Violent crime following court hearing in Merano

Daily report.

Bozen, 4 July. News reaches us from Meran of a deplorable crime committed there yesterday. The comb maker B., residing in nearby St. Leonhard, a man long in ill repute owing to his brutal disposition and disturbed nature, had been separated from his wife for one year following a hearing held yesterday at the local district court. Having returned home with her after the proceedings, where the latter gathered her belongings, he accompanied her part of the way toward town. Along the route, however, he suddenly drew a hatchet that he had carried concealed beneath his coat and struck the unfortunate woman twice so violently on the head that she instantly collapsed unconscious. He refrained from a third blow with the words that "he must not let her die immediately, so that she might still confess." Having accomplished his deed, he presented himself without delay to the court for arrest and reported his crime himself. While the injuries of the unfortunate woman are reportedly life-threatening, hope for her recovery has not yet entirely vanished.