His business was pros
porous and he saved his money He
was an intelligent fellow and pleasant
to talk with. He never seemed to
have care and life was full Of sun
shine for him. One day he told me he
was thinking Of getting married but
he was rather dubious about his
chances with the girl | learned from
him that she helped her widowed
mother manage a fruit and vegetable
stall at the city market.
Well Luigi became engaged to the
eirl--Mary was her name. The we'd
ding day was set. He told me all
about it and how happy he expected to
he and what a good girl she was.
u did not see Luigi again until the
day before tho wedding ! found him
sitting silent in the back OF his fruit
store. He did not at first reply to my
greeting. saw that his face was
drawn and pinched as though with SUI
foring
What's the matter, Lual?' /.
asked Why SO glum on the day be-
fore you wedding?
No be da wed, he replied as he
arose and faced me.
Seemingly without passion Luigi
then told me that Mary had gone away
with another man | should have /.
thought Luigi did not much care only
tAat his black eyes seemed like needle /
points in their intense concentration I
and as he talked | imagined heard !
them snap. 1t appeared that Mary .
had gone away with a young business
man--an American. Luigi told mo his .
name
A year passed, Mary returned to
her mother, broken in body and mind.
Her American friend had tired of her
She died and Luigi went to the funeral.
About a week after she was laid in
her grave the mar for whom she de-
serted Luigi also returned to the city.
He became a clerk in a clothing store
Shortly after this Luigi surprised
me by selling bis fruit stand lie
told me he was going to open barber
shop. He did. II was about block
away from the store where Mary's
fajthless lover was employed One
day he went to get shaved at Lugi's
shop. Luigi waited on him. He did
not know the polite and smiling bar
her whose razors were so sharp and
whose touch was so delicate The
man became a regular patron Of the
shcD and nearly always waited Tor
Luigi to attend him,
1T was about six months before the
next move in the drama, Then one
day the police ambulance was sum
moned to Lugi's shop. He had fallen
IN an epileptic fit, so the surgeon pro
bounced it, He soon recovered and
lothing was thought of the incident
Two months later Luigi had another
,plleptic attack while shaving a Gus
0mer He had the third and, as far
rs could learn, the last fit soon after
ward and this time the clothing clerk
vas in the chair and as Luigi fell in a
1t the razor was drawn across the
hroat of the clerk and cut it from ear
o ear. The man died with scarcely a
hussle
Luigi was arrested, Of course, but #
vas a mere Formally Accidental
.cath' was the verdict Of the coroncrs
urv. Luigi sold his barber shop and
Eft Kansas City I have never seen
r heard of him since. Frost