TRAGEDY IN ROME.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2736, 25 January 1890, Page 6 (Supplement)

TRAGEDY IN ROME.

The journalistic world of Rome has been painfully impressed by a tragedy in which two of its well-known members played the principal parts. Signnr Arnaldo Bertini, a reporter to the Messageero, and formerly employed on the staff of the Fracassa and other papers, in an excess of jealous fury has shot his wife, a young lady, only twenty one yeara of age, and his former friend and fellow journalist, Signor Mario Fautozzi, killing the former and so severely wounding the latter that his life is despaired of. It would appear that the unhappy husband's jealousy was but too well founded, although for some tirae he tried to pit the idea from him, inasmuch as Signor Fantozzi was his fellow-worker and most intimate friend, and the misguided young wife was the mother of two little hoys, the eldest only three years of ace. Bat at last he found letters addressed to his wife which left no doubt that a guilty intrigue was being carried on. Leaving the house as usual on ' Monday morning. Signor Bertini returned, intending to keep a watch on what went on, when he saw his wife hang a white handkerchief to the Venetian blind, evidently as a signal to someone Maddened by this conviction, he at once rnshed back, and the confusion displayed by his wife at seeing him, and the hasty endeavour to remove the signal, confirmed his suspicion?. Before many words had been exchanged, the bell rang softly, and the husband, going himself to open the door, confronted his false friend and tho betrayer of his wife. A terrible scene ensued. The seducer, base and cowardly even ic that supreme moment, tried to barricade himself behind the furniture from the shots fired at him from a revolver by the injured husband, while the young wife rushed between them, and, in trying to disarm her husband, received her death wound. Bertini, not knowing that he had killed his wife, but believing that he had accomplished summary justice on his false friend, rnshed away to try and provide for the care of his children before he gavo himself upto justice. But Fantozzi although seriously wounded managed to. stagger into the street, and was conveyed promptly to the nearest hospital. The servant had fled to call the poiice on the first sounds of quarrelling. The eldest child, aged three, was at school, and when the officers of justice entered upon the scene the only living person in the house was the baby, just able to walk, who, whimpering with fear and surprise, had just made his way into the room where lay the bloodstained body of his mother. A gloom is cast over all circles frequented by members of the press, and this sad story is the topic which for the moment excludes all others. Both the young- men were under thirty years of age. Later intelligence is to the effect that the lover of the deceased lady, who was at first supposed to be mortally wounded, is now pronounced by the authorities of the hospital where he is etill lying , , to be out of dinger, and if no further complications ensue ho will be cured in four or five weeks' time He has not yet been informed of Signorina Sertini's death, as it was thought the emotion migkt prove fatal. Signor Bertini can, with difficulty, be induced to touch food in the prison, where he has undergone preliminary examination. When he was informed that one of the shots he fired had killed his wife, he broke into a passion of grief, since which he has remained lifeless and almost apathetic in appearance. Several of the foremost adrocates of Italy havb offered to undertake his defence gratuituusly. Signor Crispi has offered to provide for tho future of the two little Bertiui children, bnt the director and staff of the newspaper on which both Bertini and Frantozzi were employed, together with other journalistic friends, have gratefully declined-the offer, eayinsr that for the present it is their intention to sec that the little ones are properly cared for.