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.

At the same time, the Fascist organizations were incensed at the bloody murder of their comrade, and roundly excoriated the Opposition for instigating the crime. The Opposition retorted that the Fascisti themselves had caused the murder by their violent methods. The bulk of the press, however, voiced a strong plea for an end of internecine party strife and a strong desire for a return to internal peace. The Giornale d'ltalia took a non-partisan viewpoint of affairs:

"The murder of Deputy Matteotti had this untoward consequence, that it exasperated the passions of both sides till the country now lives in an atmosphere which is almost unbreathable, so red hot and full of poisons is it. The Italian people ardently wish peace and tranquility and insistently call upon every one to disarm, both materially and spiritually. But nobody disarms. The Opposition continues to deal blows, hoping to precipitate events; Fascism continues to believe that it must defend its position and its power, like a conquered trench.

From Milan, Benito's paper, Il Popolo d'ltalia,, said:

"Though our indignation is profound and overwhelming, and though we dis- dain to stoop to reprisals and revenge, we cannot but shout our denunciation of the instigators of this atrocious murder, and especially of the Opposition press. It is three months that Fascism and its chief leaders are victims of a relentless daily campaign of insidious, vindictive, provocative, insincere attacks and insinuations. Our sense of discipline and our convictions lead us to endorse the appeal of the Directorate of the Fascist Party against reprisals, but we feel that it is not sufficient. The public opinion is most disturbed and demands reparation. It insists that our rulers take a series of steps which shall break this chain of revolting murders. Public life must not degenerate into a brawl."

--S. P. Q. R. is derisively translated by northern Italians, who are industrious and detest the slothful Romans, as signifying: Sono porci queati Romani (these Romans are pies).