Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-26
THE FATAL MOOSE.
Red Nose Mike Paws the Penalty of His
Bloody Crime-The Murderer Was
Game, But Died Very Hard
His Last Hours on Earth.

/ 1fed Nose MIKE Pnvs the fenalty OIL hl1
Bloody Crime-The Murderer Was
Game, But Died Very Hard
His Last Hours on Earth.
WnKEsBARRE, June 25.-Michael Riz-
zele, alias Red Nose Mike, was hanged in the
Jail yard here this morning. His last night
to partake of breakfast, taking only cup
of milk and saying to the Sheriff that he
was ready, and to hurry his work without
any delay, as he was prepared to die. he
was courageous to the very last moment,
walking to the scaffold accompanied by
Rev. Father O'Haran, of this city; Father
Chorisco, of Scranton. and Fathers Dunn
and Chorist. of Plains. Before leaving his
cell Hangman Atkinson, of New York, ad-
justed the short moose about Rlzzele's neck
and placed the black cap upon his head.
On being led under the hanging rope from
which dangled the hook few prayers were
offered by the priests.
Atkinson then stepped quickly in front of
the murderer and unbuttoned his loose coat,
lifted the loop at the end of the moose and
passed it oyer the hook over his head. A
signal with uplifted hand was given to the
hangman's assistant who brought q sharp
ak down upon the slender rope supporting
the 400 pound weight and at 1910 A. M. he
was swaying to and fro in the air. Several
convulsive movements were the only signs
of life, though he died very hard At II
o'clock he was pronounced dead by the
prison physician. The remains were then
cut down and placed in a coffin. Exami-
nation by the physicians showed that the
neck was not broken and death resulted
e. u 1lr &hav1
taken by the undertaken and removed to the
Catholic cemetery for burial.
The crime for which Michael Rizzelle,
alias "Red Nose Mike" to-day paid the
death penalty, was committed in the fore
noon Of October 16, 1888. j. Brainard Me
Clure, paymaster for Contractor Charles
McFadden, accompanied by Hugh Flanna-
gan, the stable boss, was driving from
Wilkesbarre to the railroad camp above
Miners Mill, with S12, 900, intended to pay
off the workmen on the completed job.
Michael Rizzelle, Giuseppi Bevireno and
Vincenza Vellali lay in wait on the lonely
mountain road, expecting the arrival of
Mcclure and Flanagan. On their ap-
proach, RIzzelle stepped out and fired three
shots into Flanagan, either shot
doing deadly work. The frightened horse
started to run away, and proceeded some
little distance, when Bevireno, with rifle,
shot Mcclure in the back twice, killing him
instantly. The horse continued its flight un-
til Vellali. who was ambushed further up
the road, stepped out and shot it. The other
Italians then arrived on the spot, cut loose
the valise containing the money, and fled
through the forest to Mixes cabin, three
miles away, where the money and guns were
concealed.
Although Mike and his companions were
suspected and arrested, they were dis
charged, and soon after left the city, going
to Poughkeepsie, taking with them their
plunder, Sl2, 2,000. A few weeks later Mixes
companions took passage on steamer for
Italy, the Pinkertons permitting them to
leave with the money unmolested, though
Mike was still Kept under surveillance.
Later evidence was procured by detectives
which frightened Mike into full confess
sion on January g. 1889. Un February
z Mike was brought to trial, and
after four days of dramatic ex-
citement in court he was found guilty.
Though entirely without money or friends he
was ably defended by leading members of
the Luzerne bar. The crime has excited
international interest in consequence of the
unsuccessful efforts to extradite Mikes &C
who are now in Italy. The only
obtained from the Italian Gov
ernment was promise that if the men could
be proven guilty they would be punished
under the Italian law.