I walk past here everyday

Scuole ("Schools") were civic association organized under a charter of the Republic of Venice. Their purposes were always religious -- a performance of a certain religious function or a particular form of veneration. (Originally, in the 1200's, they were lay associations of flagellants, there being a kind of boom in the practice). In addition, the schools also often served other interests of their members. Some -- dei Albanesi, dei Greci, dei Lucchesi, dei Tedeschi, and dei Schiavoni -- united resident aliens of different nations. Others united professions -- tailors, silk weavers, shoemakers, makers of silk belts, rope-makers and so forth.

Scuola del Cristo, or del Buona Morte, was founded in 1635, next to the Church of San Marcuola, in Canaregio. It's purpose was collecting the bodies of unknown dead -- usually assorted homeless -- and giving them honorable burial. (Those killed in motorcycle accidents in Bangkok are almost certain to be given their last service by a similar religious volunteer organization, whose members, like those of Scuola del Cristo, also see their work as important merit-making).

In 1742, the Scuola began to see a sharp rise in the cases of dead children. They were street urchins. All were strangled and dumped in the canals in different parts of the city, at night. Today's criminologists would immediately recognize the pattern as a serial killer on the prowl. A special task force would be put together and a massive hunt for the murderer put on. But in the 18th century such organizations did not exist; and in any case, the state did not see it as its duty to prevent the culling of social undesirables.

Members of the Scuola del Cristo, having failed to interest the authorities in the problem, continued quietly to bury the dead until, several years later, the cases ceased, the perpetrator having perhaps met his own death, or moved to disport himself elsewhere.

Several members of the Scuola had speculated that these may have been cases of witchcraft; or ritual killing. Perhaps Jews from nearby ghetto were involved? Or, perhaps, a vampire has manifested itself in the city - there was a large population of Wallachians in Venice. One Scuola member had even proposed that the Scuola organize night watch in order to prevent the murders, perhaps even capture the perpetrator.

Nothing came of those efforts.

Now, the Scuola offered a thanksgiving mass for the city's delivery from the monstrous goings on. The story is completely forgotten.