The Washington critic., 1885-08-03
QUICKLY CAUGHT.
Arrest OF the Murderer of the Man
Found Dead on Saturday.

The body of the murdered man, found
inthe old house near the Howard Uni.
yersity shaft Of the new reservoir, men
toned In Saturdays CRITIC, turns out
to be the body of Carminc Rutunno,
an Italian laborer on the new water
works, who was foully murdered for his
money by fellow counlryman named
Antonio Nardello, alias Rjsso. The
old dilapidated and unoccupicd house
in which The mutilated and decomposed
body Of the murdered man was found Is
situated on the farm of Curtis Gilbert.
between Glenwood Cemetery and the
Howard University shaft OF the new
water works. Antonio was regarded
by his countrymen as vagabond; Ru-
tunno as q peaceable and industrious
fellow.
Antonio and Carmine, with num-
Der Of other Italians, boarded at a
house kept by Guadias, one OF their
countrymen. On Tuesday nigh
Carmine was heard to make an agree
ment with Antonio to meet him at the
lonely house at 3 o'clock on the follow
ing morning. Carminc told the others
that the appointment was in regard to
job which Antonio promised to secure
for him. The others vainly attempted
to deter him from keeping his APP
pointment.
Carmine was never seen alive after
this. On Saturday morning Lafayette
Lamont, colored laborer, was at
tracted to the spot by seeing stains OF
blood on the porch and by the Of
fensive odor. He went up stairs and
found the murdered man with his throat
cut. lying in pool OF blood.
When the Italians heard Of the dis
covery and recognized the body, they
organized search for Antonio, who
was at once suspected OF being the muir
derer. In the evening band of Italians
went to the b. 81 p. Railway station
and notified Officers Acton and Lamb
that they feared Antonio would attempt
to leave the city that night.
Hearing the man described Officer
Acton remembered having seen such u
one purchase two tickets for Baltimore
short time previous. Not long after
Antonio entered the station with II
negress named Villa C.Morris. He was
arrested and taken to the First Precinct
Station. House, hut was subso quently
taken TO the Second, where an inquest
was held yesterday morning.
Prior to the inquest he confessed to
Francisco Leoni, an acquaintance, say
ing that with two others, Pasquale
Gesimonti and Pasquale Abbondanii,
he murdered Rutunno and robbed him
Of about 500. The Italians promptly
eXculpated his alleged accomplices, aud
the charge against them was not be-
lieved.
The testimony against Antonio was
conclusive of his guilt, and the Coroner
committed him to Jail to await the grand
jury's action.
On Wednesday afternoon, after the
murder, Antonio went to the house Of
villa Morris, on Maryland avenue. On
Thursday morning, with the Morris
girl, he went to drug store to have his
finger dressed, and then bought some
new clothes. On Saturday she con-
sented to go to New York with him. L.
The razor with which the deed was
committed has been found.
This is one Of the best managed
murder cases in a long time. The dead
man was not identified until o'clock
Saturday and the murderer was ar-
rested by o'clock, although he had
three days to escape. The police, on
learning Of the murder, interested the
Italians at once in the matter and sent
out fifteen OF them to get a clue.
This move proved very important
one, as they rendered valuable assist
ance.
Detectives Raft aud Block state that
the prisoner confessed to them last
night that he assisted in the murder.
He said he knew he would be hanged.