Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-10-04
THE DEADLY sTILErTo.
A New York Murderer Arrested
I'm This City.

asked to be given employment. Every
one was busy at the time and the man
was dispatched on a bogus errand, TO
get rid of him. Quickly, however, as
this transpired, there was that about
the man that claimed attention. DIS
garlic-scented breath, his swarthy skin
and his accent all spoke the Italian In
him, but a fierce and lowering look
about the eyes was the noticeable
feature of the man. These characterls-
ties were observed during his stay OF
few minutes, and proved Of much i'm
portance.
Just after noon, two men came TO
police hea lquarters and announced
themselves as from New York. One
was Gilbert Carr, detective, OF the
Fourth New York precinct, and the
other Augustus Barbara, OF the Metro
politan police force. They were IN pur-
suit of an Italian named Pietro Balbo,
charged with numbering his wife in New
York, on Tuesday OF this week. Ihey
told the following story:
Less than two months ago Pletro Bal
DO. handsome looking young Italian,
and his wife Maria di Chico, rented a
large single room, which constitutes the
entire ground floor of rickety three
story brick tenement house in the rear
of No. IA Rose street, New York. They
spoke very little English, and conse-
quently very little is known OF their so
cial relations by their neighbors. She is
described by them as. a well-behaved
and quiet woman, and her husband as
iovial man, given some times to drink,
but not TO excess. He appeared to be
very Jealous OF any attention paid to his
wife by other men, and this was so APP
parent that the male occupants OF the
house were almost afraid TO be seen IN
conversation with her.
On Tuesday evening they went to-
gethcr TO his father-in-law' house and
spent the evening there playing cards.
They must have returned home early,
for Balbo was seen by one of the ten
ants about half past nine o'clock. 1t
had been the custom OF the wife TO visit
her mother every morning, but on
"Wednesday she did not do so, and the
mother became uneasy, and full OF mis-
giving fastened TO her daughters home.
The wooden shutters on the windows
were fastened when she got there, and
no answer came 10 her rap upon the
door. Without knowing the fearful
spectacle that daylight would bring to
view within that dark abode, she
wcpt and screamed and called
for help. \ tenant OF the front
house attracted by her cries forced
open one OF the shutters and opened
one of the windows, which are only
about three feet from the ground. The
mother entered to find her daughters
dead body lying nude upon the bed.
Two CHASTITY stab wounds in the neck
and a mass of clOtted blood about them
told how she had met her death. With
a piercing scream the frightened mother
swoOned away. The police were sum
moued, and in few moments the door
of the room was forced open. blanket
served to cover the horrible sight upon
the bed, and an investigation oil the sur
rOundings was at once begun.
The chief objct OF attention to the po-
lice was a bright bladed dagger which
was picked up from the floor Near 1t
Law blue leather sheath. The weapon,
which was new one, was covered with
blood to the hilt of its blade, four
inches i'm length. The tapering point
was broken oil and left in the body of
its victim. Under the mantel, on the
right of the fireplace was a pail half
filled with blood-colOred water, in
which the murderer had washed his
hands. The corner Of the counter
pane upon the bed had served the pur-
pose of a towel, as the imprint OF
still bloody fingers showed, and judging
from its position, the murderer must
have looked upon his victim while he
wiped her lifes blood from his hands.
4 large new packing trunk, which stood
against the wall between the windows,
was next examined. In it were found
well worn articles OF clothing,
and among them a blue and white
checked shirt, which BalbO used TO work
in. Down the bosom OF 1t ran streak
of blood, and the wristlets OF both
sleeves looked as though they had been
stepped in 1t.
Bolbo, himself was nowhere TO be
found, and his absence, coupled with
the finding OF his bloody shirt, directed
suspicion to him, and general alarm
was sent out for his arrest.
On the morning after this the
Waterman at the Communipaw Ferry
came to the Central Office and stated
that an Italian had been there that
and, after asking few ques-
tons in regard to the departure OF trains,
had purchased ticket for Easton, Pa,
and gone there by the first train. Mess.
Carr and Barbara were detailed to pur-
sue the fugitive. They went ut once TO
Easton and with much difficulty found
a conductor who remembered the ltal-
ian. and who stated he had procured a
ticket for Wheeling, over the Z. Il L.
road The officers followed.suit, arriy-
ing at Bridgeport at one O'Clock yester-
day afternoon.
After diligently enQuiring at the sta
ton they learned nothing of their man
and were rather dishearted as they
came 10 this city. Upon telling their
story at police headquarters, the object
of their search was recognized in the
Italian who had applied for work in the
morning, and the two officers, accom-
panied bv the Sergeant, started out TO
look for the murderer. Fortune favored
them, the Italian running into their
arms on Busbey's corner, about three
% clock. He was captured and taken to
Headquarters for examination. His COM
mand OF pure English was very
limited, but fortunately, Officer Barbara
was Of Italian descent and could con-
verse huently in that musical language.
Balbo said nothing beyond that "this !
was a bad business and he had come !
our day from New York" On the
.orrtinger of his left hand were two cuts,
evidently made by the deadly stiletto, He
lad three gold and enameled rings, be-
onging to his wife, and 81 65 in money
IN his person. He was turned over to
officer Miller and lodged in the lookup. !
At four o'clock he was released, |
and making no OPP
position or difficulty about a
acquisition, was taken to New York at
80 on the Pan Handle.
This is quick detective work, and all !
parties deserve commentator. 4 num-
Der of fugitives from law have been |
inding their way to this Cityof late, and |
such examples will be OF service in i'm |
pressing the belief that Wheeling is an
unsafe place to visit.