The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-09-17

LIKES ASPARAGUS,
IS DRIVEN CRAZY
Taste for succulent Vegetable
Leads to Padded
Cell.
4F
PATHETIC TRAGEDY ENACTED
Small Theft Discovered and
Ends in Wrecking Mans
PATHETIC TRAGEDY ENACTED
[spseiai Cable to The Ttm,s.pl,p.,os. /,

lepsciai Cable TO Tho Dispatch
Milan. September ls.-Strange indeed
are the links which make up tha ,ota,
cha'h Oh circumstance In the story OF
Siusoppi Cosliati. who died recently
a raVing maniac In the unatic asylur
OF Mombelli. Probably the most meme.
trating psychologist would find IL i'm.
possible. unless he were provided with
the Su2dins thread, to establish a
causal ncxus between an ,no-dina,s
taste Tor asparagus and death in n
padded cell. but It was undoubtedly
Cogl!astis pechant for the succulent
vegetable. which. in the FIST place. in.
ouced him to steal n few heads from
Il neighbours plantation. and his ankle.
ty to conceal this comparatively tri.
Ming misdemeanor caused him 10 endur.
the untold suffering which eventualls
upset his mental equilibrium and drove
reason from her throne 10 his fear.
tortured brain.
The theft. which was the hrst act In
this pathetic tregedy. was committed
TWO years ago. cogliati. an ~inhabitan,
OF MontosF!no, was enjoying n stroll
In the country, when he perceived 4
hne bed OF asparagus belonging 20 on.
OF his fellow citizens. His mouth be.
gan to water. and extracting a knife
ne set about collecting a few heads. or
whien ne proposed making an enjoy.
aoie ieast Suddenly a gun was nred
and the Siuttonous thief was struck
IN the right shoulder by a number of
pei!ets from 4 sporting cartridge. WITT
4 cry OF terror ne took 10 his heels
out haa barely gone half a dozen steps
netoFe anoihsr hischarge took him
tuii In tho back. and ne stumbled to
the ground Struggling 10 MS Zee,
again he perceived the owner CT the
asparagus bed preparing 10 reload hi.
gun.
The wretcEed man made a supreme
eHort to escape and managed 10 reach
the house OF a friend whom he swore
TO secrecy. He was unwilling 10 de-
nounce the Terson who had wounded
h'm' as he did not want his attempted
robbery to became known. For IN.
Same reason he would not consult a
doctor. who would have been obliged to
make a report OF the matter TO the To-
cal authorities. So after his friend
had done his best for him he accom-
panied Cogl!ati to his home and left
him in the care OF his wife
Cosl!ati bore his sufterings in silence
for four or five months. HIS cond.-
ton grew worse and worse. and at
last ne was taken to a hospital in
Milan. Still he would say nothing
about the cause Of his serious condi-
t!on.
His surerings and the separation
from his family. added to the constant
fear OF his enemy. the proprietor OF
the asparagus. whom he supposed 20
be lying in wait ready to shoot a. HIM
again. finally turned his brain. ard at
last he was sent to a lunat!c asylum,
when his condition degenerated from
~melancholia into homic!dal mania. UNI
til at last death put a merciful end to
his suffer!ngs.
This occurred last month. Until a
few days ago his widow jealousy
guarded the secret OF her unfortunate
husband. Then she e to the au-
thorities and told them all the facts.
The matter is now the subject OF a
judicial Inquiry.