Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-04-09
JUSTICE.
A burglar shot Dead by a P0Iice
Omcer-W what Our Reporter Saw
and Heard at the Inquest.

Omcer-What Our Reporter saw
and Heard at the Inquest.
Last evening about seven o'clock a
double report of gun startled every
body in the vicinity of the corner Of
West Court and Front streets. Our
reporter rushed around the corner and
found officer Pryde standing at the door
Of L. Podesta & Co.'S store. Whats
the metter2' asked our polite represen-
tative. II have killed burglar in tie
house" answered Pride quietly. HE
may be living, and ought to have some
medical attendance" remarked man
in the crowd which surrounded
the officer. NO." responded Pryde, he
is dead. Tired both barrels into him;
he wouldn't surrender" In few min.
utes Chief of Police Athy, Esquire Spell
man and others arrived, and our reporter
entered the store. On the floor was the
dead man, whom our reporter at once
recognized as Johnny Gazzola, who
with Mr.. Mancini kept the New Exchange
saloon in the rear of the Chamber OF
Commerce. Gazzola has been living in
this city for years; he was aged about
%, and had no relatives in this city
except brother who arrived here
from Texas a few days since. Years
ago Gazzola worked for Madame Vim
cent as bar-keeper for several years, and
the Madame and her husband, Vincent
Bacigalupo, felt so kindly toward him
that the latter advanced him several
hundred dollars, which enabled him to
open the New Exchange saloon two
months since. Six months ago he acted
in the capacity of porter for L. Podesta
& Co., liquor dealers on Front street.
The members of the above firm have
been cognizant of the fact that they
were being robbed almost weekly Of
large quantities of whiskies, brandies,
cigars, etc., and suspected Gaz-
zola as the burglar and robber.
At their request Chief of Police Athy
detailed officer w. G. Pryde to watch
the premises. Officer Pryde is one of
the coolest, bravest and best men on the
force, as any one who glances into his
calm face and clear eye will admit.
This officer had been sitting on chair
within the store for four nights, hold
ing shot gun, watching for the burglar,
and the suspense was lifted last night.
To use the words of officer Pryde: About
halfp six o'clock, just as it was get
ting dusk, / heard him (motioning at
deceased) come whistling along the side.
walk. walking briskly and never hating,
but coming to the door, unlocked it and
walked in. l let him shut the door and
get about twenty feet inside the store,
when / said: Halt; throw up your
hands, or l will kill you He didn't
say word, but wheeled and started TO-
ward me. l fred one barrel which stag
gered him, but saw that fred too high.
He said oh Lord and staggered toward
me, when / fred the second barrel and
he fell on the floor dead man. was
not at all excited and could plainly see
hat he kept his hands down. After he
ell, l walked to the front door and blew
he alarm whistle.
An inquest was held by Eugene Spell.
man, the jury being composed of A. G.
luther, foreman; John Agan, V. Baci-
yalupo, M. McKeogh, j. A. Signaigo, j.
E. Helm and VIM. Mclean. On exam
nation of the body $27 in money, gold
watch and chain, other jewelry, a key to
The store, another key with the wards
uncut, and lot of papers, were found
On his person. No weapons were dis
covered, although it was well known that
he usually carried a pistol and knife.
The proof introduced before the jury
showed clearly that Gazzola had been
-obbing the store for months, and had
entered it between six and seven o'clock
after the store was closed and before the
book keeper returned to work after sup
per. The proof was clear and conclu-
live, and the coroner's jury returned
he following verdict: Death from gun
Ihot wounds from gun in the hands Of
". G. Pryde, patrolmen, while in the
discharge of his duty"
The wounds received by the deceased |
we're nine buckshot in the right shoulder 1
md nine buckshot in the left breast just |
lnder the heart The burglar was so
Hose to the muzEle of the gun that the
hot did not scatter, but went solid into
=. ~