The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-02-27
A Persistent
Poiisoner
By LOUISE B. CUMMINGS

In Rome during the period when tn
use of poisons was an art In Italy Their
occurred similar case to that of thi
Venetian. One Lorenzo Luchese wen
from Florence to Rome, taking witt
him more minute knowledge of poi
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 RanZine, attracted the at
tention Of the stranger, and he was OBJ
served to cast longing eyes upon her,
But she was betrothed to noble Vene-
tian, Ricordo Mantel, and it was as
sumed that Luchese's love was hope
less. But one day Signorina Ranzines
lover after having mingled with a
crowd witnessing, a race on the Corso
was seized with sharp pain and died
within few hours. 1t was supposed
he died Of heart disease.
Not long after this Luchese proposed
to Signor Ranzine for the hand of his
daughter. The application was declin-
ed on the ground that the lady's heart
was buried with the lover she had lost
and she would never marry. Luchese
said that he would not give up hope
and took every means to ingratiate
himself with Signorina Ranzine. But
she took dislike TO him and would
have nothing to do with him.
After awhile the young lady met
man named Francesca Demetrio, a
handsome and in other ways a 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 so young would
not after all be buried. Demetrlo 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 Ranzine before
the death of her betrothed and that
he had proposed for her hand soon
after his death. Moreover. poisoning
being much in vogue at that time,
there were those who believed that
Ricordo Mantel had not died of heart
disease but had been secretly poisoned |
Demetrio after hearing the reports |
from Florence about Luchese strongly |
suspected not only that Mantel had /
been poisoned, but that Luchese had |
been the poisoner.
However, he kept his own counsel |
q ytH a tho & m ftrnn a of watch
Luchese. If Demetrio was In any room I
where Luchese was present he would |
Immediately leave On several occa-
sions he noticed that the Florentine |
tried to get near him. but he had al /
ways prevented his doing so by NOV
ing away. One day Denetrio was talk
ing with friend on a street on fete
was passing and suddenly felt a sharp
pain in his arm. Turning, he saw Lu-
cheese pushing his way from him
among the crowd.
Seize that man" Demetrio said to
his friend HE has punctured my arm
and doubtless poisoned me-"
The friend gave chase and caught
Luchese. AS soon as he laid hands Oh
him he felt sharp pain in his hand
There happened to be doctor in the
crowd, who, learning what had oc-
Cured, asked Demetrio to show him
where he had been prieked. So small
was the wound that it could scarcely /,
be discovered, but the doctor whipped
out lancet and cut away piece of !
the flesh. Demetrios friend, having I
turned Luchese over to an officer, {
came Keeling back, and the doctor, Z
learning that he too, had been prick
ed, treated his hand as he had treated
Demetrio's arm.
The doctor took both pieces of flesh [
to his house, and on cutting them into Il
bits found Ia each a 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 J
conviction. He was searched as soon @
as arrested, but nothing discriminating i
was found on him. His house was q
searched, and in it were found a variety q
VI pUlsouS huu l. llLlt DOA toHldIHluS
needles similar to those that had been |,
put into Demetrio and his friend :
The instrument with which he had
shot the needle into the flesh was pick
ed up on the street near where the at
tack had been made. 1t was simply
a small brass tube with spring in il, t
which could be loosened by a pressure
Of the thumb. :
Luchese was tried and executed. +
Demetrio suffered but little from the
effects Of the puncture, but his friend c
was III long while e
The fact that Mantel had doubtless c
been poisoned by the man who wish
I'd Blanca for himself was kept from :.
her. Indeed, she was not informed
hat Luchese had tried to poison her :
second lover After Luchese's execu- n
ion she and Demetrio were married. p
md great interest was manifested in "
he wedding. for every one except the a
bride knew that one lover had been =
and the second had nearly i"
net the same fate. h
But it was not to be expected that II
What was common property could be p
,ept from her always. she learned in Il
ime and in consequence always dread b