Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1920-05-06

OipIomaI ana prominent IN smart
Society.
Rome is being thrilled by one Of the
most mysterious murder cases it has
known In many years.
Luigi Mesones painter and dip
lomat's son, Peruvian by birth and
Roman by adoption, man-about-towh
and gambler, told friends two years
ago that his wife had been lost at sea.
She went to Peru, he explained, to
settle his late fathers estate and her
ship was sunk by IL German submarine.
Friends believed the story, but not
so his wife's father and mother, MIR.
and Mrs. SimOnetti.
"HOw is it," they asked, that Bice
took such a trip without even saying
goodbye"
"She was in a hurry" answered
Mesones, who afterward disappeared.
Signor Simonett Is well known in
Rome. He is an artist and art col
lector; his beautiful palace and gal
lery are much frequented by Ameri-
cans visiting Rome.
He employed detectives to watch
his son-in-law, and try to trace his
daughter; but sleuths could find no
clue.
Announces Her Death.
At the time MeSOnes announced his
wife's death at sea, woman VINO
was said to have committed suicide
was reported by the police, judging
from papers found on the body. to be
Maria Rotelleni of Udine, war refugee.
But nobody thought Of visiting the
morgue, to see what Maria looked like;
and the incident was forgotten.
Now. SignOr Simonetti's sleuths say
the supposed refugee was Mesones'
wife. Slgnor Simonetti, his wife,
brother and other relatives Identified
q picture taken by the mOrgue Off
cia's when the body was brought In
there two years ago, and forgotten IN
the archives till few days ago, when
q private sleuth, overhearng chance
words in low class cafe, unearthed
1t.
The police arrested Mesones at his
home at Castelgondolfo, little city
near Rome. on the charge of COM
plicity in his wife's murder. He
denied the charge, saying he could
prove she was drowned on her way
to Peru. early in 1918.
He is we'll known in certain "smart"
sections of Roman society and
friend of Grand Duke Cyril. He has
not good reputation and was con-
nected with several scandals which hit
esteemed Roman families. He abduct-
ed his wife, as SignOr Simonetti
objected to the marriage. While the
parents were seeking their sixteen
year old daughter, MesOnes wrote
them that he could tell her where
abouts If SmOnetti would sanction the
match. His financial position was
straightway improved as the father
in-law-gave him a generous allowance
Accomplish Necessary.
The police admit MesOnes could not
have killed the former Bice Simonetti
by himself At the time Of his dis
appearance he was almost blind. The
D0uy was dressed III TiSRtu ciotHc"
that Bice never wore while living
and her style of hairdressng had been
changed. as the morgue pictures prove.
Alone, they affirm, purblind man
could not have wrought these changes
or inflicted the fatal pistol wound on
the left temple of his victim.
The mystery Is complicated by the
fact that when the supposed refugees
body was found on the banks of Tiber
within stones throw of Prince
Borgheses villa. the police traced n
girl bearing the name Of Maria Ro-
teleni to various low class hotels. She
disappeared from one of these on the
evening Of Jan. 8, 1918, to be found
dead few hours later.
Signor Simonetti declares Mesones
had n woman accomplish who went
from one low hotel to another. posing
as the refugee. to wipe out all trace
of NesOne's crime.
Hn the other hand MesOnes had
nothing to gain by his wife's death
because SinlOnetti ceased supplying
money when it was announced.