Monday, Jan. 05, 1948

The Christmas Caller

Alberto Bellardi Ricci, Italian minister to Stockholm, was about to take his new post as full-fledged ambassador to Chile. He was a kind, popular diplomat and sorry to leave his Swedish friends. "However," he said, "I shall return." On Christmas Day, in high spirits, he gave a farewell party in the legation's sumptuous dining room. Maria, the maid, brought in a letter. Legation Secretary Marquis Gian Gaspari Cittadini-Cesi looked at the disjointed scrawlings. "This man is mad," he told Ricci. "You should not receive him."

Said Minister Ricci: "Let us be kindhearted. It is Christmas."

The maid ushered the caller into the study; he was an Italian named Giuseppe Capocci. The maid served him a glass of vermouth and invited him to drink the minister's health. Capocci glumly refused.

Meanwhile Ricci had gone to fetch a couple of bottles of Chianti to give his caller as a Christmas present. He entered the study carrying the wine. Capocci brusquely announced he wanted to demonstrate a new invention, produced a large pair of tailor's scissors. He took them apart and challenged Ricci to a duel. He handed the blunt part of the scissors to the Minister and said: "I take it that as a gentleman you choose this one."

Then he stabbed Ricci five times. He stabbed Marquis Cittadini-Cesi who rushed to Ricci's aid. When police took Capocci away, he said: "One must act, not just talk." Ricci died a few minutes later on the sofa in his study.

Police and doctors told the rest of the story. Capocci was a balloon vendor who had lived in Stockholm for 19 years. He was mad. Ten years ago he tried to see the Italian minister (one of Ricci's predecessors), was received only by a clerk. He never forgot the slight.

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