The Washington times., 1923-12-15

Rosario Ricciardi Dies When
Father-in-LaW Parts
Him From Wife.

Sixteen years ago Rosario Ric-
ciardi, then twenty-four years
old, was roomer at 533 Third
street northeast, in the home of
his bosom friend, Anthony Norcio.
And one day a daughter was
born to Anthony's. wife.
Yesterday, Rosario, now grown
to middle age, placed a shotgun
in his mouth, pulled the trigger,
and died because his love for the
sixteen-year-od Mary Norcio was
thwarted.
A Death For Love.
That is the tragedy that Little
Italy is talking about today. Those
Italians who knew Of the love OF
Mary for Rosario smile knowingly.
They know why the backroom Of a
rooming house at 463 G street north
west yesterday morning witnessed
the suicide of a heart-broken man.
For an intense love, such as Is
known only among the tempera-
mental Latins, sprang up between
Rosario and Mary. The man
watched her grow from toddling
infant to a beautiful young girl.
He loved her-and she him, but
they loved not wisely, but too well. F"
Met Many Times.
Mary and her lover had many
meetings, it is said. for he had
known her father for more years
than Mary knew of, and he was
trusted. A few weeks ago Mary
became q mother, and the serenity
Of the little Third street home
was broken by the curses and con-
formations Of her father. He ques-
toned the little mother and she
told him that Rosario was the father
Grandfather Anthony lay in wait
that night for the coming of Rosario
and a terrible scene ensued. The
more elderly Norcio soundly
and for two days 1t is alleged
kept him prisoner in the home
that had lost its happiness.
And Rosario covered before the
wrath Of the outraged father, but
he contrived to escape one night
and the next day he saw Attorney
r. Morris Wampler. Wamler went
to the Third street home, and got
Rosario's belongings. Anthony Nor
clio reta1iated by swearing out a
warrant charging Rosario with a
| statutory offense. and Attorney
Wampler came back with proposal
that they should get married and
give the baby a name.
The marriage ceremony was per
formed in Norcio's home with the
groom momentarily expecting bodily
harm, his attorney said. But the
marriage, expected as a sort of a
panacea, failed Of it's purpose, and
Rosario was told to get out He
pleaded that Mary accompany him
with their child, but her father,
ndamant, refused.
Makes Another ATTEMPT.
Yesterday morning Rosario made
| another futile attempt to get his
| wife to go with him. She refused
and Rosario left to return to his
lonely room on G street. He sat
in a chair there and brooded over
the fates that kept him from his
young wife.
In laborious italian Rosario pain.
! fully wrote out a suicide note. He
tore a page from a pocket diary
that he kept and penciled the note
| even as he loaded the gun with
the two charges that he knew were
for himself.
Dear brother-in-law" the note
read. II couldn't go back to the
place wanted to so / had to come
back here and kill myself"
The note ended with a request
that the brother-in-law thank all
his good friends" This last was
in quotations marks for Rosario
knew that he had some who were
not his good friends. Another
roomer at 463 G street heard the
| muffled report of the shot that
ended the Italians life. She thought
1t was a backfire of an automobile
and paid no attention to it.
Two hours and a half after, TIT
! lifeless form Of Rosario was found
clad in the overcoat and hat in which
he had gone to call on his wife FOL
the last time. Whether or not tina
clothing was purposely worn b.
Rosario is not known but as he wal
always a sentimentalist, he proba
bly, did.
Reporters learned of the address
at which Mrs. Mary Ricciardi wal
living. They went to talk to he
to see If she knew why her hus
band should want to kill himself
but she broke down and became
| hysterical. my love-my love-
and then only the sob-shaken shout
ders of a grief stricken woman wer.
discernible as she buried her fac,
in her arms. There was no doub
that Mary loved her husband-evel
loa vx,YInh 10 ho did hoY