Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1909-04-21
THE KEY OF TEBALD0
Curious Messenger Of Death In
vented by an Italian.
TRAGIC LEGEND or VENICE.

Unique Weapon With Which the Man
Of Mystery and Murder Sought to
Stay His Way 20 the Hand OF tho
Woman He Loved.
The chronicles OF Venice tell that In
toe earlier part OF the seventeenth cen
tury n certain stranger. n man OF dark
and sinister aspect. arrived an the city.
His name was Tebaldo. He appears
20 have been n 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 manner
which showed she belonged TO n 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 10 be. however. more
insuperablc obstacle TO his suit The
girl was already betrothed 60 auOther
n young nobleman Of almost equal
rank and fortune. The knowledge did
not deter TebSldo. who boldly present
cd himself before the girls parents ina
the capacity of n sutton for her hand
AS might have been expected. be 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 n most formidable and death
dealing weapon This was a large key.
the handle OF which was so construct
ed that II could be turned nj VIII
When II was thus turned n secret
spring was disclosed. which. on being
pressed. launched from the key head
fine needle or lancet. The latter wa
OF such delicate construction that =.
penetrated the body Of the victim aud
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 prin-
cipal church in Venice on certain
day. Before the ceremony Tebaldo
cunnlngly disguised. stationed himself
at the church door armed with his dia-
bolical weapon. AS the bridegroom
was about TO enter the building tn
concealed watcher pressed the spring
and sent the deadly steel lancet into
the breast OF his victim. The young
nohleman had no suspicion Of injur;
at the moment In the midst OF the
ceremony. however he was seized
with sharp spasm OF pain and sank
fainttlg on ;he steps Of the altar he
was hurriedly conveyed 10 his home.
where the leading Venice physicians
were summoned 20 attend him. Ia
spite OF their unremittIng efforts he
sank and died. nor were they able to
discover the nature OF the mysterious
and fatal seizure.
With the removal OF his slval. Tc-
baho once more presented himself be-
fore the girls parents and renewed his
request for her hand. Their refusal 10
listen 10 him sealed their doom. In
what manner ne accomplished IL is nor
known. but within few days both
had been done TO death IN the same
sudden ana mysterious fashion
The exalted rank OF the victims ere
ated profound sensation. and whcn.
on examination Of the bodies ine
steel instrument was found IN the
flesh terror became universal The cit.
liens feared for their lives. The ut
most vigilance was exercised an the
part OF the authorities. hut rs yet no
suspicion fen upon Tehaldo
The bereavcd girl retired to "a con
vent. whore she passed The first months
of mourning In sorrowful scclusion
Tebaldo. however. sought hcr ont In
her retreat and begged 10 speak To her
through the grating.
His dark. evil face had always been
displeasing 10 her. but since The death
OF her betrothed and parents Il Ind be-
come repulsive When. therefore. IN
the course Of the interview he pressed
her to fly with him hc met with an r.
slant and indignant rcfusal. Her sccrn
stung him TO the quick Beside him.
self with rage. be brought his deadly
weapon once more into play and SUE.
ceeded IN wounding the girl through
the grating. the obscurity of the plac.
preventing his action from being OBJ
served
On her return 10 her room the girl
felt sharp pain In her breast. Exami.
nation of the spot showed that II was
dotted with n single drop OF blood
Physicians were hastily summoned
Taught 10y cast experience. they vast
cd no time in vain conjecture. hut cut
into the flesh and extracted the slen-
der steel. thus saving the girls life.
The dastardiy attempt occaeioned !
public cutlery. The visit Of Tebaldo TO
the convent became known and caused
suspicion 10 turn upon him. The en-
issaries of the law descended suddenly
upon him. his house was searched. and
there the abominable invention was
discovered. Swift justice followed
and he ended his days upon the scat
fold.
The key is still preserved IA the ar
fenal ut Venice.-Chambers' Journal