The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1911-01-26
VENETIAN KEY. OF DEATH.
Invention of Unwelcome SuitOr
Brought Quick Death to Enemies.

Among the many relics of antiquity
preserved in the arsenal of Venice
there is one to which a peculiar and
grewsome interest is attached. 1t is a
heavy key, which to all outward ap-
pearances might have been fashioned
for one of the ponderous locks Of old
en- times. Yet, If tradition is to be
believed, it was designed for dead
ly purpose, and people we're slain
with it in a swift, subtle and mystic
rious manner. It is known, in fact,
as the Key Of Death.
The chronicles of the city tell that
in the earlier part of the seventeenth
century a certain stranger arrived In
Venice, a man of dark and sinister
aspect. His name was Tebaldo. He
seems to have been man Of unruly
passions, of great intellectual power,
but one whose talents found their
chief outlet in crime. In Venice he
established himself as a merchant or
trader. For a time his passions lay
dormant. They were aroused, how
ever, in a stormy manner, which
caused him to sweep from his path
all who sought to oppose him.
One day he observed beautiful
girl leaving church, attended in a
manner which showed that she be-
longed to a family of high degree.
She was, in fact, the daughter of an
ancient and noble house, one which
had long held foremost rank in Ven
ice. 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
to be, however, a more insuperable
obstacle to his suit. The girl was
already betrothed to another, a young
nobleman of almost equal rank and
fortune. The knowledge did not de-
ter Tebaldo, who boldly presented
himself before the girls parents in
the capacity of suitor for her hand.
AS might have been expected, he met
with a curt and unceremonious re-
buff.
The repulse ranked in his mind.
Enraged beyond measure, he shut
himself up in his house and there Sc
cretly studied a means Of revenge.
Profoundly skilled in the mechanical
arts, he allowed himself no rest until
he had invented a most formidable
and death-dealing weapon. This was
large key, the handle of which was
so constructed that it could be turned
at will. When it was thus turned a
secret spring was disclosed, which, on
being pressed, launched from the key
head a fine needle or lancet. The lat
ter was of such delicate construction
that it penetrated the body of the VIC
tim and 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
pr ncipal church at Venice on a GER
tain day. Before the ceremony Te-
baldo, cunningly disguised, stationed
himself at the church door armed
with his diabolical weapon. AS the
bridegroom was about to enter the
building the concealed watcher press
ed the spring and sent the deadly
steel lancet into the breast of his vic
tim. The young nobleman had no
suspicion of injury at the moment.
In the midst of the ceremony, how
ever, he was seized with sharp
spasm of pain, and sank fainting on
the steps of the altar. His illness ap-
peared so alarming that he was hur-
riedly conveyed to his home, where
the leading Venice physicians were
summoned to attend him. Despite
their unremitting efforts he sank and
died, nor were they able to discover
the nature of the mysterious and ia
tai seizure.
With the removal of his rival Te-
baldo once more appeared openly on
the scene. Again he presented him
self before the girls parents and re-
newed his request for her hand. Their
refusal to listen to them sealed their
doom. In what manner he accom-
plished it is not known, but within q
few days both had been done to death
in mysterious fashion. The exalted
rank of the victims created a pro-
found sensation, and when on exam
ination of the two bodies, a fine
steel instrument was found in the
flesh, terror became universal. The
citizens feared for their lives. An
assassin was at large among them,
and no one knew upon whom the next
blow might fall The utmost vigi-
lance was exercised on the part Of