The Washington herald., 1911-09-17
ASPARAGUS THEFT
DRIVES HIM CRAZY
Death in Maniac's Cell Ends
Frightful Tragedy.
TAKES SECRET TO GRAVE
Love of SuccuIent Vegetable Causes
Man to SteaI-PrIde Prevents
Him from Revealing Plight and
His Constant Fear of Enemy
Drives Him Mad.
Special Cable to The washington Herald.

Special Cable to The Washington Herald
Milan, Italy. Sept 16.-Strange, indeed.
are the links which make up the fatal
chain of circumstance in the story OF
Giuseppi COgilati. who died recently, a
raving maniac, in the lunatic asylum
of Mombelli. Probably the most pene-
| trating psychologist would find it i'm
possible. unless he were provided with
the guiding thread, TO establish a causaI
nexus between an inordinate taste for
asparagus and death in a padded cell,
but it was undoubtedly Cogliatrs PEN
chant for the succuIent vegetable which
in the first place induced him to steal
few heads from a neighbOr's planta-
ton. and his anxiety to conceal this COM
paratively trifling misdemeanOr caused
him to endure the untold suffering which
eventually upset his mental equilibrium
and drove reason from his fear-tortured
brain.
The theft. which was the first act in
this pathetic tragedy. was committed
of Montenegro. was enjoying a stroll in
the country, when he perceived a fine
bed of asparagus belonging, to one OF
his fellow-Citizens. His mouth began to
water, and. extracting a knife, he set
about collecting a few heads, on which
he proposed making an enjoyable feast
shot Twice by Owner.
Suddenly gun was fired and the glut-
tOnous thief was struck in the right
shoulder by a number OF pellets from
sporting cartridge. With cry Of ter
ror, he took to his heels. but had barely
gone half a dozen steps before another
discharge took him full in the back, and
he stumbled to the ground.
Struggling to his feet again, he per
Ceived the owner of the asparagus bed
preparing TO reload his gun. The wretched
man made a supreme effort to escape
and managed to reach the house OF g.
friend, whom he swore to secrecy. He
was unwilling to denounce the person
who had wounded him. as he did not
want his attempted robbery to become
known. For the same reason he would
not consult a doctor, who would have
been obliged to make a report of the
matter to the local authorities. So, after
his friend had done his best for him, he
accompanied Cogliati to his home and
left him in the care Of his wife.
silent Through SunerInEs.
Cogliati bore his sufrerings in silence
for four or five months. His condition
grew worse and worse, and at last he
was taken to a hospital in Milan. Still
he would say nothing about the Gauss
of his serious condition.
His sufferings and the separation from
his family. added to the constant fear
of the owner Of the asparagus. whom
he supposed to be lying in walt ready
to shoot at him again, finally turned
his brain. He was sent to a lunatic asy-
lum. where his condition degenerated
from meIancholia into homicidal mania.
until at last death put a merciful end
to his sufferngs.
This occurred last month. Until few
days ago his widow jealously guarded
the secret of her unfortunate husband
Then she went to the authorities and
told them all the facts. The matter is
now the subject Of a judicial inquiry.