The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1914-05-23
A Persiistent
Poiisoner
3, LOUISE 3. CUMMINGS

The use of the poisoned needle IL not
new. In the early part Of the seven
teenth century q man named Tebaldo
In Venice invented an instrument in
the form of key from which he shot
q tiny needle into tho aesh Of one be
wished to kill.
In Rome during the period when the
use Of poisons was an art in Italy there
occurred 4 similar case to that Of this
Venetian. One Lorenzo Luchese went
from Florence to Rome. taking with
him a more minute knowledge Of pol
sons and poison methods than existed
anywhere except In the city on the
Arno. There was something uncanny
about him that soon turned the Ro-
mans against him. A certain young
lady, Blanca Ranxine. attracted the at
tention Of the stranger, and he was OBJ
served to cast longing eyes upon her.
But she was betrothed to noble vepe-
tian. Ricordo Mantel, and 1t was as
sumed that Luchese's love was hope
less. But one day Signorina Ransine's
lover after having mingled with 4
crowd witnessing n race ON the Corso
was seized with sharp pain and died
within 4 few hours. 1t was supposed
he died of heart disease.
Not long after this Luchese proposed
to Signor Eanzine for the hand OF his
daughter. The application was declin-
cd on the ground that the lady's heart
was buried with the lover she had lost
and she would never marry. Luchese
said that no would not give up hope
and took every means to ingratfate
himself with Signorina Ranzine. But
she took q dislike to him and would
have nothing to do with him.
After awhile the young lady met
man named Francesco Demetrio. q
handsome and in other ways charm
ing man, who fell desperately in love
with her and won her from her In
tended celibacy. They became en-
Gagged. and Bianca's friends rejoiced
that the heart Of one % young would
not after all 10 buried. Demetrio had
heard something from Florence about
Luchese that put him on his guard
against the man.
Every one knew that Luchese had cast
longing eyes on Blanca Ranxine before
the death Of her betrothed and that
b. had proposed for her hand soon
after his death. Moreover. poisoning
hsing much In vogue at that time.
there were those who believed that
Ricordo Mantel had mot died Of heart
disease. but had been secretly poisoned.
Dsmetrio After bearing the reports
from Florence about Luchess strongly
suspected not only that Nantel had
bssn poisoned. but that Luchsse had
besn the polsoner.
However. hs kept his own counsel
and At the same time strict watch on
Luchese. II Demetrio was In any room
where Luchess was present he would
Immediately leave. On several occa-
sious he noticed that the Florentlne
tried to get near him. but he had al
ways prevented his doing 20 BY NOV
ing away. One day Denetrio was talk
ing with friend on street on fete
day when a procession Of the church
was passing and suddenly felt sharp
pain In his arm. Turning. he saw Lu-
cheese pushing his way from him
among the crowd.
'.seixe that man. Demetrio said to
his friend. "He has punctured my arm
and doubtless poisoned me-"
The friend gave chase and caught
Luchess. Az soon a. he laid hands on
him be felt . sharp pain In his hand.
There happened to be doctor in the
crowd. who, learning what had &C.
CURED, asked Demetrio to show him
where he had been pricked- 30 small
was the wound that 1t could scarcely
be discovered, but the doctor whipped
out lancet and cut away q piece OF
the flesh. Demetrio's friend. having
turned Luchese over to an of1cer.
came reeling back, and the doctor.
learning that he, too. had been prick
I'd. treated his hand ~ he had treated
Demetrio's arm.
The doctor took both pieces Of hesh
to his house. and on cutting them Into
bits found In each small needle not
half an inch long. Whether there had
been poison In either Of them he could
not tell. but the evidence was strong
enough against Luchese to insure his
conviction. He was searched AZ soon
a. arrested, but nothing discriminating
was found on him. His house was
searched. and in 1t were found a variety
Of poisons and q little box containing
needles similar to those that had been
put into Demetri0 and his friend.
The instrument with which he had
shot the needle into the desh was pick
ID up on the street near where the at
tack had been made. II was simply
q small brass tube with q spring in It.
which could be loosened BY pressure
Of the thumb.