The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-02-18
A FATHER CRIME.
Story of Antonio Icons Attempt to
Murder His Daughter.
interviews with the Victim and Her In
natural Parent

Massimino by her own father Antonio Leon. Accord
ing to tho reports FIRST given out by the police the
crime was only terrible sequel 10 the hcnous rela-
tons had existed between them. II was stated,
and all hands accepted as true that tho unnatural
fntho. had dishonored his daughter-now young
loving wile-and partly from revenge for revealing
tho awful her husband and other relatives,
and partly also in order to seal her lips forever, had
determined to Kill her Careful investigation yeser-
day removes OF the most monstrous features Of
the first reported In the first place. as Will
be seen further below from extended interview
with Roses young husband. the latter dispels
the story OF a long criminal intimacy having existed
between father aud daughter and represents that as
pect OF the solitary drunken freak OF the
father while under the influence Of liquor and when
Rose was only girl Of thirteeu-a mere child. An
other feature which appears in softened light is
the condition of Rose She still not out OF DANGER but
Dr. Meade says she bears OF pistol shot
wound and that the previous reports OF bullets odg-
ing in her body have proved erroneous Unless cry
sipelas should in she is likely to recover in week
or two. Hence this much seems to be certain, the
father at all events not the murderer OF his own
child. But in its midest aspect the case re-
minds one OF the saying Of the French wit who de-
clared that among oil the brutcs there
british as the two-egged ones.
THE INHuMAS FATHER sukRENpERs HIMSELF.
Captain Leavey, OF The Third Brooklyn precinct;
Sergeant gladden. and an Italian interpreter visited all
the low hauns OF the maccaroni eaters OF New York
on Friday night and yesterday morning without beng
able to capture the inhuman father. Antonio Leon,
who had been Waterman at the Court House in this
city salary of s75 month, had evidently commu
nicacd to the City Hall police his intention Of sur
rendering himself AS he subsequently stated to the
writer he had acquainted Comptroller Kelly, with
whom he is Instantly related by marriage with the
unhappy occurrence, and the Comptroller, man
sworn 10 obey the laws had sent him word TO sur
render himself 10 justice. Whether this DO true or
not, at O'Clock in tho afternoon Antonio APP
pcared at the Third precinct station house in
Brooklyn and gave himself up. He had Invested him.
sc OF his blood-stancd clothing and appeared fresh
and bright aud apparently quite cnruiicd in mind.
He is rather short. thick sci, low-browcd, ncavy
jawed man. who looks about forty, With clean shaven
upper lip and long, ragged beard OF Il reddish hue.
HIS hair and eyes OF light brown. IIo gave his
ago thirty said he born in Messina, Sicy
watchmaD, married aud lived at No 294 south
Seventh street. lie did not appear 10 have spent
slccpess night hut, Sergeant gladden. says, looked
as though he must have enjoyed good nights rest
while tho detectives were securing New York and
Brooklyn for him. Antonio speaks English very badly
and when taken before the Chief OF Police, Police
Headquarters his explanation could scarcely be under
stoou. As lar as he could be comprehended he first
signied that he did not remember anything at all of
the occurrence; but when the Chief plumply asked
bm, How did you come TO assault your daughtcry'
nc mutercd ii didn't mean to; didn't know what
was doing"
what was the cause of tho trouble ?" the Chief in
CURED
blcd and then he murnured that he did not shoot
,enonaly at his daughter, and did not intend to stab
Massiminos father-t was all accidental He was
taken to Justice Prrry's court where no was commit
ted to the Raymond Street Jail to await the result of
his daughters injuries
AN INTERVIEW WITH ANTONIO LEON.
AT the Jail, shortly after his commtial the writer
had quite long interview with HIM. He occupied
cnlt Ire lrnf Inhn
ccssory TO Antono's crime, ani went with him TO
Roses rooms 10 see the murderons work done is IN
When the writer asked Antonio II he was the man
who had tried TO XIII his daughter he spoke up with
then permitted TO come out and, seating Himself be-
side the writer in kind OF recess near the entrance,
began with long, rambling and scarcely Ineligible
recital OF the difficulties between him aud bis son.in
taw He first accused him OF having been guilty OF
improper intimacy with Rose before he married her.
,ut when he was earnestly asked whether he really
this charge he tried To dodge and rctract II In
heterogeneous manner. Then he said that Massi'nino
loaier, only common loaier and he never
wanted to giye him his Rose at a,l when a, last
"Me go down yesterday morning to see Rosie.
We meet Massimno on doorstep OF my
ng.' say TO him no want him speak to me rs long
he put up Rosie to that used her like my wife.
rnen me and my brother go to see Rosie. ring the
cell aud the old tMasslmno's father, who
stabbed by him with the shears) comes TO door. say
10 Rosie; Rosie, want 10 speak 10 you. she says
saucily what do you want, fathers Then goes
into the front ROOM and saws Rosie, for Gods sake
ever done ANYTHING wrong to yonY she says, saucIy,
you want 10 scare me and I'll call the police. When
she sad that ere his british lighted up with
nendish maIice) know not what do. takes up
pistol and knock herwith the end-knock her, knock
her-knock her good"
Nothing could describe his hellish joy he goated
,ver the remembrance OF his delicious revenge.
.'Did you mean to Kill bcr?'
mo no: only mean give her good licking for
vhat she said Ihep the old man he come and try TO
pull away my pistol, and then was AFRAID I'd get
LgH nj "A mir f navrC Ni.Q
living bureau and punch HIM so that he should let
go my pistol, and then pistol go on. no mean to Kill
would probably recover, and when told that 1t was
quite likely his head fell with manifest relief 81 am
The wretch did not like TO see the shadow Of tho
gallows before bim.
II sorry Tor Comptroller Kelly" he added, to-
ward the end OF the interview, with some feeling,
which quito protractcd. al no like see him men,
toned IN ihis lie is my wifc's uncle lilo send me
word 10 give myself up"
The above is the most material portion Of the inter-
view Antonio complained, however also that Mas
mo had tried TO breed trouble between him and his
father had accused his tAntonios) wife OF drunken
ness, &c and there had also been quarrel about
quilt which Antonio loaned 10 Massmino and which
latter would not return until Antonio should have
returned him sl4 which MassimIno had lent Antonio.
WHAT ROSES HUSBAND SAYS
Rose, tho victim OF this brutal father WHO fairly
revc!lcl the picture he drew OF himself beating his
chds brains out lay At the Long Island College Hos
pi,aL Nobody but her young husband, who is
swarthy, good looking little Italian, was admit
ted 10 her bedside but the writer was allowed to look
al her. The young woman--shc looks extremely youth
full. being only seventecn-was gnasty pale, ana her
head was swathcJ IN bandages. But the iery black
eyes, and the olive complexion now almost trans
parent IN its deatbIy whItcness made her the very
picture Of a daughter OF sunny Italy. She reclined
YEARLY on the sofr. snowy pillow, and her husband
bent her with what appeared TO be great earnest
ness. Mass mno called out by the doctor TO tell
his story the writer in the corridor THIS he dad
g,th many broad smiles and without the least sign OF
mental distress. He said Rosie had ntmated 10 him
short time before tho marriage (which took place
only months ago) thai her ather had been guilty
OF gross improperly toward her. IL was not until the
night his wedding that shc revealed to him the whole
truth. That did not prevent him from marrying her
as he wanted her tell him the truth and the whole
truth But he declared that II was error TO sup
nose that the criminal relation between Rose and her
iathcr had lasted for some time. stated in some OF
the newspapers The crime was committed one night
IN Charleston, where Leon then lived some four years