New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-08-02
PORTELLO WILING 10 LIVE.

HE MAKES A STATEMENT AND EATS HIS DINNER.
Francesca Portfolio, the murderer of Boender,
the candy-maker, was more submissive yesterday.
He refused at hrst to take nourshment, but on
the appearance Of Or. Hardy, who threatened TO
Use the stomach pump again, he swallowed several
ounces of whisley and promised to take some solid
food later At noon he was visited by his counsel,
w. f. KNITTING. accompanied by the Italian inter
prefer. f. p. Bergamin and Mr.. Eyangedas. Por-
telo made a statement at this time, which Is sub
slantially as follows:
am thIrty-eight years old and was born near
Genoa ItaIV 1 was a In boT.r there and came TO
TINS country six years and three months ago, with
nv wife, whom married in Sera seven years ago.
/ had two chIdren-a boy and a girl. The boy, a
wear and half old, II living. My father still lives
IN Italy, with my brother and sister My brother is
sui ect 10 fits. On occasion tainted IN m ltal
ian church ten years ago have worked Oh andon,
IN the candy factory III Dey-St. since came mere.
The foreman. BOrndtr, spoke enough Italian To
make himself understood gave % 10 "A man
named Joseph Mold to give Boender, that might
ice kept at work. BolendeG told me TO bring naSk
of wine or vermuth 10 his house twice or three
times a month a present. AT first l made -
week. but lately only p 90 My wlie went out
begging with my child, because we had nothing 10
eat i'm the house. | heard of my wlte's arrest the
night before the day met BOlUnder. | got up and
left the house al o'clock. put the knife IN my
pocket do not know why. | went TO CrayOS
grocery, in BIXteT-st., where | drank glass OF
VINE and glass of brandy. wandered down
toward the BatieIN. j nau nOinIg 10 eau HlnCe
the evening before. when eat two cents worth Of
crackers. My intention finally resolved itself INTO
killing myself az the river. About 2 O'Clock | met
"A man named Cero, who keeps a fruit stand at
Maiden-lane and Nassau-st., and drank glass Of
lemonade then went toward the river. | had no
intention of meeting BOlender. Ii was acciden-
tai meeting. | drank altogether seven or eight
drinks OF wine and brandy beside the lemonade 1
had with CerO. | was more drunk from anger than
from the wine and brandy. | served IN the Italian
army, entering 1t in 1861, and being discharged IN
1867
Warden FINN then, at the request of Mfr. Knitting
took the manacles from Portfolios hands, and he
made a good meal of coffee and boiled eggs. He
promised to eat regularly hereafter. The inter-
prefer sand that Portfolio had not been a very bad
man during his acquaintance with HIM, which eX-
tened over the whole period OF his residence in this
country. He thought that it was the arrest Of his
wife which rendered him desperate Mr.. Brrga-
mini added:
There has not been an Italian hanged in Now
York in the twentV-eight years of my residence
here. il indeed there has ever been during the
GUYS history. 1t would please me if we could save
this mans neck"
II was stated yesterday that Mrs. Portfolio was to
be brought from BlackwelPs Island to-day on writ
of habeas corpus which was TO be the first step in
an effort to obtain her discharge. Portfolio has
expressed no desire TO see his wife.