THE BONMARTINI TRIAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2660, 8 March 1905, Page 64

THE BONMARTINI TRIAL.

ROME, March 1.

Dr Secchi, when examined, stated that Tullio Murri, the Countess's brother, informed him of his determination to kill the Count, owing to the latter's ill-treat-ment of the Countess, and he asked him. (Secchi) to procure poison. He, however, did his utmost to dissuade him. Secchi admitted buying poison, but it was for purpos.es of his own scientific investigations.

March 2.

Tullio Murri has confessed to the murder of the Count, exculpating- Professor Secchi and Dr Naldi. Murri declared that the murder was tlie result of a quarrel ending in a fight. The Count was stabbed 13 times.

Early in October last the trial began of Countess TheodolLnda Murri, her brother. Tullio Murri, and her lover, Professor Secchi, Dr Pio Kaldi, and Rosina Bonefcti. Tullio Murri's mistress, for the murder at Bologna of Count Boninartini on the night of 28th August, I^o2. The accused had been kept in prison ever since that date while the police collected evidence against them. The trial was expected to last several months, as more than 300 witnesses had to be examined, while several leading Italitvn specialists had besn asked to appear on one side or the other.

The history of the Bonmartini-Murri case, a? it is called, is of European renown. Count Bonmarfcini was a rich nobleman of Bologna. Some years ago he married Theodolinda Murri. The marriage was not a happy one, and for several years the two lived apart. In the beginning: of ISO 2 a reconciliation was effected, but the husband's cruelty and immorality immediately restarted the family troubles. To make matters worse, Linda had a lover, Dp B'ccchi, whom she had known before her marriage, and who had as few scruples aa her brother or herself. Several attempts, it is alleged by the- prosecution, were made to poison Bonmartini, but unsuccessfully. Finally it was decided that he must be jrot rid of, and plans were laid to kill him in his palace at Bolocrna, whither he was returning from his family, whom he had left at Venice. The murder was successfully oarried through, .though in an unnecessarily brutal manner, 17 wounds being found on the body.