LOVE AND MURDER IN ITALY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5243, 12 January 1878, Page 2 (Supplement)

LOVE AND MURDER IN ITALY.

Tho Turin papers publish tho details of a murder committed in that town. Several years ago a certain Signora Trossarello, possessed of considerable private means, and living separated from her husband, formed a liason with a young student named Gariglio. After the connection had lasted some years it was reported that Gariglio was about to be married, and on hearing the news Signora Trossarello attempted suicide, but was saved by the interference of her lover, whom she warned then that, though he had saved her life, he should lose his should he ever break with her. It was no idle threat, for from that time the fear of a possible rupture, seems to have urged her to take measures for putting it into execution, and the instrument was only too easily found. A friend of hers to whom she confided her intention introduced her to a man called “ Tomo,” who, for a consideration, consented to give Gariglio a beating, but. held back from committing murder. Beating, however, would not satisfy the lady, so another less scrupulous ruffian was found, and by him Tomo allowed his scruples to be overcome. The sum agreed on as the price of a life was 300 lire (leas than £l2 sterling), and the conditions were 200 lire on execution of the deed, and the remaining, 100 lire when the news of Gariglio’s death appeared in the paper next day ; an additional clause provided that Signora Trossarello should know when her lover was to be stabbed, and be present as a witness at a safe distance. A day was fixed, but when it came Tomo was not to be found ; he had been arrested for some slight offence, so Salvia, the, second assassin, hit on an ingenious plan, by which he; would pocket all the money without any risk, before Tomo was released ; the plan was to get a friend to personate Gariglio, and in. the| presence of Trossarello to set on him with; some accomplices, pretend to kill him, and claim the money. It succeeded to perfection, and the money, at least 200 lire, was duly paid, and what "was Trossarello’s surprise to meet the man she had imagined dead as well as ever next day. . .. The fraud, was, of course, discovered, but Trossarello, far from feeling satisfaction that she had been spared m fact the murder of her. friend, seems only, the more to have desired to kill him, . and as soon as Tomo came out of prison, to have renewed negotiations with him ; but Tomo had scruples again, and always contrived in some way to avoid keeping the appointments until November came, and Signora Trossirello determined to wait no, longer. An evening was fixed, and at six o’clock Signora Trossarello and her friend met Tomo and his sweetheart, who had also come to see the sight. Tomo was taken from one wineshop to another and well primed with wine and. spirits, until the hour came that Gariglio usually left his place of business,, when the four posted themselves near the house, and when he appeared at the door, Trossarello, who held the knife, thrust it into Tomo’s hands, saying, “There he is; at him !” Tomo sprang forward, stabbed Gariglio, and the four took to their heels. There was no mistake this time, but Signora Trossarello was too, business-like to exceed the terms of the contract, and handed 200 lire to Tomo, promising the rest on the morrow, when the account of the murder was published, the total sum being 300 lire as before. Tomo and his sweetheart went off to driuk part of their earnings, and Signora Trossarello went home to read a novel, in which agreeable occupation she" was fortunately interrupted by the arrival of the police to arrest her on suspicion of complicity, in Gariglio’s murder. Her accomplices or agents have since all been arrested.