The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1885-10-03
MURDERED HIS RELATIVE
An Italian Railroad Laborer
Kills His Friend i'm
Cold Blood.
Caught in Possession of the
Murdered Mans Money.

last Sunday when it was announced
that an Italian named Mike Metz
had been arrested and was in the
custody of the officers charged with
the murder of Rocco Cossodenti near
Morris Y Roads, in Fayette county,
Pa. Cossodenti was rather a fine
looking man, about 80 years of age
and weighed about $50 pounds.
His body was found on Friday ev-
ening in a small strip OF woods lit
tie distance from the Morgantown
and Uniontown road by Mr.. VIM.
Sturgiss,to whom the woods belonged.
He was found to have been shot in
two places, one bali having entered
below the ear and came out on the 9TH
er side; the other entered the eye and
lodged in the head No weapon was
found near him so the idea of suicide
is disproven.
Mike Metz is OF dark complexion,
with black hair and mustache. He
is about feet in height and will
weigh about l60 pounds. His age
is about 35 years. His ears are or
namented with small plain rings, and
his general appearance is not calcu-
lated to make an agreeable impress
sion upon a stranger Metz and Cos
sodenti are said to have been cousins
and came here to work on the F., M.
d p. railroad, where they have been
employed for some time back. Cos
sodenti was saving and industrious
and by his hard knocks had accumu-
lated some money. 1t is said that he
had some $400 in New York bank
and when he left Morgantown he had
on his person about $175 or 5000.
With this little fortune he had con-
cluded to return to his native coun-
try, and as he could not count our
money and was unacquainted with
the country between here and Fair
chance he requested the company of
Mike Metz that far If the theory
of the prosecution be correct, Mike
readily assented and deliberately in
weighed Cossodenti into an out-of- the
way place and after foully numbering
him for his money, left his body in
the woods and returned to this coun-
ty with his ill-gotten gains. If this
theory be true it was most deliber-
ate and blood thirsty murder, such
one as the law provides no adequate
punishment for. Sheriff Sterling and
Detective Cotton came here on Sun
day and were working up the case
until Monday, when they returned to
Uniontown.
Detective Cotton says that he can
prove that the prisoner and Cosso-
denti left Morgantown together; that
they were seen together at different
points along the road; and that they
passed through the Cross Roads to,
gether; that the prisoner only had
about $500 in money when he left;
that on his return he was in posses
sion of new suit of clothes, lot of
calico and other merchandise. When
arrested he had on his person re-
volver, watch, a hundred dollar bill, |
a fifty dollar bill and some small |
notes in money. He expects also to
prove that before his departure Cos
sodenti obtained from the Second Ma
tional Bank of this place hundred |
dollar bill and a fifty dollar bill and |
must have had these bills on his per-
son when murdered.
The prisoner, he says, has told diff
ferent persons that he purchased the
suit of clothes and other goods in
Pittsburgh, when it can be shown that
he bought them from a merchant in
this place after his return. To some
persons he is said to have stated that
he got the money in Pittsburgh, and
TO others he has told that he only
went two or three miles OIL the way to
Uniontown with Cossodenti and then
returned. To different ones he has
stated that he left Cossodenti in
Pittsburgh call right.
1t seems also that there is woman
n the case. Metz is enamored Of a
lamsel named Jennie Tichnor, to
whom it is said he would have
'een married at an early day had not
I'll his calculations been knocked
,ndwise by the warrant for his ar
est, and its execution by Constable
)dbert.
Miss Tichnor, it is supposed, will
De an important witness. 1t seems
hat Metz on his return repaired to
he residence of Mr.. Tichnor and
tayed all night on Wednesday night.
lie slept with one of the boys and his
evolver was exposed when he hung
Up his pantaloons. In the night he
5 said to. have risen from his bed and
inquired of his prospective brother
n-law if he had ever seen a hundred
lollar bill, and very kindly struck
light that the boy might feast his
ision on so great sight. The next
lay he made his addresses to the
air Jennie proposing marriage at a
ear date, and also made an exhibit ,
ion of his liberality by presenting
er with a lot Of calico, bed com
orter and ten dollar bill with which
" PuiSh al s'ulut. l1Cl idtiiCt
rudently required her to return
hese things, but further negotiations
etween Metz and the parent consum- !.
1ated arrangements for her to pur-
base her own outfit and to become
is bride within few days.
Sheriff Sterling and Detective Cot .
ON left here on Monday intending to
o to the place in Pennsylvania !
here the murdered man was buried, ,,
here they would be met by the cor :
ner of Fayette county, have the bo-
y exhumed and the bullet taken }
rom his head and compared with the
alibre of the prisoners revolver, .
hitch they took with them for that
urpose.
They expected that the prisoner ,,
'ould agree to accompany them. On
unday he said that he would do so,
nut Monday morning he declined,
nd the offers went back without
he bird, expecting to get a requisi-
on and take him without his con-
ent.
The prisoner claims he can prove |