Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-05-27
NARDELLO AND HIS CRIME.
The Young italian to be Hanged To
morrow at the District Jail.


The Young italian to be Hanged To-
morrow at the District Jail.
THE STORY OF THE MURDER OF cARMINE Ro-
TUNNo-How NARDELLo WAS Arrested
THE TRIAL AND SENTENCE.
Antonio Nardello, the young italian, will be
hanged tomorrow afternoon at the jail in this
city for the murder of Carmine Rotunno, q
follow countryman, on the 29th of July last.
Carnine Rotunno, a rather elderly Italian,
boarded at the house of one Guido on 9Th street
extended. He worked a laborer and occa-
sionaliy as a shoemaker, and had accumulated
$500 to 5000. This money appears to have
furnished the motive of the murder Nardello
was, however, disappointed in his expectation
OF securing large sum, for Rotunno made 1t a
rule to carry but $50 about him. leaving the
balance with friend. The murder was COM
mitted some time on the night of July 2Sth, or
the early morning of July Goth, probably after
I o'clock at night and before 8 o clock in the
morning. 1t was some days before the crime
was discovered. About the LIST of August, per-
sons In the vicinity noticed a very disagreeable
smell about an old unOccupied building east OF
the new reservoir. near Howard university.
THE BODY FOUND.
This gave rise to an investigation which led
TO the discovery of tine decOmposed body of
man in one of the second story rooms. The dead
man was found lying on his left side with his
arm under his head in a perfectly natural pO-
sition, but with a terrific cash in his throat.
There was blood about the floor and also on the
walls. The body having been identified as that
of Rotunno, investigation by Detectives Raft
and Block showed that ne left GuidO's place
early on the morning OF Wednesday, July both;
that he probably had money when he left, and
that NardeIlo had been TO see ROtunnO and
promised to get him work. There was
money found on the body. 1t was determined
To- arrest Nardelo, and description of him was
sent to the different police stations.
NARDELLO ARRESTED.
That night Nardelo was arrested near the
Baltimore and Potomac depot, as he was about
TO leave the city. He had spent most of his
time since the 29th of July at the house of
Villa Morris. on Maryland avenue, between Sd
and 412 streets southwest, where he was known
by the name of Frank Ross. AT the coroner's
inquest ii was clearly shown that NardellO was
the last one seen with ROtunno. There was
blood on his pants and also cut on his finger,
OF which he could give no satisfactory account.
He was committed to Jail for the action of the
grand jury. An indictment was found October
11th. and Col. George b. Corkhill and MIR. Thos
NJ Fields We're assigned To his defense. The trial
was set for November 3Oth. The jury COM
pleted December Sd and the trial proceeded
On December 18th verdict of guilty was
1Ound. A motion for a new trial was overruled.
THE SENTENCE.
On January 10th last Judge Mac Arthur
passed the sentence of the court that he be
hanged on the third Friday succeeding the adj
journment of the next term of the Court in
General Term. between the hours of one and
The trial was long and tedious one because
OF the inability OF the defendant and several
of the witnesses to understand English. Mar
dello admitted in some OF his statements that
he was present when the murder was commit
ted, but asserted that the two Pasquales
tAbundonte and GeSsimonte) were the princi-
pals. Quite stormy scene occurred during
the trial when the prisoner charged the muir
der on one OF the Pasquales. subsequently he
admitted that he had received about $50 of the
money taken from Rotunno. After the adj
Journment of the January term of the Court in
had
execution. some OF the Italian legation and
others acting on the theory that the full truth
had not been told and that NardellO might
give information which would lead to the con-
Nlctlon OF other guilty parties, secured
A RESPITE
for three weeks. Nardello, however, only re-
iterated his former statement as to the Pas
quales, who had succeeded in the trial in prov
ing their whereabouts on the night in question.
W nile the question of Communication of SEN
tence was pending NardellO was quite hopeful
OF lis success, but when informed last week of
the failure OF the effort he became quite de-
pressed in spirits and seemed to have lost his
light-hearted, cheerful disposition.
SUSPECTED OF ANOTHER MURDER.
Shortly after the arrest the officers in inquiry
ing of the antecedents ofNardello found that he
was suspected OF a murder of a fellow country
man, one Balbo at North East, Cecil county,
Md, about Christmas, 1884. 1t appeared that
a number of Italians, engaged On the Philadel-
phia extension of the Baltimore and Ohio rail-
East; that about the time named Nardello and
BalbO took a walk in the country, and Balbo
never returned. NardellO left in a few days and
went to Baltimore. In the spring, when the
snow had melted, the body of BalbO was found.
subsequently the watch worn by BalbO, when
ne left home was found in Baltimore, where it
had been sold by NardeIlO, and it was identified
by a son OF the dead man. This caused SuS-
picion to rest on NardellO.
NARDELLO'S HISTORY
Nardello, who is a native of Naples, is rather
strongly built young man, and is now in his
Odd year. He is 5 feet / inches in height and
weighed during the trial 176 pounds He has
dark skin, blue eyes, and dark brown hair
inclined to curl, which he had cut quite close q
few days ago He appears to have inherited
wrong-dolng, for his father was at the time Of
his birth under arrest, and was subsea uently
sentenced to twenty years Imprisonment, and
NStrdellO never saw him. His father is still
living, and his mother, brother and sister are
still living in Italy. To these he wrote letters
yesterday, in very pathetic language, inclosing
his trust is in God. He asked tor their PRAYERS
expressing the hope that they will all meet in
heaven. He came to this country about three
years ago, and worked at different times in New
York, Chicago, and at North East, Cecil county
Md. At the time of the crime he mad been here
but about five months, having arrived in this
city on March LIST, 1855.
Since his incarceration he has received the
ministrations of Rev. Father Ryan, Of the Inn
maculate Conception church, and Rev Father
Rabbia, formerly of ST. Peters, and now OF
Baltimore. 1t Is probable that one or both of
these clergymen will be with him constantly