Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-10-02
a B1ooDr Eror.
An italian woman shot and Badly
Woumxz@d NV n M0h Of Daz q "a naa

An italian woman Shot and Badly
wounded by q Mob Of Desperadoes.
On West Fifth street near Scott, nearly
the last house on that thoroughfare, lives
small party Of italian navviss who are
employed at grading on the B. 4 P. rail
road extension. Mary Altiere, wife Of
one OF the inmates Of the small frame
house, lives with the party and doss their
cooking. She Ia Q pleassnt-msn-
nsred, rather nice looking middle
aged womAn, very much thought
OF by her usighbors. Sunday night the
household moderately INDUCED in some
beer drinking, none Of them being at all
under Its influence. Late In the evening
Edward Megahey who Is employed about
Ford's stables near by passed along the
street and got into some dispute with
the navvies. He maddened them
with rage and one OF the Italians
struck him. A sharp fight ensued, in
which the stable boss was whipped. He
then disappeared from view short time,
but In few minutes crowd of negroes
headed, Is Ia said, by Megahey, made
their appearance and sure unded the
small frame houae which the Italians
occupied.
The crowd demanded the inmates to
open the door that they could enter, one
OF the party Ut Is believed Megshey)
shavings and we will burn the whole row
OF buildings will tear them OUT" &c.
The mob moved upon the house from
front and rear, aud, the demand for admis-
sion not being complied with, began
furiously bombarding 1t with stones.
Steps Of wood at the front were "buoked"
violently against the front door split.
ting the panels and digging
great holes In the wood work. Large
sharp stones were thrown against the
weather boarding, cracking and tearing
II in several places.
The inmates Of the house remained
perfectly quiet, and the neighbors were
so terror-stricken that they could render
no aid had they been 30 valiant. After
the bombardment had been continued for
some minutes and II was feared thst the
building would be torn down piece by
piece, the woman OF the household, Mary
Altiere, went TO the front window
in the second story and, opening the
shutters, called to the rioters TO quit
stoning her house. Hardly had she
admonished before volley of revolver
shots was fired at, her head, which was
visible through the window pane.
One Of the first loads discharged struck
the woman on the right side Of the chest
and lodged beneath the skin Just in front
Of the shoulder blade. The other leaden
buried themselves in the weather board
ing Of the house.
The unfortunate woman after being
shot staggered back to her bed, her
wound bleeding internally quite freely.
1t was thought that she was killed, srd..a
rumor to that effect reached the mob, and
appeared to appeaso their desire TO
destroy the building and slaughter the
inmates, % the men skunk away and
have not yet been arrested. A physician
was summoned, extI acted the bullet and
dressed the wound. He regarded IL as
rather serious though not necessarily
fatal.
Edward McGaughey and William
Fisher, the latter q eolored man nearly
go years Of age, who were arrested Tues
day lfor alleged completely In the riot
on Fifth street near Scott at midnight on
Sunday, were given q hearing before
Squire o'Nsill this morning.
Thirteen witnesses were examined, but
not one Of thdm could swear that either
Of she defendants had participated in the
melee. The nearest approach to an idsn-
tiHcstion wss made by Frank 6inglebach,
who thought that he recognized
MoGaughey's voice, but he was not posi-
tive that he had heard It.
Fisher, when put upon the witnesl
stand, stated that he had been aroused
from slumber by MoGaughey's oty and
that he had run out doors and found that
individual bleeding in the street, and tha
he had seen four men with clubs rur
around the conner.
Since there was some doubt as to th'
defendants having taken part in the fight
the squire gave them the benefit Of tina
doubt and dismissed the oaee,