A MOTHER’S FIENDISH REVENGE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9136, 4 May 1908, Page 6

A MOTHER’S FIENDISH REVENGE.

WORTHY OF THE BOEGIAS. Perhaps the most gestraord Inary homicide case in all the world’s'history is about to come before the courts of Italy, and the fate of a celebrated marchioness hangs upon the demonstration of whether it is possible for a human being to be smothered to death by the poisonous exhalations of Jflowers. . A wellknown tenor and the marchioness’s young step-daughter were found dead, locked in the conservatory of the family villa, on the outskirts of Rome. There was no sign of violence or-poison when the bodies were found in the morning, but the doors of the conservatory were locked on the outside, and the authorities were struck by the overpowering reek of the vegetation in the crowded conservatory. Especially noticeable was the heavy odor of various roses, with which the room* was filled. It speedily became known that the step-mother of the dead lady, who is one of the wealthiest aristocrats of Rome, knew about the young lovers, and hated the young singer because he had little more than his splendid voice and good looks. It seems that the tenor called secretly that evening, and was met and ushered into the conservatory by the girl. Either the marchioness heard them talking or saw them enter, because she locked the conservatory door on the outside. The public prosecutor will not attempt to put her on trial for murder, because it is not believed that she had the remotest suspicion that she was sealing the death warrant of her victims when she turned the key in the conservatory door. Her purpose {was to emharraas, scandalise, and expose the lovers by putting them in a compromising position, with the full expectation that they would soon call for aid. But if it can he proved that the lovers fell asleep under the insidious narcotic of the heavy fragrance of the conservatory, and, finally, their lives were quenched bv poisons of the flowers, then the marchioness becomes guilty under the Italian law, not of murder, but of manslaughter. ALL PLANTS POISONOUS AT NIGHT.

Investigations already 'begun by the Government prosecutor show that nearly all plants and flowers exhale day and night poisonous gases, but at night they are much more dangerous than in the day. A glass showcase has been appropriated by the prosecution, who have made it airtight and so constructed it that it can be filled with roses such as crowded the conservatory on the mysterious night. These can be quickly inserted and withdrawn and there is also a place for inserting animals. Placed in the bright sunlight, a small dog, though very uncomfortable, lived and remained conscious in spite of the exhalations of the flowers from noon till dusk. Then after a few struggles he became insensible, and an hour later was removed nearly dead. Administration of oxygen saved the dog’s life. The glass case was then opened and thoroughly aired, and the second experiment made in darkness. A second dog was placed among the roses, and the case made airtight again. An hour later the experimenters returned to see \how things were going. To their "surprise the dog was dead. The explanation seems to be that plants, especially flowering kinds related to the rose, breathe in oxygen and give off carbonic acid gas day and night, just as human beings and other animals do. A room crowded with plants is as unhealthy for a person as one crowded with human ’ beings, as far as breathing is concerned. This is-true in the daytime, but much more so at night. LANGUOROUS FEELING PRODUCED. Under the influence of light on the leaves of plants a peculiar reverse process goes on, which in a small way offsets the breathing process. While the light is bright a considerable quantity of oxygen is given off. With the coming of darkness this reversing process stops, but the breathing keeps •n. The Italian medical authorities investigating the case are of opinion that the conservatory was not dangerous to human life during daylight, even if the doors were closed, because the reverse process of breathing gave off enough oxygen to maintain the body. A sense of oppression, followe d by a headache, would naturally drive anyone out before any damage had been done. At night, with the door open, the place was still presumably safe. With the door closed, as it was on the night in question, the supply of oxygen was steadily reduced by the breathing of the young lovers and of the great number of rose plants until languor began to creep over the two prisoners. They were found lying near the door, and the belief is that they had intended waiting until the family were all asleep before trying to force the door and escape. As they waited the languor seized them, and they dosed, thinking to wake up in a moment. The heavy perfume of the roses disguised the “close” smell by which the surplus of carbonic acid gas would have warned them, and they yawned wonderingly and died, though they had only to lift a hand and break a pane of glass to save their lives.