The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-13
Murders m New York.
LIST OF THOSE UNDER SENTENCE OF DEATH AND cor
FINED ON THE CHARGE OF MURDER.

LIST OF THOSE UNDER SENTENCE OF DEATH AND CON-
FINED ON THE CHARGE OF MURDER.
The appalling increase Of crime in this city can
not be more fully exemplifed than by the fact that
there are now confined in the city prison, on the
charge of murder, and under sentence of death for
that crime, larger number Of persons than has been
known for several years. In order to give an idea
of the number and character Of these crimes we sub
join brief sketches of the various cases.
THE MURDER OF POLICEMAN ANDERSON.
The sentence Of death having been passed by the
Court upon Michel Cancemi, convicted on his second
trial Of the murder of Eugene Anderson, member
of the Fourteenth ward police there is no hope that
he will escape the penalty of the law. He IL con-
fined in cell No. the first floor Of the City prison.
He seems to fully realize his situation and the fact
that his life il TO be forfeited as inevitable. His
manner, however, Is cheerful and kind, and
there is nothing in his personal appearance
TO indicate that he is who would be guilty of
taking the life Of a fellow being He is visited al
most daily by Padre Sanguinetti, an Italian priest
he being devotee of the Romish religion. Our re-
porter has obtained from intimate friend Of Can
cemi, the following brief statement of his history
Michel Cancemi was born in the year 1919, at
Palermo, in Sicily. His parents were in good cir
cumstances and moved in a high circle among the
Sicilian families. He was early placed under the
tutelage of the best educational institutions of the
Sicies, and was taught the usual branches studied
by gentlemens sons. When he became OF age, he
entered into the business OF money broker at which
he continued for several years with good success until
the breaking out OF the revolutions In ls4s. At po
puiar uprising in the Siciles in favor Of republican
ism, he took q prominent stand In favor OF the re-
public. and 80 highly did he commend himself by
his social status and his intelligence and bravery,
that he was made captain of the Municipal Guard
Of Palermo, and during subsequent struggles he dis.
tinguished himself by his bravery and Judgment but
when the reaction against republcanism took place,
and the authorities had regained their power, he
obliged to save himself by flight, and In 1850 he
came to this city from Palermo; hut after remaining
few days, he left for New Orleans, where he en-
gagged in dealing in fruits for nearly year. Find.
ing his ignorance of the language bar to the sue
he desired to achieve he took passage for Mar
sees in France. where he remained several months.
living on the means he had been enabled to save on
his flight from Palermo He then went to
Genoa, and began business a dealer in fruits.
wines and provisions, where he met with
fair success. He remained in Genoa until 1853. At
that time, proclamation issued by the King
Of the Two Sicilies, commanding all political fugi-
tives from Sicily who were then remaining In any Of
the Italian States to leave Italy under severe penal
ties in case of noncompliance; and as by the comfy
Of the States this proclamation was acuuesced
in by the other Italian rulers, Cancemi had no
resource left but to leave the country. At that
time a large number Of Italian refugees were
shipped on board Of vessel and sent to New York
country on that vessel. He refused, however, on
the ground that he had means of his own, aud was
not compelled TO accept OF passage under cond
tons 80 degrading TO what he conceived TO be his
dignity a man. He accordingly took passage on
board Of packet ship, in the cabin and arrived in
this city little four years since, being joined
at Genoa by Nunzia Emmett. who for fourteen
years had been living with him in the relation OF q
wife, though not legally married. Soon after
irving, seeing that his limited means would soon be
exhausted, except he ayaed himself of some indus
trial occupation, he made an application. through
Italian bookbinder, who was employed In the es-
tablishment Of Mr.. shaw, on Fulton street, for an
opportunity TO learn the business. Being highly re-
commended, Dir. shaw gave him employment, at
which he continued, with but few Interruptions, and
these caused by the sackness of work until the
time Of his arrest for the murder OF Anderson The
witnesses for the defence, upon his trial. testified
TO Cancemis uniform good character, 10 his proven.
bal industry and attentveness 20 business, he being
always the first to arrive at the shop in the morning
and the last 10 leave Il at night and often taking
work with him to his house to do In the night.
He still denies, emPhatically, his guilt, though APP
preciatng the fact that he must forfeit his life He
holds TO his original statement that he went early in
the morning, as was his usual custom, to Centre
market to purchase provisions, and was midway
Grand street, the west side Of Centre, when
the pistol was fred and Anderson fell; and that,
frightened by the occurrence, he ran rapidly to his
home, taking the course through Grand and down
Elm, In the confusion Of ideas which prevailed in his
mind at the moment. When his counsel were CON
sulting as 10 the line Of defence that should
be followed in his case. and having in view the inte
rests Of their client II was suggested whether II
would not be better TO deny entirely his presence at
the scene OF the homcide but he said that he should
permit nothing Of the kind tht II be could not be
acquitted with the whole truth of his connection
with the affair known he would prefer TO abide the
result, however fatal IL might be-
THE TENTH AVENUE MURDER
James Rodgers, the boy who is under sentence Of
death for the murder Of James Swanson while the
latter was walking with his wife in Tenth avenue. IL
confined in cell No. on the lower floor of the
Tombs. IIe is small in stature, not weighing over
lis or 100 pounds. lie has fullness of form. and a
well developed muscular temperament; his large
eyes are of grayish hue and his hair is inclined to
he sandy There Is nothing in his appearance to in
dcate vindctive revengeful disposition, and his
retiring manner rather evnce characteristics direct
l Tho ns.x,.ss.e IL. a...