Word: spada
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Dates: during 1930-1939
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...only on the surface. Thousands of gold wedding rings proved to have lead cores. The Fascist Press was highly incensed about the "solid gold" cup presented by the Lord Mayor of London seven years ago to the Governor of Rome. Brought to the Bank of Italy by Prince Ludovico Spada-Veralli-Potenziani, London's cup, in the words of Italy's analysts, proved to be "thinly plated with gold over silver, and not very good silver at that...
Fortunately for him, M. Deibler's accommodations had been reserved in advance, for there was not a room to be had in Bastia. The execution at which he was to officiate was that of the most notorious, best publicized bandit in Corsica, crazed, grey-haired Andre Spada (TIME, March...
That Bandit Spada, who once was chased through the maquis by two full regiments of gendarmes, armored tanks and reporters armed with rifles, should not know that his death was approaching, Corsican officials took elaborate precautions. Carpet was laid before his cell door to deaden the sound of hurrying feet. M. Deibler's assistants put up their guillotine with tools swathed in thick felt. The effect of all this was spoiled by a group of leather-lunged, smutty-nosed moppets who scrambled up a rock outside Bandit Spada's cell and shrieked "Spada dies at dawn! Spada dies...
Just before dawn Executioner Deibler put on his silk hat and black cotton gloves, and a police official arrived with a priest, a prison barber, a glass of rum and a cigaret. These last Bandit Spada waved indignantly aside...
With his shock of grey hair shaved at the back of the neck. Bandit Spada heard mass kneeling between two guards. Handcuffed, he was then led to the scaffold. It was all over quickly, much to the relief of Executioner Deibler whose machine has been sticking lately (TIME, April 23, 1934). Son-in-law Perrier supervised putting things away, patient in the knowledge that if M. Deibler ever keeps his long-time promise to retire and raise chickens, he will inherit the guillotine business of all France...