ITALY: Vengeance

In one of those screeching vehicles labelled S. P. Q. R. (Senatus Populusque Romanus)—, known also as "tram-ways," sat Fascist Deputy Armando Casalini with his 14-year-old daughter. As the trolley car moved off, a well-dressed young man answering to the name of Giovanni Corvi jumped on the rear platform, drew a revolver, fired three fatal shots at Casalini, who fell forward and remained motionless despite the pathetically desperate invocations of his frightened daughter. The assassin, having completed his ghastly deed, turned, jumped off the car, fell, picked himself up and made off, chased by an angry mob. Several shots were exchanged between chased and chasers, but without effect. Blind terror made Corvi's sprinting feat shame the legendary effort of Mercury. Faster and faster he sped over the uneven cobblestones of Rome, occasionally looking back at his angry pursuers. In such a moment, he ran full tilt against the muzzle of a loaded rifle, at the butt end of which was a stern Italian soldier who ordered him to surrender; this he meekly did.

Meanwhile, the trolley had stopped; and Signor Casalini was removed to the hospital, where he died soon after.

At the police station, Corvi was identified as a carpenter whom his victim had often helped modestly in a financial way, when 'drinking to excess had lost him a job. He was said to be unconnected with any political party and it was generally supposed that his crime was the product of a diseased mind. Nevertheless, he stated that he had killed Casalini "to avenge my brother in idealism, Matteotti," murdered by Fascisti three month ago (TIME, June 25).

The deed aroused Italy, including most of the Opposition, to a fervor of indignation such as the Latin races alone are capable of displaying. Flags were at half-mast all through the Peninsular ; places of amusement were closed; many shops had posted a notice on their closed doors: "Have closed as a sign of public mourning." Indignation was heightened and sorrow became more profound when it was learned that the murdered Deputy was a poor man and had left a widow and five young children totally unprovided for.

Benito was quick and energetic to forbid any reprisals on the part of the Fascisti. Troops were confined to barracks and kept in readiness for any emergency; strong posses of police guarded all strategic points; cavalry bivouacked in many piazze of many towns. In Rome and some other large cities, the public was treated to the novel spectacle of seeing the offices of the Opposition press, which had so hotly and often denounced Benito's regime, guarded by the black-shirted Fascist legions.

From his office in the Palazzo Chigi, Italian Foreign Office, Benito telephoned to the Prefects all over Italy, told them that he would hold them personally responsible for any 'disturbance that might occur. The Fascist Directorate,. hierarchy of the Fascist Party, with Benito interpreting the role of Zeus, ordered peremptorily all Fascist leaders to keep the peace. No disturbances took place.