Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-07-05
A HORRIBLE CRIME.
A Man Murdered and His Body
Concealed Three Months In an Ice
Chest.

One of the most revolving crimes that has
ever been committed in this city, and proba-
bly, In the State (the details Of which par
take more of criminal annals of Europe
than of America) came to light Yesterday,
after having been concealed from
human eyes for quarter OF a year. The
murder was perpetrated and the body hid
den within q few feet of q thoroughfare
where hundreds Of people pass every day,
and in thickly settled neighborhood.
1t appears that early last February two
foreigners, who are known as Maltese men,
though natives of Tunis, Africa, named An
drew Parvio and Carlos Parego, rented
small shop In the two story wooden build
ing on State street, one door east of Dray-
ton. owned by and adjoining the premises
of Mr.. Phillip Hermann. and next tn the resi-
dence of Mr.. John Nicolson. This store
is a small place, about ten feet square. and
for years has been used as an ice house for
supplying the immediate neighborhood
with fee. In one corner of the shop is an
ice box, about six feet high aud three feet
wide, with the same depth. The new occu-
pants opened fruit and peanut stand, but
also peddliDg about the streets, Parvio
selling lemons and Parego doing business
in bottled images-that is, images
made of wood, adroitly put in bottles. The
first named was apparently the "head of
the firm" and as such in the latter part of
March paid the rent for the month of April,
in advance, at the same time informing his
landlord, Mr.. Hermann, that he was about
leaving the city for month for the pur-
pose of bringing his wife and child to this
country. and wished to retain the
place. He also made similar statements to
several merchants from whom he had been
buying fruit, at the same time paying some
thing on account of bills he owed. The
shop was closed and nothing more was
thought of its late occupants, though
week or so after their departure the neigh
bors complained of offensive odors about
the premises; but an examination OF the
place revealed only lot Of decaylng fruit,
which was removed, and the matter passed
from remembrance.
Three months having elapsed and Mr..
Hermann hearing nothing Of his late ten
ants, and an opportunity to rent the shop
being offered, he concluded to have 1t
cleaned. Yesterday being a holiday, he
thought he would examine the stock In
trade, which consisted of a small assert
ment of raisins, nuts, candies, etc. While
Mr.. H. was looking about the meagrely
stocked shelves, servant who was with
him opened the door of the ice chest and
saw what she thought 20 be shoe. She
called Mr.. HIS attention to it, and, In
attempting TO pull it out, discovered that
attached to It was a human leg. At once
the suspicion of horrible crime
flashed on their minds, and
Mr. Hermann Immediately dispatched
a messenger to the police barracks, and in
a short time Lieutenant Howard, with de-
tail, arrived on the spot, and also the Coro-
ner, DR.. Sheftall, aud DR.. George II. Stone.
The work of getting the body out of it's
narrow quarters, in which it had been
packed in lime, charcoal and rice
chaff, was begun at once, and
were exposed to view, and were taken out
and stretched upon the floor. The body
was much decaYed, the organs being all
gone, and the limbs almost 1eshless. 1t
had on two coats, one a blue surtout and
the other apparently gray, and dark pants
and heavy shoes; the hat Of the murdered
man was also with the remains. In
the pockets were a few pieces of coin. Drs.
Sheftall and Stone held an examination,
which resulted in the discovery of three
stabs in the breast, over the heart, and
around the neck was found piece of rope,
known among sailors as rafting or marlin,
tightly drawn.
The first impression of those present was
that Parvio had murdered his partner Pare
go. and thus concealed the crime, but on
further examination of the body it
was found to be that of quite an old man,
aud several Italians, who had arrived by
this time, recognized the remains as those
of Stephen Capela, an image seller, and
native of Italy, whom our citizens will re-
member having seen about town last winter
aud early spring. He had had rooms on
Broughton street, near Price, aud at about
the time that ParVio and PArego shut
up their shop, he inform his
landlady that he was going away would
be back in about a month. He lef and his
landlady has never heard of him since.
OF course, the crime aud the motive for It
are yelled in mystery at present, but a the
OrY for the commission of the horrid deed
is that Parvio and Parego, who are said
to have been desperate charac-
tiers. discovered by some means that
Capela had considerable money, (Which his
landlady represents at about $4,000, and
determined to murder him aud get possess
ion of it. They cultivated bis acquaintance
and proposed that he go with them to
Brunswick, where he would have an oppor
tunity of disposing of some of his wares
These matters having been probably ar
ranged, the old man gave notice of his
intended departure to his land
lady, as stated, and took up
his abode for the night with his friends (?),
who, while pretending so much interest in
him, were secretly plotting against his life.
Once In the shop, one of them, it is as
sumed, slipped the cord round his neck and
s.rsngled him, preventing his making an
cutlery, while the other stabbed him to the
heart. Having accomplished their bloody
work, they deliberately packed the body
in the ice chest; they then possessed
themselves of his money, paid the rent in
advance to prevent their crime being dis
covered until they were safe out of the
country, and silently disappeared for parts
unknown.
The Coroner will hold the inquest at the
court house this afternoon at 5 O'Clock.
TneaItslians in the city are determined to
do all they can to bring the murderers of
their fellow countryman to justice.
Parvio, it is stated, has a wife living In
England, and Parego a wife in TGnis.
The developments of this unparalleled crime
1 rry4l1 ha Tod With inf