The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-11-22
MEMPHIS DAILY THURSDAY. NOVEMBER o.

slain woman resided at No. % MADDEN
avenue, and the reporter called upon her
for anything she might know Of the true
occurrence. Her name is Mrs. Annie
Cummins, and her husband is driver Of
hook and ladder truck No. /. The sub
stance OF her statement was this;
Her mother was not "a young Irish
woman" but married woman about fifty
six years of age. She was not murdered
on a Saturday eveningin the year 1875, but
Friday, January 10, 1857, about $50 o'clock
in the evening. She did not wear "her
neighbours hood and shawl, " red in color,
but her own shawl, dark brown one
in color Her mothers body was
not thrown into the bayou, where
il remained all night. On the contrary, af-
ter being cut, she did not even fall butth
assassin fled precipitately, while his victim
walked some distance, finally being car.
ried into her own house, where she lived
several minutes and attempted 10 speak 10
her, but was prevented by the attendants
who refused 10 allow her to enter the
room. The murdered woman's name was
not Annie Conners, but Mary Corners.
Mrs. Raggio was keeping n grocery at
the time, had been for some time,
and only did q market business on Satur-
| day. Mrs. Cummips has also heard the
story involving Raggio in her mothers
death more than once, but never credited
| it. Her theory, chung TO from the very
| first, is that woman and huckster with
whom her mother had fuss a short time
previous about the burning OF the sus-
| pected woman's child, was the murderer,
and also that her mother was robbed.
Mrs. Cummins then referred the re-
| porter to Mr.. Castanini, n broher-in-law
| OF Mrs. Raggio. This witness knew little
further than the fact OF the killing, and
that Raggio went from here to Vicksburg,
whore he was taken sick, and from there
went TO New Orleans, on money raised
| by friends, 10 enter the Charity
Hospital. Several times since then
he has heard OF the mans death. He
knew Raggio very well, he having lived
here many years and almost continually
in business way. At one time he was a
partner OF Brignardelli in the saloon bus.
mess, opposite the Louisville & Nashville
railroad depot; afterward went into a
similar business by himself and was
never, so far rs he had heard, been
known as Johnny Banan." On the
contrary from suing his wife for property,
he took all her money out Of bank, went
over TO Italy and brought his niece back,
establishing her in the same house. His
wife sued Tor divorce, and when Raggio
left her house he took everything in the
way Of stock and fixtures with him, and
opened up u grocery and saloon in the
eastern part OF town. Mr.. Castanini also
gave the reporter contradiction OF the
closing lines oil the SciRr ds story, rela-
tive to the divorced vile selling the
ground and removing to ST. Louis. Mrs
iiaggio still lives in the same
house, No. 1876 Washington street, aud
the reporter called upon her there last
night. She has never learned 10 speak the
English language, but fortunately the Wis.
itor found Mr. Casanini and an intimate
female friend there who could inter.
pref anything she said. Corroborat-
ing the stories already related. she
further said that the murder was not
committed ON the bridge, nor nearer
than thirty yards Of il. When the assas-
sins victim did fall II was into the arms
OF Police Officer Maloughncy, who brought
her into the house and rushed oil for DR.
Frank Rice, who camo before she died,
but announced at once that there WAS
no hope for her. Mp. Raggio and
her husband separated twice. Alter the
|
mained three years; after the second and
last time he went and remained some
time, but when lac returned be came back
TO the same house, bringing his ncice. 1t
was then that she sued FOR divorce, "a al
ready stated. Raggio was not the small,
Misunderstanding fellow pictured, but a
tall, well formed, rather good looking
blonde fellow. Mrs. Connrrs could not
well have been mistaken for Mrs. Ragmo.
The former was a tall, slender woman,
while the latter Is small In stature and de-
cidedly plump.
But TO cap the climax Of contradiction
offered by the witnesses quoted, Raggio
had not left Memphis for the last time At
the time Of the murder OF Mrs. Conucm,
but was living with his niece out on Union
street. Investigating further, however,
the reporter was reliably informed that the
alleged confession was copied from n letter
received by Mr.. y. Correl the rcstau.
ranteur Of Jefferson street, and called upon
him He sioutly denied any knowledge OF
Il further than what no had seen in the
Scimii1r
Iithese witnesses, who remember ali
the circumsi nc with acute vividneas,
! can be trusted. the Ragyo confession /,
! iishy In the extreme. Their stories do
not tally NJ all, no nearer In any detail
, except the throatcuiting, than tho two
wears difference In dates. However
there is ono crumb Of comfort for TIN
APPEAL, lulUclis and Lolglr, II tho.dynl
! Raggio really made the confession alleged
, against him, viz II occurred nc New Or
: leans, and al the papers Of that city wen
just as badly scooped. The priest eniircl,
, ignored them and allowed his information
10 iist come 10 Memphis THE APrEAl
! thanks Fortune for that.
b Mr.. John Flood, fireman, and Nom
. Der Of Engine Company No. ?. states tina
! he resided in New Orleans two years ago
= aud remembers very distinctly rcadin,
{ substantially, II not idcntically, the sam,
story rs that published by the Scimiiar II
one Of the New Orleans papers nj that time
! II this be true, then indeed may IN,
I Scimid' exclaim, rs II did, cditorially
"rho Scihiar generally manages 10 &c
there. Today we give the solution Of ont
OF the mysteries OF Mcmphis-the murdc
, Of Annie Corners, on Poplar street, IL
Z 1873"