Two works by Poe decoded. Announcement!!

[yanni]

Scruples?

Having crossed the great oceans, to conclude this writing in the pond of greek literature pealing pedals off its center piece, the great "Salomon " daisy (sacred cow we previously named him), may seem inelegant ....

However....


The 1835 Zante murder case must be honoured: It has motivated us to expand our research!

When, October 1998 as stated, Mr Ioannis Andriolas, an Athens dentist originating from Zante, advised the undersigned of the 1853 diary, in his possesion, accusing the Luntzis of a Cochini murder, many local loose ends suddenly all came nicely together:

Yourstruly immediately remembered a similar narration of the incident to himself by Nik. Luntzi (the story was passed on to Nik by Dion. Romas, the playwright who had included it in one of his plays), linked it with the inexplicable dissapearance from Zante, post 1835, of an Ioannis Dionysiou Cochini, a promising young member of the Ionian parliament and a judge, linked it to the "arranged marriage" of the Luntzis post 1835, to the Salomons, linked it to the Zante bishop Nicolaos D.Cochini, brother of the vanished Ioannis, who on enthronement "blessed", 1837, the court's decision granting D.Salomon his inheritance, linked it to another brother, Dimitrio D. Cochini, D.Salomon's witness in his first will and testament, 1828, who also dissapeared post 1835 from Zante, linked it to the Polidori-Chiveti from the Zante village of Macherado, next to the Cochini mansion in Bougiato , lawyers and notaries also conveniently married to the Salomons, linked them to the Hydrian captain Giorgio Chiveto of 1820-1825 , his relations to the hydrian Cochini turning sour around 1821 etc etc ... .

It all fitted nicely together then even if the Balsamo name of Dimitrio's wife did not mean much at the time, even if the fiorentine Cocchis and Gozzinis, the US Cassins, Cozines, Corzines, Causeys, the french Cazins, Cochins, Cachins and Causes and whatnot were still unknown, even if Saint Germain, Poe, Franklin, Baltimore, Philadelphia, the Vanderbilts, the US navy and their shipyards etc could not have been even dreamed of then , even if their stories, our History, were totally unknown to us then.

For this reason this writing must be concluded, must end, in stale waters, fittingly perhaps.

It's estimated that some ten more posts will be needed that will be published herein in the next few weeks.

To facilitate the average viewer, a lot of detail will be avoided.


PS Mr Andriolas intended in 1998 to publish his diary and was supplied at the time with a lot of Zante-Hydra Cochini info and Mr Luntzi was advised at the time of the Andriolas diary and its contents.
Having lost touch with both gentlemen eversince no explanation can be produced of the lack of any relevant publication today!

[yanni]

Expert "solomists" all agree that Dionysios Solomos's work, mental health and biography were heavily influenced by a long family litigation concerning his legitimacy and inheritance.

The text below is a summary from "Solomos bound in the legal system of his time"by law history professor Dim.Chr. Capadochos, Athens 1992. Relevant comments will follow on completion of chapter.
__________________________________________________ __________

Dionysios Salomon (1798-1857) was the first child of Angelica Nicle, a maid at the Salomons house from 1796. The poet's father was Nicolo Salomon (1737-1807). Nicolo was married to Marnetta Caccni eversince 1765. Before his marriage he was a tax collector contracted by the Venetian Republic to "farm" the islands of Leucas and Cephalonia. After his marriage however he began trading tobacco making a fortune. He was enobled in 1785, given the title "count of Torcello" by Venice, then in the brink of collapse (1797). He had a brother named Spyridon (no record of his birth, residence or death is mentioned).
When the affair began in 1796, Marnetta was still living with Nicolo, whereas their two children, Roberto, born 1767 and Helena, born 1770, were preparing to get married then and left the family house soon after.
1801 Angelica gave birth to another son, Dimitrio. Marnetta died in 1802 and, that same year, Nicolo included his two lovechildren and their mother in his will: They were to receive two thirds of the estate, Roberto receiving just one third and Helena, married to Stelio Stravopodi, Ant.Martinego's associate, a political opponent of count Nicolo, just her dowry .
A day before Nicolo died, late February 1807, he was married to Angelica, again pregnant at the time, by a stray priest who was however not approved by Zante's orthodox Church.
After Nicolo's death, doubts were expressed as to the father of Angelica's coming third child!
Living in the Salomon mansion was a certain Emmanuel Leontarakis, an associate of the count, maybe not in business only, that's why Roberto insisted to confine his father's mistress to a convent so that the exact date of birth of her next child would be verified. The executors of the count's will however, entrusted with the upbringing of the other two lovechildren and looking after their inheritance as well, chose otherwise: They kept the birth itself as well as the birth date a secret making a deal with Roberto: He was to receive a half of the count's estate, the other half to be shared by the other two boys when they reach 24 years of age. The coming third child was to receive nothing .
Angelica was married 15th August 1807 to Emmanuel and in September her child, Ioannis "Leontarakis", was born.
All concerned were fairly happy with the arrangement made but there was a problem:
The tabaccere 's will as well as the deal between the trustees and Roberto were null and void according to the venetian civil code applying in the Ionian isles long after Venice's collapse: Children born out of marriage were not entitled to any inheritance if there were legitimate children as well!
As such Roberto was entitled the lot and, next in line, would be in theory Ioannis "Leontarakis", if he could prove, that is, he truly was count Nicolo's child and if the deathbed marriage was accepted as valid by the church.

(continued)

[yanni]

Yanni's comments will be placed alongside the chapter's text afterall. They'll be marked as NBY=Notes by Yanni, in ( ) when applicapble. Capadochos book will continue to be used as basis but other sources will be included as well.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Following Ioannis birth, Angelica, her three sons and her husband were prrovided by the executors a house in the town of Zante to live. Dionysio was sent 1808 to study law in Italy. Dimitrio and Ioannis followed later on.
Dionysio returns to Zante 1818 and lives with the Leontarakis family.
(NBY 1818 the independent Ionian State was consituted with a Lord Commissioner, appointed by the King of Britain, head of state with overwhelming authority. )
Dimitrio studies law in Italy 1817-1820, returns to Zante and, February 1821, gets married to Helena Arvanitaki, daughter of a close associate of the british commisioner, general Thomas Maitland.
-Greeks rise against the Ottomans April 1821-
Dionysio writes his first long poem, the Hymn to Liberty, May 1823 and, that same month, Maitland decides to have a new legal code system written to replace the venetian code but takes his time. (The new civil code was not ratified by the Commisioner until 1841.)
Dionysio already shows a probrit inclination in his Ode to Lord Byron (1825) accusing the revolutionaries, particularly the "profrench" party, for treason. (NBY: Similar signs are to be found already in his previous Hymn to Liberty).
The two brothers are living in the Salomon mansion since 1824, Dimitrio with his wife Helena, Dionysio a bachelor (lifelong). They often quarrel.
(NBY: One can only assume that title to their estate has been transferred to them then as Dionysios at least is of age. Capadochos gives no details when, how and by whom the transfer was made. Another source, "Year of Dionysios Solomos" by Ioannis Chrysicopoulos, Zante, 1998, specifies that the executor, Nik.Messalas, handed over the management of the estate to the two brothers the 6th of June 1826. However, according to Capadochos, Nik.Messalas died in 1821.Who managed the estate after his death? We'll return on the matter later on in another chapter)
In 1827 Roberto's only child, his daughter Bettina, marries the lawyer Dr Nicolo Chiveto.
When count Capodistria, governor of Greece, visits Zante, June 1828, Dionysio breaks up relations with Dimitrio, who is also of age then, and they divide their inheritance thus Dionysio's subsequent first will and testament, 1st December 1828, witnessed by his close friend the lawyer Galvani, his mother's husband Emmanuel Leontarakis and Dimitrio-Giaccomo Dionysio Cochini. The first two(?) are appointed plenipotentiaries. (Source: "Seven Days", Kathimerini, May 24th 1998, "Afieroma to Dionysios Solomos". NBY: Mr Capadochos ommits to mention D-G.D.Cochini in his book and fails to give any details on the will itself.)
The poet then departs, 16th December 1828, for Corfu where he permanently resides from then on. His intimate friend, Dionysio Nic.Foscardi, has been appointed president of the "Ionian Republic" by the brits this same year and the poet's main task is to promote the new civil code via a circle of friends which cost him a fortune.
(NBY: July 1830 Revolt against King Charles in France. Lafayette appointed provisional head of State until Luis-Philippe, the citizen-King is enthroned later on. August 1831 Admirals Miaoulis and George Causse with Mavrocordatos at their side burn the greek fleet in his base at Poros. Lazaros "Orlov" opposes them. Governor Capodistria is murdered in September. Civil unrest in Modern Greece, Capodistria's brother Augustine and followers are arrested and interogated in Corfu. Sources: Various).
(continued)

[yanni]

Dionysios succeeds to have the new civil code (containing tailor-made article 237 equalising legitimate and illegitimate children provided their parents are subsequently married to eachother) approved by the Ionian State Parliament in 1831. The british commissioner however does not approve it and as such the venetian code remains still applicable.
A month after Capodistria's murder, Dionysios befriends his brother again distancing himself from the Leontarakis family. He visits Zante, 29th October 1831, cancels his first will and draws another whereby he appoints his lawyer Galvani and his brother Dimitrio as his plenipotentiaries, Dimitrio replacing Emmanuel Leontarakis. (NBY: Dimitrio-Giacomo Dion. Cochini is not mentioned among his new witnesses or plenipotentiaries.)
While in Zante, Dionysios also insructs (his lawyer?) for the financing of Ioannis Leontarakis law studies in Italy be terminated. According to Angelica's later testimony, there was a mutual agreement, till then, her three sons would equaly share their inheritance. (NBY ie Ioannis, turning 24 in 1831, should get his third this same year.)
Early November Dionysios returns to Corfu wherefrom he sents his greetings to the family of Roberto. Roberto is already seriously ill at the time. By his death, February 1832, the problems of the validity of count Nicolo's will resurface (NBY: Mr Capadochos is not clear exactly how exactly they do in his book).
NBY: Another Zante poet, Dionysios Griparis, married to Maria Dion.Cochini, (sister of Dimitrio-Giacommo etc) dedicates a poem to Dionysios Salomon in 1832. The poem ridicules the myth of the alleged wellbeing of the Ionian citizens under british rule. Source: D.Conomos or D.C. .
NBY: June 1832 Anastasy Cochini , using the "Orlov" nickname as sirname eversince 1825, puts his signature to a letter written by the hydrian elders accepting King Otto as their King. It's the last entry concerning him in Hydra' s archive (source).
December 1832. Dionysios friend, Dion.Foscardi, president, dies.
January 1833 Ioannis Dion. Cochini, Dionysios Voultzos, Dionysios Flabouriaris, Dimitrio Salomon and Gaetano Chiveto are canditates in the elections for Zante's representatives of the Ionaia Parliament. The last four are probrit, the first three only are elected, in that order. (source D.C.)
(continued)

[yanni]

September 1833: Under the supervision of Bishop Agelos Chivetos elections take place in Zante to select the head of the church for Zante and Cephalonia. Nicologiorgio Dion. Cochini is among the first five. Dion De Lazari is elected.(source D.C)
October 1833: The commissioner Lord Nuggent formally receives future King Otto in Zante. Dionysios is present at the dinner and presents Lord Nuggent with an ancient marmor plate with the inscription "Kritolaos" found in Vougiato (Cochini territory) as well as the pistols of the late Lord Byron who had died in Missolonghi (D.C.) a year or so before the engineer Michael Petrou Cochini did.
Bestranged Ioannis, on completing his law studies in Italy (May 1833), visits Corfu this same month seeking to meet Dionysios to ask him for explanations. When they do meet however Dionysios refuses to even speak to him and thereafter Ioannis uses the name Leontarakis-Salomon.
Dionysios writes to Dimitrio to advise the Leontarakis family to move away from the house granted to them in 1808 as he intends to use it himself.
Griparis writes one more ode cursing the brits. (D.C.)
November 1833 Dionysio and Dimitrio ask Ioannis to declare why he is using their family name. He replies that he has just now discovered the truth about his father. The two brothers then file a petition to the court asking him to stop using it.
In his letter of November 23, 1833 to Galvani, Dionysios accuses the previous commisioner Adam of having exceeded his authority to disfavour him and affirms his readiness to take revenge in case the injustice against him continues::
"...people would be found to revenge, away from here, through a long and rough road, very certain nevertheless." I
n same letter he lists his new friends, not mentioning Emm.Leontarakis or D-G.Cochini.
November the 30th, 1833 Ioannis Salomon-Leontarakis files a law suit against his brothers asking the court to annul his father's will and be recognised as the only legitimate son, the other two being born out of marriage..
Roberto's death forces Roberto's heirs, his daughter Bettina and her husband, Dr Nik. Chiveto, to side with Dionysio and Dimitrio: If count Nicolo's will would be proven void, their inheritance would also be questioned (NBY: Not quite so! As the only legitimate son, Roberto's right to inherit the lot was rocksolid. One should look for other reasons they changed sides such as the fact that the Chiveti, eversince John Polidori's murder in 1821-he was a Chiveto- obeyed blindly the brits. John Polidori's brother, Gaetano Chiveto, returned to Zante to to participate in the local elections with the probrit party as seen previously. Source: Yanni) .
(continued)

[yanni]

In his letter to Galvani January 24th, 1834 Dionysios asks the lawyer to advise Dimitrio that the new civil codes process is going very well, as his Corfu contacts confirm. However, while his friends D.Voultzos and D.Flabouriaris are at the time still members of the Ionian parlament, in the next elections, June 1834, the probrit party looses many seats to the other party.
NBY: In these elections Ioannis Dion Cochini is elected second out of the seven Zante MPs. (source DC) Giorgio de Rossi, another of Dionysios frineds passes to the Leontarakis side(Source: Mme Mich. Chartoulari referring to a discovery of Mme Nella Pantazi, record keeper of Corfu's archive, Eleftherotypia, 27th August 2005. Mme Pantazi advised the undersigned in 2005 that the files of the Salomon vs Leontarakis trial were not found in the Corfu archive) and appoints a competent lawyer, Mr Typaldos-Xidias to defend Leontarakis. Obviously Dionysios is facing a well coordinated opponent, much "bigger" than Ioannis Leontarakis.
24th January 1835 Ioannis asks the court to verify (via witnesses certainly) if his mother was carrying when count Nicolo died and if he indeed was born seven months later. The court refused however to call Angelica to testify and requested instead that relative documents are produced. When this was done the court dismissed Ioannis application. Ioannis appealed, the court dismissed the appeal too, Ioannis then filed his recourse to the high court (Supreme Legal Council) in Corfu which also dismissed his case around April-May 1836.
(NBY: Capadochos covers this matter rather hurriedly-one has to search carefully around his book to find that the Zante court first dismissed Ioannis application June 1835-jumping next to July 1836, leaving practicaly 18 months uncovered. See * text in following post)
The new Lord Commissioner, Sir Howard Douglas, arrives in Corfu April 1835 and dissolves the Ionian parliament. (Source DC).
April 1835 The commitee appointed to put together the new civil code system presents its work to the Lord Commissioner. "Until then it appears that there were still some parties which objected to the invalidation of the venetian codes". (exact quote from Capadochos.)
NBY: The murder takes place late spring 1835 in Zante. (Source: Yanni's "Poe Announcement".)
(Continued)

[yanni]

The murder takes place late spring 1835.
-----------------
June 1835: The court in Zante dismisses Ioannis application.He appeals.
August 11th, 1835: In a letter delivered by hand to his brother Dionysio writes:"...concerning this matter, do not worry as I have already taken and carried out the decision to deliver the whole of all our correspondence to other hands, well sealed".
November 23, 1835: In a hand written will, Donysios names Dimitrio as his sole heir in the case of his own sudden death.
NBY:: The three 1835 data above are scattered in other parts of Capadochos book. He continues his Jabuary 24h 1835 text as follows:
*After this decision in his favour Dionysios writes to Dimitrio, July the 6th, 1836...
NBY: The complete letter is quoted by Capadochos. The following extract is of particular interest however:
..."Do not loose any time but tell kitty that I was informed, even if she does not write to me, via the such and such old channel that our friend Cochino said "that he is now on the defense and that there is hope in due time he will be obliged to leave"*.
NBY:
a)Professor Capadochos spells the "Cochino" name both with a capital C (page 72) and a small c (page 90), both referring to above 1836 text. In the first reference he goes on to explain that it's a code name meaning someone with strong influence in government circles, while "kitty" a state servant who, contrary to "Cochino's" advise, managed to be transferred from Corfu to Zante. Asked how the name was written in the original letter, Mr Capadochos advised the undersigned, around 2004, that his source, Linos Politis, D.Solomos main biographer, did not specify it and that both references are exact copies from Politis books.
b)translating the text: Cochino's own words (between "quotes") reveal that he expresses the relief of one who has been under pressure for quite a while and who, because of a sudden event which made his position impossible to further defend, hopes to abandon it, leaving possibly Corfu or Zante as well. Ioannis Dionysiou Cochini, the MP and judge? We'll come to the matter later on.
August 7th, 1836 Dionysios writes to Dimitrio that he suffers psychologicaly and has constant fears and nightmares.Capadochos quotes other researchers suggesting Dionysios case is mental.
(continued)

[yanni]

September the 8th, 1836 Dionysios returns to Zante staying there for a long time and returns to Corfy May the 3rd 1837 (Source I.Chrysicopoulos).
The Revisional Council of the Ionian State approved the decision of the Supreme Legal Council favouring Salomon Bros, Arpil the 4th 1838, but the Church still has the final word on family matters:
NBY: It so happened that on March 19th, 1838 the church elected Nicogiorgio Dion.Cochini,brother of Dimitrio the witness and Ioannis, the lawyer etc etc who was enthroned August the 10th, 1838 (Source DC)
(another bit of info concerning the Cochini also missing from Capadochos "source")
Acccording to D.Conomos, Ecclesiastica, page 103::
"The same year of (his)...enthronement, differences arose between the Constantinople Patriarchate and the Ionian State when the latter filed a petition asking for permission to limit the number (line of order) of relatives and be allowed to performe mixed marriages. Patriarch Gregory the VIth dismiseed the petition accusing the Ionian State of plotting against the Church."
Page 105:
D.Conomos refers to an altera pars of bishop Cochini and authority as exarch (nuncio) "...to judge matters concerning marriage such as licenses, reprievals, annulments, divorces" but in all his books he refuses otherwise to touch the subject of the trial.
Bishop Cochini is known to have often preached the story of Zante's Agios Dionysios who forgave the murderer of his brother. He has obviously agreed to support Solomos on condition he will be spared seeing him again, as such Dionysios (and soon after Dimitrio) never visited Zante again.
1839-40 Dimitrio Solomos is apointed Zante's representative in Corfu. With the assistance of Commissioner Douglas, the differences with the Patriarchate resulted to the break up of relations with the Head Church (Autocephalon). The Ionian Bank is created. Griparis writes a four act satire against the robbing money lenders of Zante. Gaetano Chiveto returns to London where he prints verse by his grandaughter Frances Mary Lavinia Polidori, and by Dante Gabrielle Rosetti
Bettina, daughter of Roberto, uses the title "contessa" .
1843 Anneta Dimitrio Solomos marries Nik Luntzi
In the elections of 1845 Nik Luntzi, with 137 votes and Dr Nik.Chiveto with 1 (one) vote are not elected. Dimitrio Solomos is appointed Zante's prefect however.
In 1849 the Ionian Congress decides that Salomon Bros may carry the title "count" . This same year Dionysios completes his "Porfyras" but he poem vanishes soon after…..
1850 Nik.Luntzi is apointed Zante's prefect whereas Dimitrio Salomon is appointed president of the Ionian Congress by commissioner Ward and resides in Corfu.
April 1853 there is talk in Zante against "....the house of Luntzi and to remind of the Cochini murder which they allegedly then committed" (translation from Andriolas diary, more details to follow)
December 1856 the scholar Herman Luntzi, brother of Nik, supplies Dionysios Salomon with his translations of german philosophers to read. Dionysios, also emerged in occult studies at the time, is mentally unstable and drinks heavily.He dies after two months (February 21st, 1857).
The A' register of deaths in Zante, quoting the relevant entry from the Corfu register, mentions that the deceased "...is the son of count Nicolo and countess Angelica, born in Zante, resident of Corfu, landowner" (I.Chrysicopoulos)
Zante joined modern Greece in 1864 In the local elections of September 1863 the radical party of Const. Lombardos, supporting full union, gained absolute majority. Between his ten MPs one finds an Andrea Ioannou Cochini. (D.C)

End of chapter. More notes to follow.

[jon1jt]

it's time for a blog dude.

[yanni]

The brave few who followed this thread so far- managing even to absorb the previous chapter- and are now persuaded that all "official" local data do confirm Yanni's interperetation of Poe's work are hereby complimented and further rewarded by this supplementary list of comments leading us all, hopefully, to the final chapter titled "But who were the victims?".

1" Nicolo was married to Marnetta Caccni eversince 1765. Before his marriage he was a tax collector contracted by the Venetian Republic to "farm" the islands of Leucas and Cephalonia. After his marriage however he began trading tobacco making a fortune. He was enobled in 1785, given the title "count of Torcello" by Venice..."
Obviously a Caccini linking the Paris-Zante "mercers" to still more "Levs". No wonder bishop Nicolaos wanted to do it "his way"-perform "mixed" marriages- and took thus the Autocephalon road.
Re tobacco trade linking the US Cozines and Salmons to Zante and eachother: Enough has been said already but see #2 following to be sure. .

2. Nicolo's will.
No record was found as to the contents.. One assumes Nicolo was not aware, when dying, that his Baltimore Bank relative(possibly his brother Spyridon taking the name George on arrival?) and partner also died the same year he did. Until proven otherwise by US upriver cassin sailors or Salmons, the assumption that sometime around 1818-1830, when the US frigate order hand was fully played, shares or IOU's were brought back to Zante by a competent captain and, before being handed over to their rightfull owner, were carefully examined (the "societe anonyme", a wondefull invention of the enlightened few) and then used accordingly, will remain strong:
There was much-much more to "it" than just shaky property in Zante.

3.The executors.
In his first will (1802) Nicolo names Dionysios Gaetas, Vincent Reinaud and Nicolo Messala but modifying it "allegedly" at notary public Gaetano Chiveto (propably grandfather of Gaetano and John Polidori-Chiveto), Dec 1806, he withdrew V.Reinaud, maintained the other two and also named Nadales Domeneghini, Antonio Michalitsi and Francesco Muzza as alternate executors.
Capadochos however considers Nicolo Messala as one of the two persons who shaped the character of the poet and treats him accordingly (never again mentioning the other executors in his book) .
He further advises that
-Nicolo (1741-1821) was the son of Constantinos Messalas and Marnetta Logotheti (page39) and that
-When Roberto filed his lawsuit against the two brothers in 1807, Nic.Messala appointed chevalier Styliano Michalitsi, law professor and president of the local Zante government in 1808.(page 40)

We already asked ourselves :"Who managed the estate after Messala's death in 1821?" and "Who handed over the management of the estate to the two brothers the 6th of June 1826?"
This question will be fully answered in the last chapter, however here are some further bits of info to absorb, linking the Cochini to the case (Source E.R. Ragabe's Livre d'or de la noblesse Ionienne , Athens 1925. NBY Not a solid source as will be seen in last chapter):
a) Nicogiorgio(1791-1867) the bishop, Dimitrio-Giacomo(1794-?)the witness and Ioannis(1796-?) the lawyer ,were the sons of Dionysio Cochini(1760-1832) and Vittoria Dim. Michalitsi.(she dies 1805)
b) Their sister Elena, born August 1792, was married, 15th January 1817, to Count Stefano Messala (1750-1823 NBY source: The guide to the Zante Solomos Museum, Athens 1987 ) son of count Constantinos Messala. (NBY Count Stefano is therefore the younger brother of the chief executor who dies in 1821. He was the consul of France in Zante until his death in 1823 Thus the matter of "who transferred what, when"? is wide open, the more so due to the age difference between the 25 years old bride and the groom of 67)
c) Their sister Doretta (born 1797) married in 1st marriage, the 8th June 1824, Peter Mocenigo, noble of Zante and in 2nd, the 23rd November 1839, Ioannis son of Anastasio Gaeta.
d) Their aunt(sister of their father Dionysios) Taddea married the 10th November 1779 Giorgio, son of Lambrino Melisino. (Giorgio was elected, first of seven representatives of Zante, in the second Ionian parlament of 1823. His son(?) Ioannis Melisinos along with Arvanitakis and other five, were the members of the commitee formed by Maitland in 1817 to compose the constitution of the Ionian State. :

Conclusion: The Zante Cochini were very close to the executors of Nicolo's will as well as to the lawyer of his love children. Thus, despite count Nicolo's affair, their long lasting "business as usual" climat remained strong, making Dionysios choice of Dimitrio-Giacomo for witness in 1828 quite obvious.They were also fairly closely associated with the british administration

(second part of Comments to follow)

[yanni]

4..August 1831 Admirals Miaoulis and George Causse with Mavrocordatos at their side burn the greek fleet in his base at Poros. Lazaros "Orlov" opposes them.. Governor Capodistria is murdered in September. Civil unrest in Modern Greece. Capodistria's brother Augustino and followers are arrested and interogated in Corfu.

Until 1831 Dionysios has obviously placed his bet on Capodistria aand acted accordingly. He is not the only one however and it's not just "Causse" vs "Orlov" as per #3 above: The mysterious "Cochino" is also playing the same game and so do his brothers, as we'll see below and in last chapter.

5. Obviously Dionysios is facing a well coordinated opponent, much "bigger" than Ioannis Leontarakis:
The Cochini were unanimously following Canning's "friendly" policy while he was "serving abroad" or was in the opposition and some of this "friendship" may have lasted till 1823-24 in Zante. They were shrewed enough diplomaticaly however to understand and keep up the double game until their principal interests were seriously affected and, one assumes, this happened earlier to the hydrian"Sicilians" than to the Zante "mercer-lawyers" if at all . Hence the hydrians exposed themselves fighting for the wrong, as it turned out, side (profrench) thus giving the others the chance to stay low and make their compromise during the trial if not earlier. Dionysios Salomon was obliged somehow to follow their common profrench policy 1823-1828, was then promised Capodistria's influence till 1831 but then woke up, swiftly changing sides. The hydrians, still acting as heads of the family until 1835, turned against him dragging their unwilling Zante relatives along. They finally "got the message" via the murder which allowed the "mercer-lawyers" of Zante to express themselves freely from then on getting the upper hand while the hydrians dissappeared from the scene thereafter.

6. The 1853 diary of Antonio Melissino

In a letter to the undersigned,1999, Andriolas provided a handwritten copy of the relevant page only (explaining that the rest of the diary is mostly in italian) and a brief summary linking the particular page to the previous text:

Summary: In 1853 rumors circulate in Zante that Maria Luntzi, orphaned from both parents, niece of the Luntzi brothers (Herman, Nicolao and Jacob-William) has eloped with a Cochini

Copy of page page 32
The 4th April 1853
Today I met George Messala, we went for a stroll together and he told me: Did you hear what lies they said for the Luntzi girl and do you know the reason?
No, I replied and he added that ,at the ball of the commissioner George Melissinos and his own brother, Stefano Messala, were rudely teazing the ladies of the other party creating thus great confusion. After that this party, to take revenge, conceived the idea to spread this rumor around and spill dirt against the house of Luntzi bringing to memory the Cochini murder they allegedly then committed, adding that my (Ant.Mellissino is obviously in love with the girl) Maria's confessor advised her to do so (elope) to obtain absolution from the sin, and all that to reach the ears of the administration .
(translated from bad greek)

Comment by Yanni:
-Clearly a case of Aprilfoolers vs Mayfirsters!
-Merely names are proof enough that the murder under discussion is related to the Salomon vs Leontarakis trial.

Next : But who were the victims? (last chapter)

[Walter]

I finally have to wonder what all this was about.

Will there be a short, s-h-o-r-t , summary after that last chapter -- not of the content, but of what this was?

[jon1jt]

the whole piece is encyclopedic and amounts to a rudimentary commentary with nothing new or revealing to the body of research on same. or am i missing it??

and where's your bibliography? you put words in quotations assuming the reader knows the real meaning.

[yanni]

The long and the s-h-o-r-t and the tall

see things differently

if at all!

[Walter]

Is that really your answer?
Are you really willing to have all your effort go straight down the drain by not being communicative?
It is your choice and makes little difference to me.