SHOT BY MOTH

Hokitika Guardian, 13 November 1934, Page 6

SHOT BY MOTH

ASTUTE ITALIAN DETECTIVE

LONDON, November 10,

The case of the Princess Caravella, at Naples, is probably unique. After giving a dinner-party she retired to her room to snatch a little rest before the following dance. Very shortly afterwards she was found dead in bed, shot through the heart. ■Hef husband was arrested on suspicion, for he was noted for his jealous disposition, and it did not geem possible that anyone else could have been in the room. .It,might have gone hard with the Prince but for the of a Naples police officer. '' Thi s officer on carefully examining the bed chamber, found one of the very large moths common in Italy lying on the floor with wings badly singed by the lighted candle which hid stood on a" bedside table. He also noticed that the pistol wag lying on this table in such a position that it pointed to the Princess’ heart, and that some of the powdery dust from, the moth’s wings showed plainly on the 1 trigger. It was deduced from these signs that the moth had burned its wings, had fallen on the tafole, fluttering and spinning, and that its wings had struck t*e lightly-sprung trigger land fired the pistol. On this evidence, the Prince was acquitted.