The New York herald., 1877-11-23
A BAXTER STREET MURDER.

BLOODY WORK or THREE ITALIANS, RESULTING
MEN.
In dngy Bottle alley. tho homo OF rag.pIckers and
the ciysium OF stale beer drinkers. there occurred
last night another murder to swell the already long list
OF tragedies that have takcn place within It's
borders The victim Italian, Miguel
Cattacci by name, the proprietor OF one OF the
numerous ton-cent lodging houses that exis: in the
place. The murderer 10 At the present time not
definitely known but the evidence thus far obtained
points him OF three Italian dodgers known by
the nick names Of Buffalo. Tony and Laurens Tho
scene OF tho tragedy the lodging room oil the de-
ceased and tho time when tho decd was committed
eleven O'Clock p N. The circumstances attending the
bloody deed are enveoped In mystery.
At the hour mentioned q woman named Peterson.
living in an adjoining tenement heard three subdued
crashes as OF some being pushed that many times
against tho fragile wall OF the lodging house. Quickly
throwing up her window she heard agonizing
scream and at tho same moment behold threo men
emerge from the lodging house and run through tho al
10y into Baxter ssree Hurryng down stairs she saw
The PROSTATE form OF man In the areaway. Tho
bright moonlight streaming down upon him disclosed
blood on his hands and clothing Running across tho
street shc cred Ocer Ncale OF tho Fourteenth
whom sh' osSS Sd hurried soS over haa a
the house. His arrival was the signal for
The swarmng of tho inhabitants. From the various
rookeries IN the alley they emerged like bees from
hive all eager TO learn the facts OF the tragedy. The
unfortunate victim lay In the place where first dis-
covered feebly groaning. The blood was rapidly
DO wing from a wound the groin. STOPPING 10 his
side the officer asked, "who stabbed your A va
cant stare from tho dying mans CLASSY Dyes was tho
only response Then came convulsivc sigh aud lie
sERAcHISG YoR THE MURDERER.
To get some clew she murderer was the next duty
OF the policeman, but not one OF tho denizens would
acknowledge having any information on the subject
rapidly that half dozen other officers. headed by
Roupdsman Wach were on the spot They quickly
selected several tho Italians living in the rooKery
and took them the Mulberry Street station house
At tho same tmo they conveyed the body OF Catacci
away. Among tho lalisss taken ~ custody WAS eiri
lhe was awakened by noise OF an alteration IN the
lodging house beneath her room. Shortly ai.erward
sne heard oath, then scream and, hurrying out,
she saw throe mon escaping from Tho alley.
An examination Of the murdered man disclosed nm
ugly wound In the lett groln inflicted apparently with
si,lleto The emoral artery had been severed. The
deceased n man OF about thirtyei years OF
axe and Of medium build. From The scanly iniorma-
tion obtained IRON tho arrested Italians It was
learned that he had kept Tho lodging house for about
TWO years
tanned TO perpetrators OF the bloody deed, but
alter much questioning HERALD reporter succeeded
snort time previous 10 the murder Buffalo, Tony and
Laurens werc the house. This iniorma-
@ the s.o4s POLICE sse sssx Ss pDn
arrested Laurcns, who appeared much agitated, but
he denied all knowledge Ol the tragedy whom qucs.
toned about II. He gave his full name Laurcns
BonL Detectives Titus and Wade then went in search
OF Buffalo and Tony, but up 10 the hour Of writing
they had not succeeded in finding them.
BoTrLE ALLEY.
The scene OF the tragedy-Bottle alley-is wcll
known in police annals. Adjoining the vesr part or
Baxter street, II forms sort Of triangular lane.
There are located tumbedown tenemcnts accupied by
hordes Of the scum of tho metropolis. All nations
are represented and in the middle OF the day. when
The dcnzens all visible, Il compares with Babel in
multiplicity o tongues The distinguishing charac-
nntea aatin ia Fxnk m nj dAcnv Ah
vegetable matter.
The room In which the murder took place twelve
by eight feet in sze aud contains SIX hlthy bcds In
good times from twenty five 10 forty lodgors find
accom- odations there. Ten cents Is the highest
price, but place tho floor always bo had Tor
nvc Adjoining Is q cent stale beer establishment
wherein congregate daily and nightly the
babitanis. Most Of tho rookeres owned by q
Brooklyn woman named Miss Mack. Tho rents
range from So 70 So per month.