Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-08-13

The Most Horrible Crime Known In
Savannah-SOme Action Neees-
sary.
a little over one month ago this com
munity was startled by the discovery OF
undoubtedly the most horrible ana oIu-
tai crime recorded in the annals OF Sa-
vannah-perpetrated in the very heart OF
the city. and so shocking IN its charac-
ter that the first announcement was re-
ceived with incredulity. We refer to
the finding of the mutilated body of the
old Italian image vendor, Stephen
Capelo, packed in charcoal and lime,
in an ice chest in an unoccu-
pied little store on State street, near Dray-
ton. The particulars, which were OBJ
tanned at the time, after searching investi-
CATION by a representative of the MORN
ING News. and corroborated subsequent
ly at the COroner's inquest and published
in these columns, are known to every
one in this community.
Universal horror was expressed at the
time that such a crime should have been
committed in our city, and earnest was
the hope that the infamous murderers
two Tunis fruit vendors would be ap-
pretended and brought to cOndign pun
ishment
This ebullition of sentim emit soon sub
sided, however; the horrible tragedy re-
manned scarcely a nine-days' talk, and
has almost faded from the remembrance
of our people, with the exception, per
haps, of a limited number.
The few Italians in our city. made
some effort 10 detect the murderers of
their countryman, but necessarily they
could accomplish little, and the inquiries
sent TO other cities concerning the fugi-
tives failed to elicit any satisfactory re-
suits. Beyond this We are not advised
as to any action taken to spprehend the
criminals. Certainly, under all the cir
cumstauees, it would seem that some
measures should have been adopted by
the county OF city authorities, either
separately OF jointly, and at least well
directed effort made to capture the per
petrators of a crime which, whether
justly or unjustly, is regarded as a stain
upon the fair reputation Of our city.
Whilst the chances are that the vii
lains have made good their escape, still
there is a possibility Of their being
traced up, and we think the effort should
be exerted to that end. The perpetra-
tors Of equally mysterious and skillfulY
concealed crimes have, by persistent
effort, been finally brought to justice,
and there is no reason why success
should not attend proper effort in this in
stance.
We have a case in point attesting the
reward Of diligent search in the capture
Of Obadiah Ross in another State after
lapse of four years for a terrible crime
committed in a neighbOring county, in
which q former citizen of Savan-
nah was the victim. The au-
thorities of Jefferson county and
the friends of the victim Of
fered a large reward for the arrest of
Ross, and skillful detectives, stimulated
by the knowledge that they would be re
compensed for trouble and danger, re-
solutely went to work, and the result was
success.
We would therefore suggest that some
action be taken by OUT authorities in this
matter, and that the facts be officially
brought to the attention Of Governor
Colquitt, with the request that he offer
a suitable reward for the apprehension
Of Andrew ParviO and Camello Farru-
gia, the fugitive murderers. Something
should be done, and that without furth-
er delay.