The Execution of Santore And Capone

Boston Daily Globe

17 April 1885, p.1

"Double Execution In Maine.
Santore and Capone, the Two Italian Murderers, Die on the Scaffold at Thomaston.

Thomaston, Me., April 17 - The morning of the execution of Santore and Capone dawned fair, but a raw, chilly wind was blowing.  The men both went to bed at 8:30 last evening, and apparently went soundly to sleep.  The men who kept the death-watch looked in at them frequently.

At 2 o'clock Capone opened his eyes, moaned, and then rose, and without dressing sat down and filled his pipe.  He smoked in silence a few minutes and then got into bed again.  In about an hour he rose again and smoked.  Santore was also up once during the night and smoked his pipe.  Towards morning neither man slept soundly.

At 5 o'clock they arose and dressed.  At the usual time the regular prison breakfast of bread and coffee was served.  Capone ate very little.  He was extremely feverish and nervous; his pulse was 100 and irregular.  He muttered considerably, but those about him could not understand what he said.  Santore ate heartily and swaggered somewhat.  Smiting his breast, he said, "Me no 'fraid.  Ready to die.  Justice listened to story of an assassin, and Santore must die on scaffold; but not 'fraid.  Me all right."

Then he pointed upward; cast up his eyes, and struck a heroic attitude.  His pulse was steady, and he seemed really as brave as he professed himself to be.

Capone still persisted that he was not to be hanged.  "Santore hang," said he, with a leer and a grin; "me no hang.  Me all right."

Father Boniface arrived at the prison shortly before 9 o'clock and went at once to the cells of the men and recommenced his labors of yesterday.

Sheriff Irish arrived from his home in Rockland, at 9:30 a.m., and had a private conversation with Warden Bean and Inspectors Porter and Bean.  He brought with him a great bundle covered with blue cloth; it contained the ropes and cords.  One hundred and fifty feet of rope are used in giving the drop of eight feet.

Among the people who came to see the execution are Sheriff Wadsworth of Waldo county, Deputy Sheriff True of Kennebec county, Drs. Gerrish of Portland and Roeth of Boston.  A number of reporters were on hand trying to induce Sheriff Irish to construe the law limiting the number of spectators to twelve liberally enough to let them in.

Father Boniface stayed with the men all morning.  He was joined at 11 o'clock by Fathers Harrington and Peterson.  Santore soon yielded to their persuasion and proffered his reconciliation to God and his forgiveness of all men, inclusive of Capone, whom he had steadily cursed till this time.

Capone was as unmoved as ever.  He declared that he did not believe they would hang him; that they were only trying to frighten him.  Santore accordingly received the sacrament. 

At 11:30 Sheriff Irish and his assistants proceeded to the cells of the condemned men to dress and bind them.  When Capone was taken from his cell and Deputy Porter commenced binding his arms, he weakened, broke down and begged to the priests to come and receive his confession.  They did so and administered the sacrament.

The men were clothed in black alpaca suits, roundabout jackets, and pants made for the occasion.  After their arms were bound, they were led out to the scaffold.  Sheriff Irish walked ahead, followed by Sheriff Wadsworth and Deputy Sheriff Morton leading Santore.  Then came the three priests, wearing their insignia of office.  Deputy Sheriff Porter and Constable Peabody brought up the rear, leading Capone.  

The procession issued from the western door of the prison, crossed the prison yard at the centre, entered the wood working shop, passed down into the basement, which they traversed, emerging at the end on a platform, and then down a few steps to the scaffold.  This is 12 feet square, and has a trap 5 by 4 feet.  This is raised above the level of the gallows' platform, about 18 inches.  The floor of the trap is 14 feet above the ground, and the rope is arranged to give drop of 8 feet. 

 The gallows stands in a disused lime rock quarry, the deeper parts of which are filled with water.  Looking from it, one sees nothing but the blank walls of the quarry and this pond, on which a few ducks are swimming.  All about is grim and dreary.  Santore was feeble, but walked firmly, almost proudly.  Capone's countenance was hushed.  Almost purple; his face wore a smile, but not the old defiant one.  He trembled slightly, and kept swallowing, as if to suppress emotion.

Santore took his stand on the east end of the trap, Capone standing at his right hand.  The officers quickly bound their feet and legs and adjusted the ropes about their necks.  While they did so, Santore spoke with a loud voice in Italian.  He spoke earnestly and rapidly, Father Boniface interpreting.  He said:

"I forgive all my enemies without exception.  Justice has sentenced me to death, and I am fulfilling the provisions of the law.  I am ready to die.  I am at peace with God and my fellow-men.  I forgive all without one exception."

In response to the questions by Father Boniface, Capone said in a low voice that he too forgave all men, and asked God to have mercy on his soul.  Then the black caps were drawn over their faces and tied by Sheriffs Morton and Wadsworth.  The priests recited their prayers, to which the men made responses.  Santore loudly.  Capone just above a whisper.  

At precisely one minute past noon, Sheriff Irish stepped to the front o fthe scaffold and uncovered the spring which releases the trap.  The pins that secured it were removed, and the sheriff, standing uncovered, said solemnly: "And now by the authority in me vested by the Governor of the State of Maine, I hereby hang you by the neck till you are dead, dead, dead, and may God have mercy on your souls."

As he said the last words, he touched the spring, and the men shot through the trap.  As they brought up, they spun around, rapidly for a minute or two, while the priests recited the prayers for the dying.  The bodies then hung motionless, the only movement being a convulsive grasping of the fingers and a drawing up of Capone's shoulders.

The bodies were examined by Drs. Levensaler of Thomaston, Banks and Hitchcock or Rockland, Gerrish of Portland, and Roeth of Boston.  At the end of two minutes Capone's pulse was eighty-four, in five minutes it was sixty-two, in eight minutes no pulse was perceptible, and in thirteen minutes there was no heart pulsation.  In twenty-three minutes he was declared dead.

The record in Santore's case was about the same.  The bodies were then lowered into the coffins.  If not claimed by friends in three days, they will be given to the Maine Medical School for scientific purposes.  The execution was excellently managed throughout."

Geez ... I didn't realize death by hanging took so damned long.

Do you suppose God have mercy on their souls?

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Eve of The Executions of Santore And Capone

The Boston Daily Globe

17 April 1885, p.1

"Santore and Capone in the Hands of Officers and Medical Men.

Thomaston, ME., April 16 - Santore and Capone, who are to be hanged tomorrow, are at this writing sleeping as calmly as if they were innocent children.  A watchman looks at them every half hour. 

Father Boniface of Boston, the Italian Catholic priest, and Fathers Peterson and Harrington of Rockland have been with them nearly all day, trying to bring them to a suitable frame of mind to receive the sacrament.  One of the priests has visited them every day this week, but the men seem totally callous to religious influences.

Santore, the more intelligent, was asked today if  as he was about to die, he would not forgive Capone.

"I would cut my own throat first!" said he, with a wicked flash in his eyes.

They hate each other implacably and will to the close.  Each continues to charge the worst features of the crime on the other.  Capone seems a trifle nervous, but Santore, though excited, does not seem to fear the ordeal.  Capone has within a day or two tried to induce a belief that he is insane by telling the officers that he is not to be hanged for six years.  Both men lie to the officers and to the priests about the most trivial matters.

Dr. Gerrish of the Maine Medical School, Brunswick, is here and has applied to have the bodies turned over to that institution for scientific purposes.  If the men request to be buried, or if relatives or friends apply for the bodies within three days, the law will not allow the bodies dissected.  Otherwise, Dr. Gerrish will get them.  The doctor has also applied for permission to inject morphine into the men hypodermically just before the execution, but this will not be allowed. 

Inspectors Porter and Bean, Superintendent Bedlow of the Western Union and several reporters are here on business connected with the execution.  The gallows was erected yesterday in the old quarry in the prison yard.  It is placed under a platform between two buildings, completely out of sight of all parts of the prison.  The platform is fourteen feet from the ground, and the drop will be eight feet."

I can't help but notice how dramatic the writing style was back then. I wonder how much of it was true?

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Santore's Statement

Boston Daily Globe

3 April 1885; p.13

The entire story finally comes out over one year later.  You can find the first article in this post.

"Santore's Statement
A Letter Written on the Eve of Death - Said to be a Full and Truthful Account of the Italians' Crime.

Tuesday morning Father Bonafacio of this city visited the condemned Italian murderers at the Maine State prison, accompanied by Father Peterson of Rockland.  At that time Santore gave to Father Bonafacio a letter containing, as he said, a full and truthful account of the crime for which he and Capone have been condemned, stating further that a copy of the same had been sent to Governor (Robic).  The following is a translation of the letter:

On the 7th of September, 1883, about 4 p.m., Pasquali Coscia called on Raphel Capone and Carmine Santore to take a walk.  When we arrived at a certain point of the road we met one Bernardo Catardo, with three other men.  This Catardo, on perceiving me, informed me that there was a letter at Bangor for me in the handwriting of one Roberto Fiore.  On hearing this I left Coscia and Capone, and walked with Catardo.  I took the road for Bangor, and was scarcely a quarter of a mile on the way when I heard a whistle, and, turning, I saw Capone alone coming after me.  He made a sign with his hand to wait a little while, and I, thinking that he wanted to go with me, awaited his coming.  When he arrived he said to me, "Don't go to Bangor now; Pasquali Coscia is coming and we will take this other road (different from the Bangor one), for he has some money and we will take it from him, for I owe Jaetano Pisatura about $100, and cannot meet it otherwise."

I did not want to acquiesce to the demand of Capone, but he persisted for such a length of time that in the meantime Pasquali Coscia appeared in our midst.  Capone then left me, and after satisfying nature's demands returned, and we were all three together, and on the road aforesaid by Capone, the one leading to the wood.  I walked along, smoking my pipe and keeping at the right of Coscia, and Capone to his left, and as soon as we entered the wood  Capone fired a shot into the back of Coscia, who cried out to Capone, "Oh, Compare, why did you shoot me!  You are my traitor!"

Immediately Capone threw the revolver to the ground, seized a stick and followed up Coscia, who tried to escape.

Capone cried out to me, "Get, get, get the revolver, and shoot, shoot, shoot - he is escaping me - he's escaping me!"

I took up the revolver, and fired a shot at the distance of about eight feet, not with the intention of injuring any of the two who were running, but with the intention of attracting the attention of some English-speaking workmen, who were laboring not far from there; but my efforts were in vain.

Coscia ran as far as the end of the wood, but could go no further, on account of a wooden fence.  He then turned back followed by Capone, who dealt him repeated blows with the stick on the head.  Coscia on his return arrived as far as the spot where the shot was fired and there fell exhausted.  Capone then threw away the stick, and rushed on him and seized him by the throat.  Then he unbuttoned his (Coscia's) vest and extracted from the pocket thereof the wallet, and came to where I was standing, took the revolver, went back to the dying man and discharged another shot into his face, and struck him with a stick again, and then came to me and said, "Let us go now, I have split his skull."

About thirty feet farther on he washed his hands and face and tore off the wristbands of his  shirt, which were saturated with blood, and when he arrived at the bridge crossing to Bangor, he threw the revolver into the river.

We went to a store and drank a bottle of beer each, with another young man whom we met on the way to Bangor.  Afterward we went to see Master Dominico, boss of the work, and not finding him we went into another store and I bought ten cents worth of rum while Capone placed on the bar a $20 bill.  I handed the money to the bartender, but Capone got the change.

Having left the rum shop, Capone handed me $30 on condition that I would not mention the fact of the murder.  We went and drank again, and he had a bottle of beer and I two.  We went home about 9 o'clock p.m., and at 3 o'clock next morning Capone washed his clothes. 

About 8 o'clock on the 8th of September Capone came to me and wanted to borrow some money, but I answered that I could not favor him in that respect, and Capone told me to give him the $30 I got from him, and I acceded to his request.

The police came and found the clothes of Capone still stained with blood, and having inquired with whom Coscia was on the 7th they arrested both of us.  As soon as I found myself imprisoned I wrote a few lines to be interviewed desiring to expose the whole affair as it took place.  Then Capone, as soon as he understood his situation, maliciously accused me of the murder."

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Capone Found Guilty

Boston Daily Globe

22 February 1884

You can find coverage of the trial in this post.

"Capone Found Guilty.

Both He and Santore Sentenced to Death - Probability that the Latter Will not Live to be Hanged. (Special Dispatch to The Boston Globe)

Bangor, February 21 - The jury in the murder trial of Raffaele Capone brought in a verdict at 4:50 this afternoon.  The court room was crowded to its utmost capacity.  When the verdict of murder in the first degree was announced the prisoner received it with a smile.  Carmen Santore, who was before convicted, was brought into court, and both men were sentenced.

There was an intensely dramatic scene before the sentence was pronounced.  Capone spoke through an interpreter some twenty minutes.  He said that Santore committed the murder; that he had planned to kill five other fellow-workmen; and that he had murdered a man in Italy.  Capone closed by saying: "Your laws can hang me; do as you please."
 
Santore told the same story that he told on the stand.  He said he fired one shot, but did not plan to kill Coscia.  He said he was not a murder in Italy, but a revolutionist.
 
Judge Emery, in sentencing the prisoners, spoke of the fact that both had had fair trials.  The sentence of death had to be pronounced through an interpreter.  Both were sentenced to be hanged on the first Friday in April, 1885, between the hours of 10 in the forenoon and 2 in the afternoon.
 
At the conclusion, Santore, the elder, broke down and cried like a child, not for himself, he said, but for his wife and child in Italy.  Capone kept his usual calm demeanor.  As he was leaving the prisoners' dock, he turned to the crowd, smiled, and waved his hat.
 
The murder of Coscia was one of the most brutal on record, and the general opinion is that both men received their just deserts.  The prisoners will be taken to Thomaston in a few days.  Santore probably will not live a year."

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Raffaele Capone's Trial

Boston Daily Globe

21 February 1884; p.5

"Raffael Capone's Trial
A Man Convicted of Murder Testifies Against A Man On Trial For Murder
(Special Dispatch to The Boston Globe)

Bangor, February 20. - The trial of Raffael Capone today has been of most dramatic interest.  The presence of Santore on the witness stand, when he himself has just been convicted of murder, could not but make the trial somewhat intense. 

He testified in substance that he was born in Monte Milletto, Italy; came from the same place in Italy that Capone came from; am 43 years old; saw both Capone and the murdered man, Pasqual Coscio, about 4 o'clock p.m. on September 7 last; all three went to walk together; went toward the fiver; met a  brother-in-law of Coscio; the latter named Bernardo, told witness that there was a letter in Bangor for him, and he started off alone; after going about a quarter of a mile heard Capone's whistle and stopped; waited for him to come up; at that time Coscio stayed behind talking with Bernardo; it was then that Capone told me about Coscia having money.

The cross-examination by Colonel Bradbury was most careful and exhaustive.  By repeated questions he succeeded in drawing from witness these statements: 

Left Italy in 1882; arrived in New York and stayed there until coming to Brewer last season; have a wife in Italy, knew Coscia ten years in Italy; was in jail in that country from 1860 to 1870, there was a revolution of the people of the village under Francis (II); they were in arms against Victor Emmanuel; (who) oath taken by the society of revolutionists, who were armed, was in substance that strange troops should be kept out; Garibaldi was coming to reign; in connection with others took human lives, but simply for defense; was charged with being a revolutionist, not a murderer. 

Witness showed evidences of great physical weakness, and when asked to tell the conversation that occurred after hearing Capone's whistle, he complained of headache.  Witness stated that his memory was better in the Police Court than now. 

This afternoon the prisoner was put on the witness stand.  He said that the murder was committed by Santore, and that he had nothing to do with it.  The trial will probably end tomorrow night. 

Santore, who has been convicted, is suffering great mental anguish.  Yesterday he in some way received an impression that he was to be hanged today.  He threw himself on the stone floor of his cell and laid there for hours, sobbing and groaning. 

This morning the interpreter, Bernardini, and Father O'Brien visited Santore's cell.  He was told that his execution would not take place for some months.  This seemed to make him feel easier, but still sad.  This morning, after being taken into court to testify against Capone, and while sitting in the prisoners' dock, he shed tears."

Those trouble-makers from Montemiletto ;-)  

More to follow ...

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Fitchburg Massachusetts 1933 G. Rotondi Files Lowest Construction Bid

Fitchburg Sentinel, 8 November 1933 p.21

 State Road Bids Filed

"G. Rotondi of Melrose with a bid of $124,161 submitted the lowest bid to the state department of public works for the construction of about four miles of state road in Willard Brook reservation in Townsend and Ashby.

M. Pandolph of Needham with $191,158 was the lowest bidder on the proposal to construct three and a half miles of highway in Sterling and West Boylston on the Worcester and Fitchburg road."

I'm thinking G. Rotondi was Guglielmo "George" Rotondi, a Melrose contractor born 1 December 1881 in Torre le Nocelle to Ciriaco Rotondi and Anna Maria Penna.

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Frongillo Arrested in East Boston - Charged With Murder of Framingham Man

Boston Evening Globe 5 December 1921 p.10

"John Frongillo, aged 33, of Worcester who, it is alleged, shot and killed Rocco DeLucca during a quarrel in Framingham yesterday, was arrested in East Boston shortly before 1 this afternoon.

He was traced to this district and was found hiding in the home of a friend at 172 Gove st, by State Police Officers Fleming and Ferreira and special officers James J. Driscoll and Bart Winn of the East Boston Police station.

The alleged fugitive submitted to arrest without resistance, and was taken to Framingham by the officers.

Following the shooting and alleged killing, Frongillo fled from Framingham in an automobile, reaching East Boston about 7 o'clock last night.

He left the automobile on Chelsea st and went to an aunt's house on Chelsea pl, where the police say he remained until 4 this morning, when he was taken to the house on Gove st.

Special officers Winn and Driscoll were tipped of his presence in East Boston and trailed him to his aunt's home and thence to 174 Gove st, where Frongillo was found.  The fugitive was asleep when the officers rushed into his room and arrested him.

When questioned at the East Boston Police Station he is alleged to have told the police that he got rid of the automatic revolver which, it is said, he used in the shooting.  He said that he threw it into the harbor while crossing on the East Boston ferry.  When pressed for more facts about the killing he is further credited by the police as saying that he was drunk and that he did not remember what happened.

Later Frongillo was taken before Col. Foote, Commissioner of Public Safety, who issued a statement to the effect that Frongillo had at first admitted shooting DeLucca and then denied it.

The State police, however, are working on the theory that Frongillo objected to DeLucca's attentions to his (Frongillo's) 16-year-old niece, who lives on Beaver ct, Framingham, and it was this motive that actuated the shooting.

After his examination at the State House Frongillo was taken to Boston Police Headquarters where he was photographed and his finger prints taken."

 

Charge Two Aided Frongillo To Escape

Special Dispatch to the Globe

"Framingham, Dec 5 - John Frongillo's brother, Henry Frongillo, and Vincenzo Iandola were arraigned in the District Court here this morning, the former charged with being an accessory before the fact and the latter with being accessory after the fact to the alleged assailant's escape to Boston in an automobile.

The two men pleaded not guilty and each was held in $10,000 for a hearing tomorrow."

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1902 Boston San Rocco Festival

Boston Daily Globe 16 August 1902 p.17

"Tomorrow the Italian societies of the North End will celebrate the fest of San Rocco da Montepellier, for whom all Italian people have great devotion, and to whom they appeal in times of pestilence.  The feast  will be observed with religious and civic rites.  At 8 o'clock the societies will assemble at the hall, 117 North st, and at 9 o'clock they will go in procession through the principal streets of the northern part of the city, reaching the church of St Leonard of Port Maurice on Prince st at 10 o'clock.  A solemn high mass will be said there.  Rev Fr Ubaldus, OSF, will be celebrant, with Rev Fr Valerianus, OSF, as deacon, and Rev Fr Wenceslas, OSF, as subdeacon, and Rev Francis Liberti will deliver the sermon.  At 4 o'clock a band concert will be given on the Prince st playground, and at 7 the societies will have a torchlight parade through the principal streets north of Boylston st.  The honorary presidents of the celebration are Dr Errico Scalzilli, Dr Marco Mastrangelo, Arcangelo Marotta, Michele Rocci, Tommaso Nutile, Tommaso Tranfaglia, Giuseppe Scalzilli, Antonio Lemme, Andrea di Pietro.  The committee in charge are Marciano Galante, Michelangelo Calola, Rocco Vincenzo Matelano, Antonio Marciello, Carmine D'Avino, Francesco Pelosi, Ciriaco Morante, Salvatore de Vito."

Not a Torrese in the lot.  They were home lighting candles to San Ciriaco ;-)  Below photo swiped from Florindo's site.... maybe he'll pop in and tell us what year it was taken.

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Party At The Todesca House Tonight!

 Boston Evening Globe 3 March 1920 p.11

"Many friends of Mr and Mrs Joseph Todesca gathered at the home of the couple at 105 Walworth st, Roslindale, and tendered them a rousing welcome home reception last evening.  An unusual program of entertainment was carried out (brother Ralph rode the unicycle on the dining room table) and supper was served.  Mr and Mrs Todesca returned on the Canopic yesterday after a five months' stay at Avellino, Italy.  They are well known in Roslindale, where Mr Todesca is a local contractor."

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1905 Boston Daily Globe - Joseph Todesca Purchases Land

 Boston Daily Globe 8 March 1905 p.3

"West Roxbury District

Papers have also passed the registry of deeds transferring from Francis G. Gibbs a lot of vacant land containing 6600 square feet, and situated on Bellevue av, the purchasers being Joseph Todesca and wife, who will erect a frame house for their own occupancy.  This lot is assessed for three cents per square foot, and was sold for a figure above this."

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Capone Sells Liquor Legally

 Boston Evening Globe 23 March 1918 p.3

Office Of The Licensing Board For The City Of Boston, March 23, 1918

Notice is hereby given, under Chapter 100 of the Revised Laws, that Domenico Capone and Emilio Bevilacqua as Capone & Co. have applied or a license of the First Class, to sell intoxicating liquors as Victuallers at No. 428 Commercial st, 513 and 515 Hanover st, and bulkhead entrance on Hanover st, in said Boston, in one room and office, first floor, cellar for stock only, of said building.

This enterprising duo consists of Emilio Bevilacqua born 1870 in Torre le Nocelle to Luigi and Porzia dello Iacono and Ermalindo Domenico Capone, born 12 February 1865 to Leonardo and Nunzia Saveria Leone.

Emilio was the husband of Florinda (Florence) Froncillo and the father of Carmine Domenico, aka Tommy McFarland, one time pro boxer and boxing commissioner.

Domenico Capone was the husband of Maria Grazia dello Iacono.  The two men were third cousins.

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Boston Murders 1888 - 1893

 Boston Daily Globe 1 June 1893 p.8

Lest one think things were quiet in ol' Beantown back in the day...

There have been 31 arrests for murder in Capt. Laurence Cain's district since 1888.  The bare announcement creates astonishment and incredulity in the minds of most people, while to one familiar with the situation the horrible catalogue is scarcely less surprising.

A natural impression on having the fact so stated is that such a record reflects seriously on the character of the inhabitants of the station 1 district, which embraces all the North and a portion of the West Ends.

But such a reflection, according to Capt. Cain, would not be justifiable, for the reason that a considerable percentage of the murders in that particular precinct were committed by outsiders.

Another condition is that some of the people arrested here for murder committed the crime elsewhere, and were at last driven to cover by the cleverness and vigilance of the officers of station 1.

The arrest and extradition of Ciriaco Venuto for the murder of his father-in-law, Francisco di Stasio, at Locusano, Italy, is a case in point.

The credit for that arrest belongs to Patrolman Rasatto and Special Officers Sullivan and Tryder, whose greatest difficulty in the case was the securing of witnesses.

A queer part of the affair was that the murderer and the complainants, his two brothers-in-law, had been next door neighbors on Everett ct. for months before the arrest.  The latter left Italy for the express purpose of hunting down Venuto, but were deterred from prompter action by the statements of acquaintances that they "could do nothing here because of the free American laws."

Notwithstanding the assertion that a considerable number of the persons arrested for murder by the officers of station 1 belong elsewhere, the fact remains that the North and West ends are now and have been regarded, for a generation or more, one of the worst sections of Boston for criminality.

The chief reason for this is the heterogeneous elements comprising the population.

Within the congested area between Washington st., Haymarket sq. and the water front are congregated the lower classes of many nations.

Italy, Russia, Portugal, Greece, German, Ireland, Sweden, Norway, Egypt, Poland and other foreign countries have each furnished their respective quota, and all are there huddled together with a sprinkling of native Americans, in what is termed the permanent population.

According to Capt. Cains estimate there are in his district about 15,000 Italians, 12,000 Hebrews, 5000 Portuguese and 600 Greeks, together with minor colonies of Swedes, Norwegians and other nationalities.

Then, too, there is a large floating population, larger in fact than in any other section of the city, by reason of the shipping interests on one side and the proximity of the northern depots on the other.

The knowledge that another brutal murder had been committed at the North End but a few nights ago, as well as of the apparent frequency of such tragedies in that section, prompted the writer to interview Capt. Cain.

"It is true," said the captain, "the North End is a favorite resort of criminals, and we make more arrests for every crime in the calendar than  any other police division in the city.

"I find on investigation that we have had since 1888 no less than 31 arrests for murder.  Three or four of that number, however, ought not to be recorded in the regular category of murders, for they were undoubtedly accidental."

"I mean such cases, for example, as the killing of a person by an electric car, where we arrested the motorman for manslaughter."

"It is the popular belief that all crimes, as a general thing, in this disrict are committed by the people whose homes are either at the North or West End."

"Nothing could be farther from the truth, for the fact is that most of our trouble comes from outsiders.  The real North Enders, whose homes and families are here permanently, are, as a rule peaceable, law-abiding and industrious."

"The majority are traders, rather than brawlers, more intent upon making money in peaceful traffic, and hoarding it, than in disturbing the peace."

"I know that we have had a good many brutal murders, but I can point to scarcely a case since I have been captain at this station, in which murder was long deliberated.  The crimes, as a rule, are like that Italian affair of Monday night."

"It is not surprising that the bold assassin, shooting a man down in the street, thronged with people, as was his case, is allowed to pocket his weapon, press his way through the crowd and escape."

"The very suddenness of the assault, or rather of its consummation, holds the spectators spell-bound, and before they fully realize the situation the culprit is beyond their reach."

"Of course we sometimes have very strange cases, some of which present a mysterious side."

"In the middle of February, 1889, for example, there was posted in the station house a notice, sent out by the Italian government, charging one Giuseppe Ruffoni with a brutal murder."

"The crime in that case was committed in Italy, and was brought about it appears by love of a woman.  Ruffoni killed on of his countrymen with a  stiletto, and then escaped to the United States."

"One of my men found the murderer at the North End and his arrest followed, with the result that the Italian government declined to pay the cost of extradition, and so the murderer was set at liberty."

"Our next murder was on April 10 following.  Edward Fortier and Charles F. Gibbard had been drinking together in what was then Twig's saloon, at the corner of Hanover and Blackstone sts."

"They got into a dispute about Freemasonry and finally Gibbard ran out of the saloon.  Fortier drew a revolver and followed him and ended by shooting Gibbard through the heart.  The victim fell and death was instantaneous.  In that case our men caught the murderer within two blocks of the saloon.  He got a four years' sentence."

"Aug. 20 of that year we arrested James Kerrigan for killing Henry Wile on Hanover st.  Kerrigan, it appears, struck Wile a sledge-hammer blow with his fist, and the victim fell to the sidewalk dead.  Medical examination showed that death was caused by heart disease, probably super-induced by the blow.  Kerrigan was discharged by the court."

"Then on Nov. 30, 1889 we had the famous case of Giuseppe de Lucca for the murder of Edward Cunningham at Milton.  De Lucca got 15 years hard labor, and the sole credit for his apprehension belongs to station 1."

"We had two important murder cases in 1888.  The first was on Aug. 6, when Henry Von Buren, a German sailor, got into an altercation with a tough near the corner of Commercial and Richmond sts."

"It was late in the afternoon and the thoroughfare was crowded.  Henry Gray, an expressman, jumped off his wagon to interfere, and the sailor, unable to comprehend a word of English, took him for another assailant, pulled his revolver and fired.  The expressman lived but 15 minutes, and within 20 minutes the murderer was behind bars.  He was given three years in the State prison."

"Another case that year was the arrest of Giovanni Bedonero for the murder of a man named Bedonero, but no relation, at a town near Genoa, Italy."

"The assassin, it seems, was detected stealing fruit in Bedonero's orchard by the wife of his victim while the victim himself was in a tree picking fruit.  The wife declared aloud that she would tell the police, whereupon the thief ran toward here, and drawing a stiletto, drove in into her breast."

"He then attacked the husband, who meanwhile descended from the tree, and killed him.  Leaving both for dead, the assassin ran away."

"The wife recovered and the murderer was traced to Genoa and thence to New York, where all trace of him was lost."

"We had a good description of the man, and one of our men got a tip that he was coming to Boston.  Fifteen minutes after his arrival we had him here in the station.  He was extradited and was sentenced to imprisonment for life."

"The Taylor murder of Nov. 14, 1889, was remarkable from the fact that it was deliberately planned."

"Wilder Hutchins, the victim, kept a stable at 24 Fleet st., and Benjamin F. Taylor had worked for him sometime previous.  Hutchins had him arrested for stealing oats, and Taylor then threatened to be revenged.  He 'got even,' as he called it, by entering Hutchins' stable and shooting him.  Taylor got a life sentence."

"June 26, 1890, I think, furnishes the next case.  It was that of Jacob Bartimick, a Hebrew, who killed Michael Haley at 16 1/2 Cross st."

"Jacob kept a cobbler shop and Haley went in to get a shoe repaired.  The testimony showed that there was an argument about the price.  It ended by the cobbler picking up a big knife and driving it clear to the hilt in Haley's heart. The Hebrew's plea in court was that Haley attempted to rob him.  He received a seven year's sentence."

"For the murder of Lena Johnson in an alley off Fleet st., May 15, 1891, on the score of jealousy.  Frank Nelson, a Swedish sailor, was arrested by our men and given 15 years."

"Then came the arrest of Martin Connolly for killing John McDonough on Commercial st.  He pleaded self-defense, and was given only two years in the house of correction."

"The next was the murder of Joseph Taman by Genaro Balmondi at 345 North st. on Jan. 18, the following year.  The victim in this case was shot through the heart.  The murderer was at large for some time, but was finally caged by Patrolmen Wise and Farley.  Genaro got seven years."

"On March 15 of last year we arrested Fortunato Ornante on suspicion of murdering Gaitano Mattittano.  Everybody recalls the particulars of this case. It was the duel in Everett, in which Mattittano was killed and his body was found on the tracks of the Eastern railway."

"As usual in Italian murder cases, we found it impossible to get Italians to testify against a fellow countryman, and Ornante was acquitted."

"Last October, for the murder of Thomas Corcoran in New Haven, we arrested Giovanni Rosci and turned him over to the Connecticut authorities."

"Then on the 16th of the following month came the most brutal and horrible tragedy of all, the murder of his two children and the suicide of the murderer, by Giuseppe Patone, an Italian chestnut vendor, at 2 Thatcher ct."

"The neighbors missed Giuseppe and his two children, and finding his door locked notified me.  I sent an officer to investigate, and he found the children dead on the floor, with their throats cut, and their father lying unconscious on a cot nearby."

"He also had a ghastly gash in his throat, and was thought at first to be dead.  However, Officer Burr summoned an ambulance and Giuseppe was removed to the Massachusetts General Hospital under guard.  He died there a day or two afterwards."

"On Nov. 17 of last year we arrested John Caspar and Tapfield Seminusky for killing Ignace Volazus, but for lack of evidence they were discharged.  In this case the victim was hit by a stone and his skull broken."

"That," said Capt. Cain, "with the exception of last Sunday's tragedy, includes all the murders in my district from 1888 to the present time."

"It is a remarkable record, I admit.  You perceive, however, that we usually run the criminals to earth."

"That will be the result, I venture to say, in the case of Antonio Sacco.

I wonder what the Captain would have to say about the 2009 homicide rate?

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San Ciriaco Is Honored In Westboro Massachusetts (1903)

Boston Daily Globe 3 August 1903 p.17

 "Westboro - The festival of St. Ciriaco, patron saint of the province of Avellino, Italy, was held with an imposing demonstration at the grounds of J.D. Waters on East Main st. yesterday.  F. Leonard, leader, was in attendance.  There was also a fife and drum corps, Italian bagpipe and two flutes, and an orchestra from Boston.  The shrine of St. Ciriaco was adorned with a large portrait of the saint, surrounded by candles and flowers.  Rev Fr Boisette of Boston delivered a patriotic oration.  A barbecue was held at noon.  In the evening there was a display of fireworks, consisting of set pieces.  It is estimated that 5000 people (4,999 of 'em Torrese) were present."

Florindo tells me the feast of San Ciriaco was celebrated in the same manner in Torre 200 years ago.

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