The Washington times., 1908-09-06
You Broke My Heart, "
Italian Writes Girl He
Couldn't Wed.
GIVES HER SAVINGS
OF HIS LIFETIME
Leaves Pathetic Letters 10 Mother
and Friends, Then Takes Leap
From Aqueduct Bridge.

Dear, if ever you marry, 1 hope he
will respect you. GOOd-by, gOOd-bys 1
viii see you la the other world"
That was the last message from a
soon-to-be suicide. a lovelorn lad from
sunny Italy. who, far from home ard
friends and those who might under
stand. sought solace in the waters OF
the Potomac early Friday morning be
cause Josephine Castelda, the belle of
the Italian colony here, had failed to
return the love that was ia his heart.
Guiseppi Crio was his name. Home
sick, lovesick, hard-working Crio, who
toiled and saved his money by day and
dreamed of a little home Cor Josephine
by night, hope he at last wrote must
ind fulfllment In the other world.
Last night there stood about in Little
Italy silent groups of toiI-worn men,
casual acquaintance OF the suicide. A
few hours before the body of the man
who jumped on the Aqueduct Bridge
had been identified. Then the letters
were found, to sweetheart, 10 mother,
and Ito all italians i'm Washington"
lie had written and left them in his
room at $40 1 street before going forth
TO death.
Decided to Die
The respondent one had figured it all
out Between the lines written in an
irregular hand one almost could read
the thoughts of Crio. he who must die
in a strange country for the Unrequited
love for the pretty Italian maiden he
had found here. AS best he could he
expressed the sorrow that was in his
heart-for Josephine did not care. and
Josephine meant ali TO Crio. lonely Crio
God it calling me-" he said. You
last night told me one word. you broke
my neart," he added, with the simplic-
ity of his kind.
Josephine sat last night and read the
message from the dead-but she said
rothing. What was I'm her heart TO
one viii know. but Josephine was think
ing, thinking, long after the little groups
Of Crico's C0untrymen had left be
morgue, where the body Law. and,
mEmbling, had wendell their way h,ma-
ward. Perhaps Crio's spirit knows what
is in Josephine's heart. he said he
would, but it's too late.
Farewell to Mother.
TO mother too, the lad indicted
farewell note, and one who never knew
this son Of italy may know from the
manner IN which he writes to mother
that his heart was big and true that he
wanted to do right but that there was
no happiness in his America without
Again, with the humility Of his kind,
ne wrote-th.s time to his fellow cUun-
trymen i'm Washington
Il beg pH-dOn of YOU all" he said. as
he stood in the shadow of the death
which was to come by his own hand.
4 am sorry; 1 don't think 1 did any
thing to anyone today"
But the letters tell it all. the love
story of poor Crio, who lies at the
morgue today. while his countrymen
speak in awed whispers Of a suicide
Perhaps his rival is in the little group.
but who can say that he is not sorry
too?
Writes to Josephine.
One could be nothing else when he
reads message from the heart like
this:
My dear Josephine: God is calling
me. 1 have witness. 1 have got to 20.
You last night told me one word. You
broke my heart, and after those words.
pu my head on my knee, and I was
thinking and re-thinking Something
came TO my mind, very bad and all
my fault. I viii make you a present of
!, 100 pounds. and if you want to 90 and
find your kind friend you can have n
good time and bring with you your little
sister.
Il expect her to do a great thing
When you get notice of this bad news
/ won't render trouble. You can say that
/ was always a gentleman, unfortunate
~ You liked me very well with my
moneq, you must regard that tais money
cost me ten times sweat Of my brow
/ cannot write any more. My heart is
broken I leave one million kisses
Dear, if ever you marry / hope he
viii respect YOU. Good-by, good-by, 1
viii see YOU in the other world"
Last Letter Home.
The second letter was for his moth
err who lives in Italy. It read.
MY dear mother: / Will enclose
my last words. I don't demand pity
for the trouble gave you, and nv
idea to do this. God permit me. Now,
look. / am going to find my God. my
dear father. I viii explain my part
to him. I viii give account of my
past life. and he viii tell me that I
have been man, the best of any of
them.
Il would rather suffer than be wound
ed. I was in love with one girl. have
found out that she was an angel of
heaven. an innocent girl I am so in
love that I can't hold it because she
is SO dear TO me, L can't rest twenty
four hours without seeing her. God
knows it, God knows I'll give her no
trouble 1 can't get along with her. I
have $500 at the bank. I will leave il
10 my dear intended sweetheart, Jo-