The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-11-22
THE RAGGIO CONFESSION.
SOMEHOW THERE IS A WIDE AND
PUzzLING DISCREPANCY.
Starting Out on a Wrong Date the AL.
legged Victim OF Remorse Gets Things
Awfully Mixed. According to Local
Witnesses OF Sound Mind.
"Holy Mosesl What yarnl How this

The Scimitdr OF yesterday contained a
thrilling story entitled "Raggios Comics
sion--A Murder Explained After Thirteen
Ycam-lIow Villainous italian Slit Annie
Corners Throat Behind the Poplar Street
Market and Threw Her Body Into the
Bayou"
What followed these sensational head
lines was descriptive and sensational in
the extreme, and there is little doubt that
every one into whose hands the Scmiidr
fell devoured every word OF it Copies OF
the paper come to the APPEAL Office in
exchange, and naturally reporters eye
fell upon the column OF startling
reading. Those who have experienced
the pangs OF jealousy on the part
OF rivals Tor some lair maiden's hand, can
in measure realize the feelings which
take possession OF q newspaper man when
he finds himself confronted by a really
luscious scoop IN the columns OF local
contemporary. So il was with the local
staff OF TIRE APPEAL, and after reprimands
from headquarters and consolation among
themselves, the reporters started out for
something that might serve TO save them
from ignominious dismissal.
The first call was at police headquarters,
where Chief Davis, with hair standing on
end and eyes dllated, was drinking in
every word of il. But TO familiarize such
OF TIE APPEAI's readers us have
not seen the Scimitar with tho orig
inal publication, it were best here
to synopsize it. The opening state
ment is that thirteen years ago Tor 1851
Memphis was village like in proportions"
Then follows a sort Of semi-hlslorical aliu-
sion 10 tho Poplar Street Market, with
its hucksters, mostly women, some OF
whom, according 10 The account, "are
eccentric, and gained for themselves such
suggestive titles rs "Big Glare, "Slovenly
| Sal, '"Fat Fannie" and ''Shngy Sue" 4
woman said TO have been known as "Black
| Mol, rs then taken up. The relations
of this woman with "a villainous looking
little 'Dngo' nicknamed Johnny Ba-
nan, but whose real name was laggio,
forms prelude 20 the blool-curdng
story. They were married, il states, the
man q object beng 10 get control OF the
Womans repuied wealth. Six months
aiterward, finding II impossible 10 live to-
gether tremendously, the couple separated,
| the husband going 10 the French market,
New Orleans, the wife remaining in Mem
phs. Shortly after his departure the hus-
| band instituted suit torecOyer the property
| which he claimed she had decided 20 him.
Proceeding, the story relates that the
stall adjoining that OF Mrs. Raggio in the
market WAS kept by "Annie Conners, a
young Irish woman" The remainder OF
the Scimiidy's story is herewith appended
"lloih women occupied the same hovel,
and q former exchange Of courtcsies was
sufficient for the COnneB woman TO bor-
row her neighbours hood and shawl one
night TO carry home her stock oil yegeta-
| bles in n wheelbarrow She put on the
articles and started in the darkness toward
| the bayou bridge. Two minutes later
shrieks and sounds OF a heavy fall broke
| the stiffness. A halt dozen men ran toward
| the bridge from which the noise came, but
| could fluid no trace OF either the woman or
| her supposed asailant. On the follow
| ing morning the unfortunate hucksler
| was found In the bottom OF the bayou bed.
with the whcelbarrow aud contents piled
around, and her head nearly severed from
the shoulders. The only theory offered
was that some unknown hoodlum, tempted
by the bag Of small change she displayed,
! had committed the murder for tho sake OF
It's contents. This faint clew waa worked
upon by tho police, but the assassin was
mover discovered, at least through their
inslrumcntality From the time Of the
crimn's commission until two weeks ago Il
remained an unsolyed mystery. Tho ltal.
ian In the meantime remained in
New Orleans until The snit which h.
lost, was decided. Aiierwafd he left iol
Texas, and until recently his where.
abous was unknown. Last Saturday
two weeks since a priest OF New Orlcan,
was summoned 10 a poor quarter In that
city 20 take the confession OF dyina
wretch who sent word that the salvation
OF his soul depended upon the holy
fathers presence. Arriving alta miserable
ut-hole in adamp, murky district, he found
Raggio, omaciaicd and dying, lying ON &
filthy mattress in the room. Tho comics
sion he 10 earnestly desired TO make wa
written aud signed, and It's receipt here
after the wretch's death, made clear IN,
mystery Of tire Connen woman's murder
The portion which bears on the Grim,
reads M follows
"When | realized that my vito woult
defeat me In the effort 60 gain her prop
erty determined 10 put her out OF III,
way. left New Orleans for Memphis
with that purpose fixed in my mind. Ar
irving there on Saturday evening wen
directly 10 the Poplar street market Stop
ping at Deans grocery, across the street,
watched Mol for few moments 10 guar,
against mistake. | saw her movingabOu
with a rcd hood and old shawl on ehor
while, and then went back 10 the market
house. Hiding behind pile OF lumber
| waited. My fingers went 10 sleeJ
around tho handle of the knife before ans
ono passed Hearing the cracking vince
OF the barrow after hall an hour, my ai
tcntiOn was attracted by the dim 6gun
OF an approaching woman. As !
drew nearer the figure assumed the shap'
of my wife. In the uncertain light
could distinguish a rcd hood and raggc,
shawl. The moment she passed beior
me the market bell rang the hour Tn
noise and darkness favored my plan.
spung out, claspcd my hand over th'
Womans chin, and, forcing her hea,
back, drew the knilc across her throat
4 sliicd shrek, the gurgle Of rushinI
blood aud u was over. In nervous fra
threw the body and barrow of IN,
bridge and led ID was with satisfaction
! boarded the next train Tor New Orleans
but with excrraiions heard how | klllc,
Annie Conner, instead Of Noble Raggio
The suit went against me. ! make thi
confession with PRAYER that God ma.
have mercy ON my soul.
''fhe cold bloodcd, wouldbc wife slayc
J died two hourS after making the coni,s
siou, and was buried in the Polter's Field
! Ills divorced wife sold the ground tia
ciusci the Corners woman her life an
moved TO -. Louis, where she Is now liy
| ImH In rnInnAraIINn MAJ "