The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-26
REBEccHINIs TRAGIC DEATH.


WAS IT AN ACCIDENT, or WAS IT, AS HIS
FRIENDS CLAIM, THE RESULT OF FOUL
PLAY !?
There some circumstances connected with the
tragic and untmely death of Mr. Ramero Rebecchini,
who was killed by falling from the platform of
the elevated railway, Third avenue, Eighty
fourth street, Tuesday evening which, owing TO the
time of the occurrence not collated for yester
days paper Mr. Robecchini. after falling to the
street. carried to the drug store of Theodore
Simon on the northwest of Third avenue and
Eghty-third street. for the purpose of having his
injuries attended to- The sufferer unable to
speak, aud physicians Immediately sent for,
two of the profession, Drs. Morrill, and Freeman.
responding They found that Mr.. Rebecchini's skull
fractured and did everything in their power to
| relieve his suherings. No person seemed to know
him. and he remained in the drug store for fully an
| hour before he identified. Finally his pockets
were searched and in one of them postal card was
| found, on which written his name and the ad-
dress, No. 1919 Lexington avenue. A messenger was
sent to this house. and having been informed that
Mr.. Rebecchn lived there he broke the sad news as
gently possible his anxious listeners the sisters
| of the injured man. One of them. Mrs. Appleton
| Oaksmitl rushed trantically from the house, and
having pushed her way through the crowd which
surrounded the drug store. was at the side of
her dying brother. In an interview yesterday with a
HERALD reporter Mrs. Oaksmith said that notwith-
standing the statements that her brother was uncon-
scious she is positive that when she reached his side
1 he Immediately recognized her. Although he could
not speak she said she knew by the expression his
eyes and the pressure of his hands that he was not
| oblvious to her presence. In confirmation of her
belief Mrs. Oaksmith says that when she asked him
in what particular place he felt the most pain he
/ Is Fat erT raapo
| s. j. pastor Of st. Lawrence's Church. visited
| the drug store, and on learning that Mr.
| Rebecchni was Catholic he asked him to make an
act OF contrition, at the same time instructing him.
if he understood what was said, to press his tine
priests hand This the sufferer did and the priest
administered absolution and extreme JUNCTION to the
| dying The police soon arrived with stretcher
to take the injured man to the station house but at
the request Of his sister they bore him to the house
which he had left in the best of spirits but two hours
| before. He lived ten minutes after reaching home,
breathing his last at eight O'Clock exactly.
| ONE ACCOUNT IT.
visit yesterday to the station at Eighty-fourth
street showed that the platform the station had
been finished and that it enclosed for its entire
length with the customary iron railing. The waiting
rooms il process OF construction and are not as
yet open to the public The station master and the
men in charge of the platform were interrogated and
although they acknowledged not having seen the ac
cident, they each told the story, which they
claimed to have heard from the conductor of train
from which Mr. Rebecchini fell. According to these
parties the unfortunate gentleman in ample time
for the train, and was waiting patiently for its
rival. At twenty-five minutes past six the train
down from the Eighty ninth street station at an un-
| usually rapid rate; so much so that it impos-
brakes and then all but the tail end Of the last
car went by the station Mr. Eebecchini, they claim
jumped between the two last cars and the railing at
the end of the platform hit him, and caused him to
let 20 his hold, that he fell into the street below.
Ii he had waited, they say he would have been taken
board, this train backed up and took on other
|
Several conductors and brakemen said they
understood that Mr. Rebecchn was late for the
train, and being in hurry attempted to board the
last car ION the platform of which no brakeman is
stationed and which Is not supposed to be opened
passengers and losing his hold dropped to the
ment.
FOUL PLAY SUSPECTED.
The HERALD reporter next called at Rebecchini' !
late residence Tie body Of the deceased lay in the
parlor. His right eye was very much swollen and
discoored put no osner marks marred his features
was suspected. 1t was the belief of his relatives
that somebody on the train had struck him in the
eye and then thrown him of the 1t was claimed
that Mr. Rebecchini in all his actions very care
full man and would never dream OF jumping train
while in motion. He left his house ut quarter past
six O'Clock and had plenty of time to catch the
train. 1t was maxim with the deceased to be
late for anything and never to miss engagement
SKETCH OF THE DECEASED
Mr.. Rebecchini was unmarried and resided with his
two sisters at No. 1,2l9 Lexington avenue, and was
the main support OF the household. He was much
beloved and respected by the neghbors, and the do
mestics in his employ praised him highly. He was
|
intoxicating liquors He was native OF Ancona.
| Italy, and not Wailachian previously published.
His father, Seraiino Rebecchini, a distinguished
organist and teacher of vocal music, and
his uncles his mothers side were noted
| as artists and cornet players. The deceased
| inherited the talents of both his parents. He
painted with exquisite taste in colors and in
the parlor OF his late residence hanging several
| pictures executed by his hand during his leisure
hours last spring and summer. They very credit
able and for person who studied the art are
Castle of Iseluce in Naples; one the Americas Club
House, ut Greenwich. Conn.,, and another the landing
of the body of George Peabody the philanhropst Mr.
| Rebechinis talent for music extraordinary. He
was known the poet vionist and il often said Of
him that he could make the violin speak. When only
thirteen years of he played at the farewell
given to Miss Adelaide Phillips previous to her
parture FOR Europe to finish her studies. He to
| this country with his father in 1850 and for some
He aterward became attached to the orchestra
Grand Opera House, where he remained until the
| death of James Fisk. There he became acquainted
| wife Mr. Tssington, and the latter, becoming
leader Of the Union Square Theatre orchestra, APP
| pointed Rebecchini his assistant which position he
held at the time Of his DEATH The deceased was also
u composer and master of the Italian French Greek,
| English. Spanish and Turkish languages.
| THE rosr-MoRrEM.
Deputy Coroner MacWhinney called at the residence
of the deceased yesterday and in the presence OF Drs.
Hanna and Elliott. made u post-mortem examination
of the body, which revealed that death had been
caused by compound fracture of the skull A per-
| NIT for burial granted by Coroner Croker and
| the funeral will take place tomorrow.
/
/ CITY NEWS ITEMS