The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1911-02-20
ITALIAN CRIME A
COMPLICATED ONE
First Act Resulting in MUIR
der of Woman Occurred
Thirty Years Ago.
tAmcrlean News Service,


Milan. Feb. 20.-The murder Of a
certain Maria Pcllizzoni. near Verona
IN lifted out OF the category Of COM
monplacc crimes by the extraordinary
circumstances which inquiry into the
past history Of the persons concerned
has revealed. The misdeed forms the
closing scene OF an intricate drama.
the first act OF which was played near.
~ thirty years ago. when Giovanni
Fauro married Maria Pelizzoni. but on
ly with religious rites. They lived to-
gcthcr for a few months until Clio
yanni was called up for his term OF
military service. lie had not been
away from home very long before he
was advised by anonymous letters that
Maria was carrying on an intrigue
with his brother Giuseppe. He accord.
ingly returned TO his native town OF
Ronca. and spent several days In
searching for the guilty couple. But
he outstayed his leave Of absence. was
declared dcscrter. arrested. and con-
dcmned to eighteen months impris-
Onmcnt. being sent to the military pris-
ON at Savona.
Having completed his term OF pun
ishmcnt, Giovanni was drafted into the
disciplinary stationed at Osoppo. Here
he received further letters stating that
his wife had given birth to two child
rem. He again deserted. returned to
ROnca and had a quarrel with his
brother. The carabineers had to inter.
fcrc on this occasion. and Giovanni
finding himself In imminent danger Of
another term OF imprisonment for de-
sertion. managed to escape from the
country altogether. He wandered
through Germany. France and Bel
sium. IN 1900 he went through the
civil form OF marriage in Germany
with a certain Anna Klein. by whom
he had four children.
Three years ago. Giovanni Fauro.
abandoning his German wife. obtained
work In a mine In Belgium. Here. as
the result Of an accident. he lost his
right arm, and received as compensa.
tion from an insurance company the
sum Of ten dollars per month. BY this
time he was no longer liable to pun
ishment In Italy for his previous Of
fences, SO last year he returned once
more to Ronca. and established him.
self in his brothers house. OF which
he was part owner.
II was at this point that the final
phase OF this curious family tragedy
began. Giovanni's former affection
for Maria Pelizzoni was reawakened.
and 1t was not long before there were
violent scenes Of jealousy between him
and his brother Giuseppe. who by now
regarded the woman. by whom he had
had eight children. as his own wife.
And. It would appear that. for her part.
Maria was by no means displeased at
the return OF the man she had married
twenty-eight years before.
Such situation could not last very
long. While Giovanni spent most Of
his time In the house. Giuseppe assidu.
ously attended to his work in the
fields. Yesterday morning after milk
Ing the cows. Giuseppe returned home
and said to Pelizzoni. Pack up my
clothes: I'm off to America" With.
out saying a word. the woman did as
she was told. and soon brought the
bundle into the kitchen. Giuseppe.
however. who suspected that the wom-
an would not be sorry to see the last
Of him. was rendered furious by her
GOODNESS. Taking down a doublc-ba
relied gun from the wall. he fired
twice at her. She fell to the ground
mortally wounded. Giuseppe replaced
the gun. stuffed revolver in his
pocket and fled. He has not since
been found.