Case #3484
Case Description
Signor Carlo Volpino was shot and killed on his way home from Verona to his estates in Tombione. Antonio Bertoni and his retainers Domenico Aldighieri and Domenico Bettini had ridden to Tombione and joined with Giacomo Bertoni, Antonio's brother, and a peasant known as "Il Cena." Antonio Bertoni and his two retainers were armed with long arquebuses. This group stationed themselves watching the road from Verona on an embankment with a small private church under the Bertoni's patronage next to their estates. When Volpino arrived riding from Verona they confirmed his identity with Giulia Canzellata, a hostesses of a nearby tavern. Volpino was also armed with an arquebus and they let him pass, but when he said to them as he descended the embankment "By God, you do not even deign to greet us!" one of the party ordered him to halt and Alsighieri said "Now I will greet you myself!" and shot Volpino in the back with his arquebus. Volpino was caried away by his horse towards his home and died later that night.
Motive
Enmity Aldighieri told Giulia Canzellata that he shot Volpino because "By God, I mean to uphold the reputation of my Master!" There were ongoing disputes between the Bertoni brothers and Volpino regarding earthworks and an embarkment which was likely disputed due to where it was located relative to their adjacent properties.
Legal Record
- Court
- Council of Ten
Outcome
Filled indicator = recorded in source; hollow = not recorded or not applicable.
Witnesses
Giulia Canzellata
Testimony: June 9, 1653
The case description is based primarily on Giulia's account and that of local officials. She and the Degano also indicated that the assailants had their arquebuses across the saddlebows of their horses with the hammers lowered. She did not assert in anyway that there was enmity between the men which other witnesses and Volpino's wife attested to.
Archival Sources
- Source
- Capi di Consiglio di Dieci
- Archival location
- Rettori di Verona, #200