The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-23
LUIGI LUSIGNANI.
Preparations for the Execution Of the Italian
Wife Murderer at Morristown, N. j.
Remarkable Goodness and Unccn-
Germ Of the Prisoner.
MoRRISToWN, N. j., April %. 1873.

MoRRIsTowN, N. j., April %, 1873.
On the 1st OF May the last penalty OF the law is to
be melted out at this place to Luigi Lnsignani, the
Italian wife murderer. The case is one OF peculiar
interest from the fact that this viii he the first
Italian ever executed in this county and that the
crime like most Italian crimes, had its origin in
jealousy. Little more than two years ago Lusig-
mani was happy peasant boy IN his own sunny
land, but alured by the reports which came from
relations and friends OF the opuence that mis- coun
trymen were enjoying IN the United States he left
his home and friends and came to this country.
When he landed the visions OF wealth which he
had INDUCED IN were rudely dspeed, and after
few weeks spent in idleness he was forced to join
the Danditti OF the street sweeping department in
New YORK, and became scavenger. He took up
his abode in the chosen haunt OF Itala's sons Bax
ter street, and while here
HE MET HIS FATE
in the person OF swarthy, k-haired Italian girl
named Johanna Moos. Luigi's heart was young
and susceptible; he loved Johanna, and in a short
time unhappily for Luigi, the couple were married
by an Italian priest in Hopoken, and they went to
live together at Is Baxter street.
For a short time the couple lived happily
but not long had elapsed before Johanna
commenced to develop qualities which were not
at all agreeable to her husband. she was some-
what addicted TO the use OF beer and was rather
fond OF frequenting the Italian wine shops Of the
Sixth ward. From this she took to going into the
society OF strange men, and Luigi very naturally
demonstrated against such breaches of matrmo-
NAL faith But Johanna would not be demonstrated
with and persisted In her unwise course Frequent
quarrels were the result, which sometimes ter
minated in blows, Luigi generally coming out sec
Ond best. In order II possible to
RECLAIM HIS WIFE
Luigi determined to change his place OF residence;
but Johanna refused to leave Baxter street, and
her husband had recourse to q ruse which was the
cause Of a final separation. He took apartments in
the upper part OF the city, and, unknown to Jo-
hanna, had her effects removed there When the
woman discovered this she was furious, and de-
manded her effects back Luigi entreated her to
come to him and live in peace but she would not,
and he refused to deliver up her clothes. A few
days after this occurrence Johanna suddenly dsap-
peared. ana for some months all the efforts of
Luigi to trace her proved utterly unavailing; but
in the month OF october he heard she was living
at Dover, n j., with countryman Of her own, IN
the woman with all her faults, and he deter
mined II possible to regain her affections
In company with another Italian, Philip Massalini
he left on the early train one morning for Dover
and easily succeeded in finding the place where
the woman was living with her paramount He tells
the story OF what he asserts happened afterwards.
The man, with whom the woman lived, q shoe
maker by trade, kept small shoe shop, in which
he was seated at work when Luigi and his friend
made their appearance. Inquiries were made by
Luigi about his wife, and he was answered by
THE WOMAN IN PERSON,
who came from an inner room. The meeting be-
tween the two was not by any means friendly, the
WON woman instantly COMMENCING to upbraid her nus
and robbing her OF her effects. Luigi endeavored
TO so3the her and. wishing to make the con.
they should adjourn to the sidewalk, the
house not afording private apartment
back again into the house, where some hot words
ensued. At this moment, Luigi asserts, the
woman grasped butcher-knife with which she
was cutting meat, and stabbed him in the abdo-
men, while he was at the same time struck with
shoemaker's knife behind the ear. TO seize the
ment and enraged and excited with pain and
Jealousy,
HIS HOT SOUTHERN BLOOD WAS RAISED
to an ungovernable degree, and deadly wound
was inflicted upon the unfortunate woman, which
caused her life blood to trickle upon the ioor.
Luigi then closed in fierce encounter with the
shoemaker, during which the latter was Sc.
verey stabbed. Luigi went down to the station.
villagers gathered around the dead body OF the
woman, which lay upon the door step.
Court at Morristown, and. though it was proven
that to the crime OF adultery Johanna had added
bigamy, and married her paramount, who was
shown to be man Of VIGOROUSLY bad character in
his own land the jury brought In verdict OF muir
der in the first degree. The prisoners devoted
without recompense or reward, succeeded in hav-
ing short stay granted before sentence was pro-
nounced ana motion was made for new trial
ton was refused by Judge Dalrympe, and on the
LIST day OF April the last sentence OF the law was
directed to be carried into effect upon the LIST day
OF May. The prisoner manifested
NO EMOTION WHEN SENTENCE WAS PASSED
a sTy a IN s ENG
fair trial" An effort was made after sentence
passed to have the sentence committed. and appl-
do IN Do rflAVa
application was refused, although the public sent-
ment OF Morristown was almost unanimously in
favor OF a communication OF sentence.
A reporter of the HERALD on yesterday visited
the prisoner in his cell in the County Jail. Luigi
Lusignani, who is slight delicate man, only twenty
three years old, has not changed in appearance
since his trial. and seemed to be in wonderfully
good spirits. In answer to question OF the re-
porter to how he felt he shrugged his shoulders
in an expressive way and said "Me feel very good
The reporter injured II he was not afraid to die
and he said in reply mo; die once, all over,n
at the same time pointing to the prison yard,
where the preparations Tor the execution have
on being asked was he sorry for what he had
done he said, again Struggling his shoulders,
"sorry for my wife, no; sorry for myself yes. |
no. they hang me. Wen, i is all right
The Italian went on talking for some time in this
strain and he then gave the reporter some partic-
uars OF his life. 1t seems that he was at one time
auvered with excitement as he spoke OF the battles
ne had assisted at under his great leader He will
sometimes break out into one OF the patriotic songs
OF Italy. and, as he has q rich musical voice.
the prisoners In the outer cells gather
around to listen. Luigi Is finely educated, and he
language There is Bible in the Italian language
and in this he reads almost daily when not talking
to friends. He is visited by an Italian priest from
orange almost daily and by the Sisters OF Charity
from the Convent OF st. Elizabeth. Some friends
supply him with the Eco Halto, and In the perusa
OF this he takes great interest. The citizens OF
Morristown much interested in the case, and he
was supplied with q number OF delicacies which he
would not be otherwise able to procure.
The preparations for the execution have already
commenced. and the galiOws will soon be erected
on which already six persons have been hanged IL
which took place In Morristown was also that OF a
wife murderer and foreigner, o Frenchman,
named Peter Gucel