Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1909-02-13
THE KEY or T[BALD0
Curious Messenger of Death In.
vented by an Italian.
TRAGIC LEGEND OF VENICE
Unique Weapon With Which the Mar
Of Mystery and Murder Sought 70
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 d certain stranger. a man of dark
and sinister aspect. arrived IN the city
His name was Tebaldo. He appears
TO have been Il mat OF unruly passions
of great intellectual power. but one
whose talents found their chief outlet
In crime.
One day he observed 4 beautiful girl
leaving church, ATTENDED III a manner
which showed she belonged to a family
OF high degree. She was, III fact. the
daughter of an ancient and noble
house He fell violently In love With
her. Though far removed from him liz
station, his blind passion took no count
OF this fact. aud he determined to SITE
for her hand.
There proved to be. however, n more
~insuperablc obstacle to his suit. The
girl was already bctrothed 10 another,
rank and fortune. The knowledge dill
not deter Tebaldo. who boldly present
cd himself before the girls parents In
the capacity OF a suitor for her hand.
AS might have been expected, he met
with a curt and unceremouious rebuff,
The repulse ranked In his mind. En-
ragged beyond measure. he shut himself
up In his own house and there secretly
studied a MEANS OF revenge. Pro
foundry skilled In the mechanical arts,
he allowed himself no rest until he had
invented a most formidable and death
dealing weapon This was n large key,
the handle OF which was so construct
ed that It could be turned at will
When 1t was thus turned a secret
spring was disclosed, which. on being
pressed. launched from the key head q
fine needle or lancet. The latter vas
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 fxed to take place IN the prin-
clpal 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 a sharp spasm OF pain and sank
fainting on the steps Of the altar, He
was hurrIcdly conveyed TO his home,
where the leading Venice physicians
were summoned e :eaa him. IN
spite Of tbsIs. pWewinl* efforts &c
sank and died, nor were they able 70
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 bis
request for her hand. Their refusal to
listen to him sealed their doom. In
what manner he accomplished 1t Is not
known, but within a few days both
had been done I 0 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. a fire
steel instrument was found In the
flesh terror became universal. The cit.
liens feared for their lives. The ut
most vigilance was exercised on the
part Of the authorities. but as yet no
suspicion fell upon Tebaldo.
The bereaved girl retired to a con-
vent. where she passed the first months
OF mourning in sorrowful seclusion.
Tebaldo, however, sought her out In
her retreat and begged to speak to her
through the grating.
His dark, evil face had always been
dispieasing 10 her. but since the death
or her betrothed and parents II had be
come repulsive. when. therefore, in
the course Of the irfserview he pressed
her to fly with him he net with AZ In
slant and Indignant refusal. Her scorn
.stung him to the quick. Beside him
self with rage. he brought his deadly
weapon once more Into play and sue
cceded In woundfng the girl through
the grating. the ~obscurify Of the place
preventing his action from being OBJ
served.
On her return to her room the girl
felt a sharp pain Ia her breast. Exami
nation OF the spot showed that It was
dotted with a single drop of blood
Physicians were hastily summoned
Taught by past experience. they vast
ed no time In vain conjecture. but cut
into the flesh and extracted the slen-
der steel. thus saving the girls life.
The d~astardly attempt occasioned a
public outcry. The visit Of Tebaido to-
the convent became known and caused
suspicion to turn upon him. The ems
Issaries Of the law descended suddenly
upon him, his house was searched, and
there the abominabie invention was
discovered. Swift justice followed.
and he ended his days upon the scat
fold.
The key Is still preserved In the ar