The New York herald., 1878-11-15
STABBED TO DEATH.
Angelo Spagnlo Murders Peter Drake
in Chatham Square.
ORIGIN OF THE CRIME.
Citizens Capture the Assassin
After a Lively Chase.

the other hailine from Gibraltar had had quarrel
Wednesday night. which resulted in the exchange
of blows, broken noses and dscolored eyes. The
former resided at No. Mott street and the latter at
No. Il Pen street They both cigar pedlers. and
had the reputation of being desperate quarrelsome
On Wednesday morning Peter Ramsey,
who was well known in the Spanish quar-
ter. died suddenly Of consumption. He
poor. and his body was removed to the
Morgue. preparatory TO being inferred in Potter's
Field. Drake interested himself to procure for his
old companion . decent burial. To this end he went
around among his friends begging subscriptions. As
those he solicited poor his success was but III
different. Wednesday evening. while carousing with
o number of boon companions in drinking saloon at
No. Mott street. he sent round the hat in further
of his charitable scheme.
THE TRAGEDY
When it came to spagnlo's turn to contribute he
refused and heaped all sorts of opprobrious epithes
the head of deceased. calling him Spanish dog
and traitor Such offensive remarks these
not to be born patiently by the fiery and pug
nacious but philanthropic Peter. He accordingly
prepared to avenge the insults aimed at the
reputation OF his deceased friend. He. therefore,
proceeded to punish the offender in the manner pop
ular among his class by rough and tumble with his
antagonist lively fight followed between the two
men. and they both muscular and determined
they exchanged sturdy and telling blows. which left
forcibie mementoes of their prowess. They at
last separated by the impartial spectators who had
magnanimousy concluded that they had punished
zach other sufficiently. brakes bleeding
profusey from ugly cut while spagnlo's eye
bruised and swollen. Drake had been drinking. and
he evidently had received the worst of the struggle
He went away swearing all sorts of vengeance and all
night lay wait '.get square for the pummelling
he had received As il anticipating some
such trouble in store, spagnlo armed himself with
q murderous stiletto, prepared to defend himself
from the threatened wrath of his antagonist.
a sURDERous BLOW.
About half past A. NJ yesterday, while Drake
lying in wait in Pell street. watching for
spagnlo to make his appearance, the formers vigil
rewarded by seeing his Maltese enemy leave his
house and walk in the direction of Chatham square.
Drake followed after him and caught up with him
near the beginning of East Broadway At this point
the two men faced each other, both prepared for
desperate encounter. Drake resolute and
Spagnio desperate. The confded in his
physical strength while the other relied upon
the murderous weapon which he had
ceaed on his person to settle the struggle
which was about to take place. Drake rushed upon
his opponent. but immediately drew back when he
the g.am OF long blade in the hands of his an
tsgonist' He did not wish to to close quarters
against such odds and turned to beat retreat. He
prepared for the contest. He not. however per-
mitted to relinqush tn. battle which he had ght
tor Spagnlo blood WAS up, and with a bound like
tiger he had caug up with his half paralyzed victim
and plunged the murierous knife to the hilt between
wounded displayed wonderful nerve and presence Of
mind. He cried aloud that he stabbed and fol-
lowed in pursuit of the fleeing assassin.
CAPTURED.
The latter at the top of his speed from the
place where he had used the knife with fatal effect,
the northeast corner of Chatham street and East
broadway across Chatham square to Worth street,
thence TO Mulberry street, TO Park street and
through Park into Baxter street. where lie was
hpally captured His victim. STATED, after being
stabbed aroused the neighborhood with his
He ran about two hundred feet in pursuit of the
murderer. but dropped in pile of sand near the
Third avenue track. Two citizens, named Fitzgerald
and steinaez joined in the chase and they managed
keep the fugitive well in sight, shouting to the
spectators they stop that he has stabbed
man. The people, however, gave the murderer
wide berth, he still held the reeking blade in his hand
At last Fitzgerald and Steinmetz found stanch ally
IN John Leslie. an expoliceman. who is employed
in the Department OF Public Works. He i'll the act
Of examining hydrant and held in his hand long
iron screw. Armed with this formidable weapon he
headed OF the assassin and compelled him
lish fare you officer?' That is none OF your
business You stand and behave yourself I'll crack
you with this the skull replied Leslie he four
ished his weapon the head OF the covering NAL
ese. The other two at this moment arrived and
the three men took hold of Spagnlo and
marched him in the direction Of the Fourth
precinct station house. moment before he
had surrendered he threw the rnurderous blade
away, and 1T subsequently found by boy and
given mp 70 Captain Petty At the junction of Baxter
and Pearl streets near Chatham square they met ON.
Lewis, Of the Fourth precinct, and handed the
prisoner TO the patrolrna. lie taken 70 the
station house and locked M.
VICTIM.
In the meantime Officer Jacobs, of the Fourteenth
precinct, heard screams that was stabbed. He
hurried TO Chatham square. and there found Drake
lying on his race IN the pie of sand IN the middle OF
the street While he trying TO raise the wounded
Officers Burns and Smith arrived They pro-
cured an express wagon and drove with the body to
the Fourteenth precinct station house. Captain
Brogan at teegraphed for the police surgeon but
the man beyond the reach OF medical aid.
CHASTITY and gaping wound was visible between the
shoulder blades, from which portion Of tho lungs
profruded. The wound looked as II 1t had been in
hicted by much larger weapon than stietto. but
hfs was accounted for by the Coroner who said
when the blade thrust home IL turned In the
body, leaving CHASTITY orticc which caused death
4 HErsrD reporter called at the Fourth precinct
station yesterday and shown the fatal blade by
Captain Petty. 1t shaped in the form of bowie
knife with sharp, sapcrii'g point and an edge like
* inches. Captain Petty described 1t knife Of
foreign manufacture, which is usually used by rig
gers and sailors. The blade stained with blood to
the hilt when first found.
sPAGSfo DENIES BIS GuuZ
Captain Petty, at the request OF the HERALD
porter. summoned the ASSASSIN into his Office.
spasnlo is low sized. muscular man. His face was
swarthy in complexion and animal In expression.
His closely cropped black hair and stubby mustache
gave him the appearance of "a ticket leave man..
he was dressed in o pea jacket and check shirt,
which opened low and exposed his thickset
neck. Officer sparbarar called in TO inter-
prefer. the prisoner could not speak English. lie
wanted TO know what he arrested for and denied
all knowledge Of the stabbing. What did you run
away for then n asked Captain Petty. .'Well, was
IN hurry TO 20 to breakfast" the ready answer.
accompanied by shrng of the shoulders.
Captain Petty still held in his hand the
knife which did the cutting. The prisoner
stopped down and took the blade between his
fingers but the Captain held on TO the handle with
Grn clutch. What IL he pointing at 2" asked the
Captain. HE says, air, that there stains Of
blood upon the blade" Does he admit that the
knife belongs to him 2" "No, sir; he says that hc
never saw IL before"
TWO BAD SUBJECTS.
The deceased had been well known 10 the police for
number Of years He had been engaged In numerous
rough and tumble tights, aud when in liquor was a
dangerous man 10 handle. On such occasions the
police would let him severely alone. knowing full
well that II a hazardous undertaking 10 attempt
10 bring him 10 the station house. One of his most
notable criminal exploits was n am encounter he had
with Officer Grace, who at the time at