A POLICE COUET ROMANCE.

West Coast Times, Issue 642, 15 October 1867, Page 2

A POLICE COUET ROMANCE.

On the 24th of January, 1863, a drunken disturbance had taken place in High street, in a public house, called The Lincoln's Arms, kept by a Swede, between some foreign and English seamen. An English sailor of the name of Wriggles had been slightly wounded in the affray, and Luigi Dimetriz was charged with the offence. The evidence against him was such that he was sent to trial at the quarter sessions. He could not speak a word of English, but he assured me, in his own language, that he was innocent. He had at that tune a bad cold, and as he had no money, and complained of a bad appetite, I made Tim> a present of some liquorice, oranges and grapes ; I had this opportunity, as he was twice remanded before he was committed. This man interested me very much. He felt melancholy, and the last time I saw him he was quite desponding. It was in vain when I tried to cheer him. "Dear friend," said he, "I have a presentiment that I shall never live to be a free man. Last night I saw my dear father in my dream. He died in prison in Italy, innocent of the crime of which he was accused, and I feel that that will be my lot." He then handed me a sealed packet, which he asked me to open and read at my leisure ; and, remarkable enough, he died in Hull gaol, shortly before the quarter sessions. The contents of the packet, written in the Italian language, were as follows: — Hia father was a working goldsmith in Home. One day a rich miser (who was in the habit of buying stolen gold and silver plate, which this goldsmith used to melt down for him), rushed into his house. He had been mortally wounded by some one in the street, who either wanted to rob him, or had taken him for somebody else ; but this was not known, for as he entered the house he fell into a chair and instantly expired. The goldsmith had known the miser for many years. He was aware that he had no relations, and associated with none, except upon matters of business, living by himself in a lonely hoxise. Tempted by cupidity, the goldsmith and his wife resolved to possess themselves of the property of the deceased miser. In his pockets they found his keys, and with these the goldsmith entered the house of the murdered man, where he found a safe containing many valuables and money. After the goldsmith had become fully possessed ot the miser's property, he with his wife carried the body of the miser down into the cellar of his own house, and digging a hole buried it. The sudden disappearance of the miser created a great deal of alarm in the town, and although no suspicion fell upon the goldsmith, still such a terror took possession of him that for the space of three years he never made use of a single coin of his newlypossessed property. At that time it happened that a brother of the goldsmith, who' lived in America, and had amassed great wealth, died, and left the bulk of his fortune to him. To receive this, it was necessary to go before the authorities at Rome, so as to make a declaration that he was the man, before he could receive it. This was done, and the goldsmith received the property. Bemg now without fear that suspicion might fall upon him, he bought the house in which he resided, had it beautified and well furnished. He also became very liberal to his wife, so that she could compete in dress with any other lady in the place ;|as for himself he still continued working at his trade. He now never bought or melted down gold or silver without first ascertaining how it had been obtained. Eight or nine years passed away, and during that time the wife often regretted that they had no visitors who could see and admire their fine furniture and living. Their servant did not sleep in the house, they being fearful that she might discover signs of the grave m the cellar. The goldsmith seldom went outside the house to enjoy himself, but solaced himself with tobacco and pipes every evening. Frederick the Seventh of Demark used to say that a man with a clear conscience always finds comfort in a pipe. But alas ; the unjust possession of a miser's properly weighed heavily upon the goldsmith's " mind. One evening, as he was_ .sitting alone, smoking his pipe, one of the pictures that hung upon the wall suddenly foil down with a loud crash, and curious enough, as he was relating this circumstance to his wife, upon, her return home, another fell down in like manner. Neither of them were superstitious, still this incident threw a gloom over them. The wife remembered, when she was a child, of hearing her mother say, how an astrologer stated that if- a picture fell down it denoted a death in the family, but she had never heard what it moant when two fell on the same evening. It being

New Year's Eve they were afraid that it meant something dreadful. In the course of the same week they heard of the death of a relative, and soon some of their own were inmates of the grave. But death still hovered over the goldsmith himself. About this time a dispute occurred between him and his wife — angry words were exchanged. "If you dare oppose me," said his wife, "I will tell the justice that the miser lies buried in the cellar." This Was overheard by the servant ; she had often wondered why there was a large padlock on the cellar door, and that she was never allowed to sleep in the house. She, soon after this, asked for an increase wages, which was granted; still she grew insolent, which increased to such a degree that they were obliged to get rid of ncr, giving her a month's notice ; she told them she preferred leaving at once, which she did. The day that she left, the goldsmith had just finished his dinner when a police officer entered his house, and told him he was a prisoner, charged with murder. The discharged servant was with the officer. The skeleton of the miser was dug up out of the cellar. " I see it all," exclaimed the wife, " the servant has heard my angry words to my husband." With these words she left the room and went to her bedroom, where she with one of her husband's razors cut her throat and expired. The poor goldsmith made a true statement of how it happened that the body was found in the cellar, but his statement was not believed, and he was condemned as a murderer, and ordered to be executed. The sentence, however, was not put into effect, for the unhappy man died in prison. The day before he died he said to his son, " The authorities have taken all from me, so that you my dear son, will be left entirely destitute." " Sorrow not for me, my dear father," said the son, "if only thy life could be spared, we should yet be happy." " That will be impossible," said the goldsmith," but let me give you a few warnings this evening, because I feel sure that, even if I am not executed, I cannot live long. Your mother has been the cause of all this misfortune, be therefore careful in your selection of a wife; avoid quarrels with her in particular, and with your fellow-creatures in general, for, as a father feels pain when his children disagree, so must the Almighty be displeased when we, his children, disagree. Study how to be contented ; that alone is to he happy. And when you pray, remember your poor unhappy parents." With those words father and son embraced each other. The moon, which had previously been obscured by the clouds, at that moment shone beautifully forth, and threw its pale rays upon them. " Behold !" said the elder Dimetriz, pointing to the moon, " it is a splendid sight.Luigj, it seems to me as if I see beings move in it. Yes? Oh, yes P I see glorious sights, I feel so happy." With these words the father expired. Shortly after the goldsmith had died in prison, an assassin who belonged to a band of brigands, was apprehended in Eome. He acknowledged just before his execution, amongst other mischiefs, having stabbed the miser that died in the goldsmith's house, Luigi Dimetriz, who was a banker's «lerk, had received his dismissal the very day of his father's condemnation ; but, with the few pounds he was possessed of, and also a great deal of application to the authorities, he managed to get his father's remains buried in the churchyard. Here ends the manuscript, which was given to me by the unhappy man who died in gaol before the sessions to which he was committed. — From the Revelations of a Police Court Interpreter. By Dr. J. Jacobsan, H.C.M., Police Court Interpreter.