New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-03-17
NEW ORLEANS WEDNESDAY, MARCH IT, 1875
The Palermo Murder i'm It. Losis.

The Palermo Murder in st. Losis.
From the st. Louis Republican,, of the
fourteenth instant, we copy the following
additional particulars of the late murder in
St. Louis, which appears to be but sequel
of q former crime of like character in this
city:
An Italian lemon peddler. named Fran
I cisco Palermo, was way laid by several men
and murdered about eight O'Clock yester-
day morning, on Broadway, between Bre-
| men avenue and Angelica street. No wit
clear account of the affair, but as nearly as
can be ascertained the circumstances were
| as follows:
Palermo had quarreled with four or i've
Italian acquaintance in the early morning
and afterward had separated from them
and gone to the northern part OF the city.
While walking north on the west side Of
Broadway, between Angelica street and
Bremen avenue, he was unexpectedly fred
upon by an assassin concealed behind a
close fence. The shot apparently took effect.
| for the victim instantly turned, ran across
the street and endeavOred to enter the door
of the Office Of Parker, Spencer & Co.'s
lumber yard. Finding the door fastened
| he started again to run south along the
Walk, OuL uAEuly lolC Un0 OOOr WnoQ TWO
more shots were fired from behind the fence
| on the east side OF the street. Palermo
staggered q few yards further. gasped few
| words and fell dead. Immediately after the
shooting two men were seen to run Oft to
the west from behind the fence on the
west side of the street, while at the same
time two or three others were observed
escaping toward the river through
the lumber yard on the east side. A large
Ofo ovoiroH MANILA cOOn ryo thoroI nd
the officers from the fourth district sub
station, which is only little more than a
block distant, set to work to capture the
murderers. The murdered Italian was we'll
known and was very generally liked, being
young, good natured and agreeable. 1t was
no difficult matter, then, to learn of his
affairs. From his landlady, Mrs. Keegan,
the police learned that he had been In the
city about a year, having come here from
New Orleans. Between three and four
months ago five Italians whom Palermo
had known in New Orleans made their ap-
pearance here also, and Mrs. Keegan noticed
that they gave her boarders no small
amount Of trouble. He finally told her
that he had become acquainted with
these cOuntrymen of his ON landing in this
country come five years since, and also
gave her to understand that they were not
friendly toward him.
Among his acquaintance there arestories
to the effect that in New Orleans Palermo
lived with an uncle, fruit dealer. About
two years ago this uncle was murdered by
being stealthily shot. The murderers were
never brought to justice, and Palermo,
BY an unlucky accident became the only
witness to certain circumstances which
threw a strong suspicion of the crime upon
one or more of five men, who were INSOFAR
able companions, and whom rumor now
identifies with those mentioned above. The
young man then found himself in danger
Ons position, and one which illustrated
the saying that q little knowledge is
dangerous thing. He knew not enough
to fasten the crime upon any living
man. but still enough to make him
hated and feared by men who. though
perhaps innocent, were vengeful and
suspicious. He claimed that they had
caused him to feel that his life was in dam
ger, and he had finally left New Orleans on
that account. Since these five Italians came
to St. Louis it is reported they have sought
numerous occasions to draw Palermo into
trouble. Not long ago he was warned by a
friend that he had better leave the city, as
there were were five men watching for
chance to kill him.
Palermo had at some time received q stab
with knife and since living here had suf
fered seriously from an abscess caused by
the wound. This also he is said to have |
received from one Of the mysterious quin- |
tette in New Orleans. OF course, on hear |
ing all these ruMOrs the police at once set |
to work to find some of these men. About |
ten O'Clock Officers Willow and Wade |
having ascertained that some of them |
had been boarding at the corner OF |
Seventh and Morgan streets. arrested three |
Italians named Joseph Campesso, Antonio |
Campano and Josesph Campesso, the two
of the same name claiming to be cousins.
The men were taken to the fourth district
vestigatiOn in the afternoon, without being
able to shift the matter thoroughly. Two
Of the prisoners were apparently identified
10 having been seen running away from
the fence after the shooting. Three pis-
tolls were found after the murder; one at
The west fence, one at the east fence and
one on the car track in the middle of the
street. This last was dIopped by Paler-
no, who appears to have been prepared for
,rOuble. One of the other pistols is known
% be similar to the one often seen in the
Of one of the prisoners. 1t is also
Known that two or more Italians were seen
Palermo up Broadway, and the
is that after quarreling with
lim in the morning the four or five cowardly
'ssassins dogged his steps, two of them
!etting ahead and lying in wait for him
'CulAu tuC louCC Wullo Uuc OGucIS Cdu0 Ou |
behind. Doubtless when the first shot was
ired those who were behind slipped in the
.ate and hid in the lumber yard, while
heir victim, in escaping from his assailants
n the opposite side, ran with strange |
atality, directly within reach of the others.
There we're three wounds IN the body of
he unfortunate young man, all in the front
art of the body. One was a large bullet
ole, while the others were apparently
,ade by buckshOt.
Some unusual motive would appear neces-
ary to inspire the commission OF so despica.
le and at the same time desperate q deed.
he rumors given above may not prove
rue, but there appears a strong presump-
on that these men, whoever they are, had
,me important interest in getting Palermo
ut of the way, for it is difficult to account
'r SO deliberate q murder otherwise, es-
ecislly as there was little apparent oppor-
unity for pecuniary gain. Perhaps more
ght will come with the inquest today.
Murdered.
A vrhifo an nonod Not Ctoaro xvho |