The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-08-20
THE FRYE MURDER.
Two of the Three AssassinB in
Custody.
A Full Confession Of the Crime.

Boston, Aug. 19.-The mystery attending
the death of j. f. Frye who was found dead
in the cellar of his house ON Joy street last
Thursday, is now solved and two of the muir
derers are in custody. The names of those
under arrest are Antonio Ardito Greek, and
Nicolo Infantino, Sicilian. Another Siclian
known as Larry O'Nel is wanted as accessory
before the fact. Infantno was barber and
was accustomed to shave Mr.. Frye and thus
got acquainted with him.
1t appears from the story furnished by one of
the murderers, that Nicolo who was frequently
called "Nick' by many of his friends was well
acquainted with old mans Fryes habits, and
between him, Ardito, the Greek, and Larry
it was arranged to rob the house, as well as to
murder the old man, in order to get possession
OF the money he was supposed to carry in his
pocket 1t was believed by all three that the
old man was exceedingly wealthy, and that
there was chance Of his carrying arms. The
murder of the old man was frequently dis
cussed, Nicolo at fist expressing decided
aversion to that part of the job in hand, but
through the arguments of his old confederates,
the Greek and Larry" finally consented to
the arrangement. 1t was claimed by the two
old confederates, that Nick's acquaintance
with the old man, would be sufficient to ar
range for an easy entry to the house, and it
was proposed that Nicolo should fix it so that
he should be invited to the house, and be
allowed to take friend with him in the per
son of the Greek who had but recently arrived
from Europe, and who was real nice fellow.
Nicolo was accordingly invited by Mr.. Frye to
bring his friend up on Thursday night and
have game or so of billiards, of which amuse-
ment the unfortunate man was pasSionately
fond Nicolo agreed, and the Greek and
Liar ry' were soon notified of the fact. The
final plans for the crime were then soon per-
fected, and it was arranged that the three as
sassins should meet on the Common at s o'clock
that evening. All were on hand at the APP
pointed time, Nicolo being armed with a large
pair of shears that he was in the habit of using
in cutting hair at the Causeway street tonsorial
palace. Larry came armed with the reyol-
yer. which now turns out to be the identical
weapon with which the bloody doed was COM
mitted.
During the evening of the murder the young
man "Nick" and Mr.. Frye played billiards in
the upper roOm while the Greek Ardito,
amused himself by playing on the piano, and
at intervals all three would have something to
drink. Between II and - O'Clock (the exact
time is not known), Nick acting under instruc-
tions from the Greek urged Mr.. Frye to visit
the various parts of the house for the purpose
of showing it to them. This request the old
gentleman did not at first seem willing to
grant, but, after considerable persuasion, he
finally consented, and the trio started down
stairs to the basement, Mr.. Frye all unconscious
of the terrible fate in waiting for him. 1t had
previously been arranged between them that if
he was induced to go down in the cellar they
would take away what money he had, after
which they were to rob the house. Acting in
pursuance of this agreement, as soon as the
old gentleman reached the bottom of the cellar
stairs, he having been preceded by the Greek,
the latter turned and grabbed him with the
ferocity of tiger. He was armed with pair
of scissors, with which he Immediately COM
menced inficting the wounds which were
found on his body. The doomed man, al
though taken by surprise, made desperate
resistance, and, while being stabbed to death
by his brutal aSsailant, he tried to shake hands
with the boy "Nick,' asking him in the
most piteous manner to spare his life.
At this iuncture, and even while the poor man
was pleading for his life, the Greek ordered
Nick to shoot, telling him at the same time
that if he did not shoot he (the Creek would
shoot him.. Terrified by the threats thus made
the boy fred the fatal shot and the victim fell
on his face, uttering single cry After rif1ing
the pockets of the murdered man, and taking
from him his gold watch, chain, seal and keys,
they left the body where it had fallen, and inn
mediately went up stairs to see what they
could find worth stealing. The marble slab,
which has BEEN spoken OF as being on top of
the safe, was first taken off, the Greek taking
hold of one side and Nick the other, their rea-
son for so doing being the idea that by remov-
ing it they could the more easily get at the
contents of the safe. Failing in getting at the
property by that means, they next opened the
safe doors and took the silver about which
so much has been SAID. Both men deny that
Mr.. Frye was struck at all during the struggle,
and say that the bruises ON his head were prob
ably caused by his head coming in contact with
the floor where he fell after being shot. After
rifiing the safe they left the house, leaving the
doors in just the condition they were found by
the letter carrier the next morning. When
the Greek and Nick came ont of Frye's house
Larry had got frightened and gone off, and the
other two came down without him. AT OF near
11.3O o'clock they came together in Hanover
street and went together to a Green street
ha rhar and fnup6 him in had Tbau aclya6 IN
leave some property with him, but he declined
to receive it. Afterwards he consented, and,
taking bundle, hid it in a hole in the Chin
ney opening from his sleeping room. The
forwards found on Fleet street. Friday morn
ing all three men met in the North street
place, when the property was all put together
again and redivided Nick and the Greek
took equal parts of the silver. and Larry re-
ceived the watch, chain and seal. Nick left
his share of the plumber where they were, and
the Greek took his to II Fleet street, a barber
shop kept by Joseph Donate. Donate, who is
the Greeks employer as well as an intimate
friend of the Green street barber and Nick,
pulled small piece OF board off one of the
walls Of his shop, near the floor, and, placing
the silver in the hole, replaced the board. Sat
urday morning the watch and chain were
brought to the Green street barber, who hid
them on shelf behind the gas meter All the
property remained in this disposition till this
forenoon, when it was found and taken
possession of by officers Wood and Howard
LATER.
1t seems that there were four conspirators to
the assassination of Mr.. Frye. The crime was
first suggested two weeks before the murder
by the boy, Nicolo Infantino and the Sicilian
known under the alias of Larry O'Neil. They
first confided the scheme to one Baudiere, a
keeper of the barber shop ON Fleet street who
who is now under arrest as accessory, but not
feeling sure of his nerve took the Greek,
Ardito, into the conspiracy in his stead and
the programme was carried out as previously
stated. Another barber named Donate is I'M
der arrest as accessory after the fact for
secreting the stolen property. The prisoners
are very calm and self possessed. "Nick" is
but sixteen and is a mere boy.