Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1909-02-17
THE KEY OF TEBALDO
Curious Messenger of Death In
vented by an Italian.
TRAGIC LEGEND OF VENICE.

Unique "SdRNh WIN NHtASu the an
Of Mystery and Murder Sought to
Stay His Way to the Hand of the
Woman He Loved.
The chronicles of Venice tell that in
the earlier part Of the seventeenth cen
fury a certain stranger, a man of dark
and sinister aspect, arrived in the city.
His name was Tebaldo. He appears
to have been man of unruly passions.
Of great intellectual power. but one
whose talents found their chief outlet
in crime.
One day he observed a beautiful girl
leaving church, attended in a manner
which showed she belonged to family
Of high degree. She was, in fact. the
daughter of an ancient and noble
house. He fell violently in love with
her Though far removed from him in
station. his blind passion took no count
of this fact. and he determined to sue
for her hand.
There proved to be, however. a more
insuperable obstacle to his suit. The
girl was already betrOthed to another.
young nObleman Of almost equal
rank and fortune. The knowledge did
not deter Tebaldo, who boldly present
ed himself before the girls parents in
the capacity of a sutton for her hand,
As might have been expected, he met
with curt and unceremOnious rebuff.
The repulse ranked in his mind En-
ragged beyond measure, he shut himself
up in his own house and there secretly
studied means of revenge. Pro
fOundly skilled in the mechanical arts.
he allowed himself no rest until he had
invented a most formidable and death
dealing weapon. This was a large KEY.
the handle of which was so construct
ed that it could be turned at will.
When it was thus turned secret
spring was disclosed, which, on being
pressed, launched from the key head a
fine needle or lancet. The latter was
Of such delicate construction that ii
penetrated the body of the victim and
buried itself deep in the flesh without
leaving any external trace.
The marriage of the betrOthed cou
pie was fixed to take place in the prih
cipal church in Venice on a certain
day. Before the ceremony TebaldO
Cunningly disguised, stationed himself
at the church door armed with his dia-
bolical weapon. AS the bridegroom
was about to enter the building the
concealed watcher pressed the spring
and sent the deadly steel lancet into
the breast of his victim. The young
Eobleman had no suspicion of injury
at the moment. In the midst of the
ceremony, however. he was seized
with sharN spasm of pain and sank
hinting on the steps of the altar He
. was hurriedly conveyed to his home,
where the leading Venice physicians
we're summoned to attend him. In
spite of their unremitting efforts be
sank and died, nor were they able to
discover the nature of the mysterious
and fatal seizure.
With the removal Of his rival. Te-
baldO once more presented himself be
fore the girls parents and renewed his
request for her hand. Their refusal tC
listen to him sealed their doom. II
what manner he accomplished 1t is moi
known. but within a few days boil
had been done to death in the same
sudden and mysterious fashion.
The exalted rank Of the victims ere
ated n profound sensation. and when
on examination Of the bodies. n fine
steel instrument was found in TIT
flesh terror became universal. The cit
liens feared for their lives. The ut
most vigilance was exercised on tn
part Of the authorities, but as yet III
suspicion fell upon TebaldO.
The bereaved girl retired to con
vent, where she passed the first month
Of mourning in sorrowful seclusion
TebaldO, however. sought her out Il
her retreat and begged to speak to he
through the grating.
His dark, evil face had always bee
displeasing to her, but since the deaf
Of her betrOthed and parents 1t had bE
come repulsive. When. therefore.
the course Ct the interview he presse
her to fly with him he met with an IL
slant and indignant refusal. Her scor
stung him to the quick. Beside hin
self with rage, he brought his deadl
weapon once more into play and SUI
ceeded in wounding the girl throuS
the grating, the obscurity Of the plac
preventing his action from being oI
served
On her return to her room the 81
felt sharp pain in her breast. Exam
nation Of the spot showed that 1t wa
dotted with a single drop of bloo
Physicians were hastily summone
Taught by past experience. they was
ed no time In vain conjecture, but G.
into the flesh and extracted the sic
der steel, thus saving the girls life
The dastardly attempt occasioned
public Outcry. The visit Of Tebaldo
the convent became known and cause
suspicion to turn upon him. The ei
Bsaries Of the law descended sudden
upon him, his house was searched, al