The New York herald., 1879-07-29
sBOLENDER'S ASSASSIN.


PROCEEDINGS AT THE INQuEsT-PoLKATo GIVES
HIS REASONS FOR THE MURDER-A CHARGE
AGAINST THE DECEASED.
Three officers OF the Twenty-seventh precinct
called at the Tombs yesterday morning with an or
der from Coroner Woltman for the body Of Fran
cesco Polkato. Warden Finn gave his prisoner into
their custody. and after tho "nippers" had been
placed upon his wrists he escorted to the
ners' office. which crowded with persons who
anxious to see the murderer. Those whose
fancy had pictured him i'll looking fellow were
not disappointed. for they had presented 10
them large powerfully built man. whose
thick neck and bronzed face surmounted
with head covered with thick, short and brstling
black hair. The widow and daughter OF his victim.
Michael Boender. were present and occupied seats
on bench near to the Coroner and jury The
prisoner did not seem to notice the women and
throughout the proceedings he manifested weary
and listless look. dozen witnesses were
in attendance to testify to the facts Of the
already published. Coroner Woltman. before call
ing the first witness. addressed few words to the
jury and said
GENrLEMRN-You saw Michael Bolender in death
and the wounds upon his body which caused his
death. will be for you to say. from the evidence
shall present to you. by whom and in what man
those inj uries were inflicted.
TESTIMONY.
Albert Smith. printer. of No. 234 Bridge street.
Brooklyn. testified as follows:-I am employed by
Joseph Talcot. No. l9l Fulton street. the corner
Of Church; Thursday afternoon. from one
o'clock until six. man at different times pass
by the place; identify the prisoner the man. but
do not know his name where he employed.
Richard Fobler. employed at No. 19l Fulton street.
the prisoner in front of the place shortly before
six o'clock; soon after he heard crying
for help and rushing to the door two men at
the corner; one was running toward Vesey street;
Bolender came staggering up to the door; the pris-
behind him and had u knife in his hand;
Bolender fell to the sidewalk and dead in q few
minutes; the knife the prisoner had the
shown at this examination he saw Polkato lettering
about the place during the day.
Edward Woetling Of No. i37 Thompson street,
said that he L. known Bolender for eighteen years.
and worked for him thirteen years with Siauson Il
Co.; on Thursday, at six O'Clock, he left the shop
with Boender and William Roberts; when the
west side OF Church street. near Fulton he the
prisoner spring from bohnd OF the pillars of the
elevated road; thought he was running from some
one, and separated from his friends to make room
for him to pass; instead of passing them the prs-
oner seized Bolender by the coat collar and struck
two blows at him; the prisoner stood for moment
with knife in his hand and then ran away.
William Roberts then gave his testimony, which
was simply corroborative of Woetings.
worked with the deceased in company with
Steitz and Breitinger; Woetling. Bolender and Rob-
erts were ahead; when on the corner of Church
named Steitz say, 30 God Look! man is getting
stabbed! he looked and saw the prisoner stabbing
Bolender, holding him by the coat; Bolender
fall; he did not hear thing the prisoner said.
William Koch identined the prisoner the
he saw running with knife in his hand; he
him turn on fireman aud make thrust at him
with it; he recognized the knife shown the
in the prisoners hand.
officer William Londrigan of the Twenty seventh
precinct police, testified to making the arrest and
the tact that Pokato had the knife in his hand
time.
WHAT PoLKATO SAID.
Pokato, who speaks English very imperfectly,
made the following statement through interpre-
ter:-My name is Francesca Polkato. thirty
eight years of age and reside ut No. 3S Baxter
street. in the My occupation is that Of con-
fectioner. The man murdered secret thief,
aud every Italian under him had to give him halt of
the money he earned. and because had money
he lett ME without work was tho fourth man
titled to work, and because l did not give him
money he told the boss was the worst man who
worked there. He ruined my family.
peied to send out my wife to beg in tho and
she was arrested and is still in prison.
THE VERDICT.
The jury promptly rendered the following ver-
dct:-"That Michael Bolender to his death
by shock from stab wound OF the chest penetrat-
ing the heart inflicted with knife in the hands of
Francesca Polkato, on the corner of Fulton and
Church streets, on July 81, 1879"
Polkato was committed to the Tombs and on his
way there was followed by large crowd OF persons
OF almost every condition of lie,