New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-22
THE MURDERER REVEALED.
ALoNG-sOUGHT VICTIM OF THE MAFIA
INSPECTOR BYRNEs's INoUIsITIoN SETS THE
ITALIANS TONGUES wAGGING -
SECRET ORDER THAT DEALS DEATH
TO ALI, INFOPNERS.


II is Just week since Antonio FlacconIo, the
Italian grocer, was murdered in the shadow of
Cooper Union. at Eighth-st and Third-ave lie
was stabbed TO the heart forcibly that one Of
his ribs was fractured by the blow and his heart
split in twain 1t was done early on Sunday
evening, when hundreds Of people were passing
up and down Thrd-aye. Several were within u
few feet of Flaccono when hc fell. and yet no
one could be found who saw the fatal thrust and
the witnesses gave contradictory descriptions OF
man who walked slowly across the street after
the murder was committed and who was taken to
be the assassin. From all that the police could
learn, and they began an investigation within five
minutes. the murderer had vanished as silently
and completely as if the earth had swallowed him.
The dead man identified within a few hours
by his family, but they could not throw the least
light on the assassination, and were unable to
give any motive for the crime
The police, however. found several Italians who
said that they knew Flaccono and admitted that
he had been in the La Trinacria restaurant, No.
st Marks place. short time before his death,
but all denied vehemcntly having any knowledge
Of the crime the possible motive of it Giuseppe
Carnizaro and Natle Sabatino the proprieiOrs Of
La Trnacria, ard Francesca Alto arrested
and locked up at the Tombs. Cells were assigned
them so that they could freely communicate with
each other. and the Italian detectives kept them
under close watch. Sabatino talked often with
Carnizaro about Flacconio and in an unguarded
moment was heard to mention a quarrel that had
taken place prior TO his death and the name OF
the man who had done the stabbing What the
detectives had been searching for they had found,
some one who knew definitely how and by whom
the murder was done.
PUTTING ON THE THUMB SCREWS.
Being satisfied that nothing more could be
learned at the Tombs, Sabatino and Alto were
taken to Police Headquarters Saturday evening
and turned loose in the inquistion chamber pre-
sided over by Inspector Byrnes What trans
pircd in that dull and dismal place will never
be known, but whatever the medicine was, 1t
had the desired effect, and in few hours both of
the tongues of the Italians set wagging
and each tried TO outdo the other in telling the
story of the mysterious crime.
According to their statements on the Sunday
night when Flacconio was killed, he with Paula
Gelormo, Giuseppe Ternero, Benedito Terzo Gras-
COMO Pollacc Bcnedito Carnilzo Giuseppe Car
nizzo Carlo and VincenzO Quararo were playing
a game known as Tocca for money. Flacconio
winning steadily and was accused of cheat
ing wordy quarrel followed Sabatno and
Alto knowing the feeling that some of the men
present had against Flacconio, took him by the
arm and went out of the place with him. They
walked through st. Marks place to the Cooper
Union building Then the sound OF rapidly APP
preaching footsteps was heard behind them and
on turning they were startled to the brothers
Carlo and Vincenzo Quararo coming on rum
Each of them had a knife in his right hand and
their faces were livid with passion.
HOW THE BLOW WAS STRUCK.
Tlacconio was unarmed and when the men
came up and attacked him, he backed into one
of the archcd doorways Sabatino stepped in
front Of him and tried TO get the men to post
ponc their quarrel While he was talking
| Vincenzo pushed him violently aside and Carlo
springng suddenly forward drove the knife into
Flacconias heart. The brothers locked arms and
walked quickly away. Fhcconio said, u am
done this time, sure,' and fell into Sabatinos
arms Sabatino jerlScd away quickly and went
with the other Italians who had followed the
Quararo brothers from the restaurant back to IL,
leaving Flaccono TO die in the gutter alone.
When they had all got into the place, the doors
were barred and they each took solemn Oath
never TO divulge what they knew ana the penalty
for the least violation of this compact was DEATH
The statements of both the men were reduced
| 10 writing and signed by thcm They say they
do not know what became Of the murderers, but
the police believe that they know all about them
Carlo is described as goOd-lookIng Italian, WIN
dark hair. eyes and mustachc, of medium size
and weighs about 20 pounds: Inspector Byrnes
did not sneak Yesterday with his usual confidence
about catching these criminals they have got
long start and will be protected by their friends
everywhere. He thinks that they have gone to
Ncw-Orcans While the motive for the crime
appears an ordinary quarrel, this is only an cX-
cusc, the real motive being deeper one and OF
long standing Flacconio has long been marked
man. His death was decreed years ago and the
men who were chosen to take his life have been
on his track Tor years.
4 COMBINATION OF CUTTHROATS.
Investigation into this murder has developed
the fact that there exists in this city society
known as the Mafia' Its members are all ma
tves of the Island of Sicily. The parent or
ganzation is in Sicily and the society here Is
branch. 1t is made up of forgers, counterfeiters,
burglars hghwaymen murdercrs and other crimi-
nails who are fugtivcs from justice and banded
together for protection well as to ply their
ncfarious trades The members know each other
by signs and pass words, and their headquarters
in this country are in this city and New-Oreans
1t il in their bylaws that man should die
rather than divulge the secrets of the order or
say single word that would aid in the conviction
with remarkable persistency. An informcr is
be killed The person to do the killing is selected
Ivy lot, and il he becomes ,weak-hearted and fails
TO do tn, work he forfeits his own hfe
Flacconio, the Quararo brothers and several
other freauentcrs Of La Trinacra belong TO the
Malta. Several years ago Flacconio under an
other name was arrested, with several other
Sic,liars. for counterfcting lie turned informer,
SOC nrcd the conviction of his friends and his own
liberty He fed for his own safety and kept In
hiding for a long time. When he thought that
the chance of discovery was over, all OF those
whom he had injured being dead he came from
sccluson. While he rested in apparent security
there were avengers on his track, only waiting
for the time when the evidence could be obtained
that he was the infOrmer. This WIS recently
established Flacconio, from certain things that
happened few weeks ago, got an idea that his
identity had been discovered, and he told his
/ vounn son that if ANYTHING should happen 10 nm
or he should suddenly disappear, he was to take
charge OF the store and educate his sister. The
avengers, thirSting for blood, waited for favor
able opportuniiy. H. came when Fhccono was
led out 10 the slaughter the fatal Sunday night,
and the members of the Malta everywhere will
applaud the method adopted to Vindicate It's