SICILIAN PRINCE INSANE

Otago Witness, Issue 3016, 3 January 1912, Page 27

SICILIAN PRINCE INSANE

SEQUEL TO A MURDER. _ ROME, December 25. The Sicilian Prince Vincent Paterno, who attempted on March 2 to shoot himself with a revolver, after murdering the Sicilian Countess Trigona, a lady-in-wait-ing at the Court of Queen Elena, has been committed to a lunatic asylum. The tragedy which occurred in a little hotel near the central station at Rome caused a painful impression at the court and in social circles. Countess Tringona (of the family of the Tasca, princes of Cuto), a lady-in-waiting to Queen Elena, was killed by being stabbed in the neck with a hunting knife. Prince Paterno, head rf an illustrious and ancient Sicilian family lay seriously wounded in the hospital with three revolver bullets in his body. The prince killed the countess and then attempted to commit suicide. Count Trigona (of the princely family of Sant’ Elia) recently began an action to obtain legal separation from his wife, on the ground of her alleged intimacy with the prince. In view of this action, the Master of the Court Ceremonies requested the countess to resign her position in the Queen’s suite. It is said that the countess arranged a meeting with -the prince on the day of the tragedy in order to break off their relations, and that the tragedy followed the prince’s despair at her attitude. Countess Trigcna was 35 years old and left throe children. Her husband was at one time Mayor of Palermo, and her brother, Prince Tasca, was formerly a member of the Italian Parliament. The Trigona family, originally Swiss, have been established in Sicily since the thirteenth century. The Paterno family are of Norman origin. The King and Queen were deeply moved on hearing of the tragedy. Queen Elena said she did not wish to hear the details.