YOUTH MURDERS STEPFATHER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 380, 2 May 1908, Page 4

YOUTH MURDERS STEPFATHER.

A sensational tragedy was enacted at the Co operative Union Restaurant, Milan, not long ago, at an hour when that popular resort is thronged with diners. A pallid youth was seen to enter hurriedly, and in an excited manner to make his way towards a table where Signor PifTeri, the director, was chatting with a party of guests. A moment later a revolver shot was heard, and the director started up, exclaiming ” I am assassinated.” He then staggered, fell heavily to the floor, and died before medical assistance could be obtained.' The murderer, who is barely 16 years ol age, made no attempt to escape. He turns out to be the victim’s stepson. His mother, the Milanese Countess Vitali, contracted a romantic second marriage with the deceased director five years ago, when the latler was head waiter at the Olympia Theatre. For awhile things went well, until, it is alleged, Pifferi ceased work, and began recklessly squandering the countess’ fortune, and ill-treating her and his step-children so that recently a separation became imperative. The boy assassin, Bertrand Vitali, declares that he was goaded to the deed through his stepfather’s shocking cruelty to his mother and his conduct towards his young sisters. Before leaving home to execute his vengeance, Bertrand embraced his mother and sisters with exceptional tenderness. This incident roused anxiety £in the countess’ mind when she noticed her son’s absence was unwontedly prolonged. After searching vainly for him in his favourite haunts, she happened to pass the restaurant, and fiom the crowd before the closed doors she first gleaned tidings of the terrible tragedy. Lately there has been quite an epidemic of similar cases in Italy. Not long ago a highly respectable youth at Urbino shot dead the father of his fiancee, a promineut citizen there, whose conduct with his children was in question.