Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-05-16
a sEeRo muRDsnBD.
Killed by AN italian with a Date
Ho0k-The Murderer In Hall.

police station on Saturday afternoon from
the effects OF q number OF stabs, each one
OF which would prove mortal separately,
administered by Samuel PEG, an Italian
and Market streets.
This disturbance between the two men
occurred shortly after / o'clock and was
the outcome OF q wotdy dispute over the
price OF some fish.
The Italian states that he was pricing fieh
soanother party when Edwards approached
and used some very profane and indecent
language, and squared of to thrash Peo.
He administered blow or two upon Peo's
breast, when the latter stated he would not
Eight and retreated to his pea nut stand.
Edwards followed, and, With brick In
haad, according to PEG, struck MIN once or
twice over the head and was choking him,
Peo says he was afraid the negro would Kill
him and, acting upon the defensive, picked
up date hook from hamper Of this
Oriental fruit, plunged 1t up to the hilt into
the Negroes stomach. Edwards made a still
greater effort to thrash the Italian, who
followed up his blows with the murder
GUS instrument.
Edwards, after being stabbed several
times, ran across the street to the corner OF
King street, where he fell unconscious al
the drug store Of N. d. Morrison. Here he
was picked up and conveyed to the police
station.
Sergeant Peterson and two officers ar
rested tho murderer. As Peterson crowded
into the store some Jews advised him not to
persist as the Italians were desperate and
had threatened to kill any one that came In.
Sergeant Peterson however marched
right In, "Where Is Peo2" "Im your man"
the italian Immediately answered and as
quickly surrendered himself.
The mans life was fast ebbing as DR..
Wallace arrived. The physlcisn's first
TrN asafa M IN n DO 4ha
victims breast there Is very slight
beat" The deep wound above the right
ear was probed as also the abdominal one,
either of which are fatal.
Downstairs IN the cells GAZETTE repre-
sentative interviewed Peo. "Oh oh he is
ma dead" the man cried with peseeehing
question to the reporter, as he wrung his
hands in extreme excitement. "Pm afraid
he ia dying"
The Italian fell back In a passion OF
anguish, tearing his hair and trembling as
he realized his awful position.
but he struck me first" PEG cried; "lots
OF people saw him-I did not touch him
till he struck me-"
Peo Is one Of the men recently arrested
for violation of street ordinance. At the
recent citation at the city court he would
not attend although summoned as the
others. A special warrant had to be made
out with orders from Judge Ball for the
mans peremptory appearance. When he
did arrive he acted very Independently. He
Is man about As years OF age, one OF the
leading Italians here. He possesses some
means and can speak English quite we'll.
Edwards, the murdered man is'probably
80 years Of age and lived at No. 9i9 A street
South Wilmington. He was unmaIrid and IL
described as @ peaceable quiet negro, by his
colored associates. He had been drinking
during the morning but was not apparently
Intoxicated.
A party of negroes who gathered at the
police station state that the Italian IN q
frenzy OF rage over the chaffing OF Edwards
furlously dashed the negro to the pavement
and, selling the date hook, stabbed him
again and again. The location they gave
OF the wounds agrees directly with the stabs
afterward discovered by the physician.
The Italians name, although by his own
consent is Anglicized to PEG, Is properly
SALVATORE Papio, under which name he has
over 81 900 deposited In the Artisans Bank
BE lives on Scott street between Tenth and
Eleventh.
The following jury was summoned
on Sunday to investigate the cause
of Edwards death William Il
long, foreman; Walter Yeager, seore.
ssry; y 7. Knight. jaInql NiaFrire
AleFar 1r '"hitnraft, Peter a. Fsgsn,
John Wagner and Harrie T. Price.
The jury met at the coroners office
and heard the testimony of Richard g.
Cooper, Alexander Whortenburg, William
II. Jackson, Frank Jackson, Elijah CLARK,
Jacob Reed, Annie Johns and Dellah
Hazard, all colored, and Manuel Rich
enberger, j. T. MoWhorter, Sewell B.
Scott, James Rowe, and Frank NJ. Robb.
The story as told by the witnesses il
thst EdwardB' came to Papio's peanut
stand and inquired the price Of dates. Az
alteration followed. The Italian believed
Edwards had no real wish TO make pur.
chase.
"You can't sell me dates ct that price, =
Edwards said, when Papio used som,
abusive epithet and the colored man re
torted, advising the Italian not to talk IL
that way or there would be FIGHT. Papi,
repeated the phrase and ordered Edward
OF. he followed the eolored man int,
the street with date pick in his hand
Pepio made several thrusts at Edward
and when in the middle of the street va
seen to stab his victim in the neck.
struggle ensued and Papio was thrown Ii
the ground. AS they fell the Italian
drove the pick into Edwards abdomen
Edwards fell on top of Pspio. One o
the witnesses stated that when the by
ISLANDERS ran to separate the two the,
feuad the Italian biting Edward
shoulder.
Alexander whortenhurg and Ssmus
Bell took the date PICK from Pspio ant
handed il to Manual Richenberger. Ii
partial contradiction Of the above state
ment OF most Of the witnesses, ]. I
McWhorter, Manuel RichenbeEger ant
Sowell b. SCOTT stated that the coIore
man followed the Italian into the middl,
OF the Etreet and frequently struck q
MIN. None Of the Witnesses could posi-
lively say that Edwards was drunk.
Drs. Springer and Wallace made
post.mortem examination OF the bod
Sunday afternoon. 1t was Rscertains
that ths wound in the abdomen wen
through the bowels and penetrated th
liver; the stab at the back of the ear per
etrated the brain. Either wound wa
iatai.
The Jury met again on Monday ever
ing il Deputy Coroner BarnhilEs Oils,
Washington jackson testified that ne So
the Italian strike Edwards drst an
knock him down, after which the iatt,
arose and the men Eruilsd. Samuel BE
testified to taxing the date piek fro
Papio.
DIS. Springer and Wallace testife
thst they had made post raortem on Il
body, aud found that death had Iesulte
from Internal heIaorrhage, caused By Ii
woand in the stomach. Tho Jury The
rendered the following verdict
RssolUed, That Samuel Edwards, colore
came 70 his death on May llth, 1880, TO
wounds Inflicted with date picg Ia ii
hands Of salvatori Papio. alias Samuel Pc
Mayor Harrington has been retained
counsel by Paqio.
The remains were inferred ct the pc
ter's field at the almshouss.
Funeral 81 "a d.uardsnan.
Special Cores CHieHteui Gazette ana Jour-