The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-06-26
RED NOsED MIKE HANGED,
The Murderer FofPaymRstsrA Mcclure Swung
off-Ths Story othis Crime.

I
ofE-Ths Story OF his Crime.
WILKEsBARRE, Pa, June 25,- -Alichae
Rizzelo, alias Red Nosed Mike, wa
hanged in the Jail yard here this morn
ing, His last night on earth was spent
in prayer. He refused to partake o.
breakfast, taking only o cup oimilk, say,
ing to the Sheriff he was ready, and q
hurry his work without any delay, a
he was prepared to die, He was Copr-
ageous 10 the very last moment, walking
TO the scafEold accompanied by Rev,
Father o'Haran, Of this city, Father
CheriscoI of Scranton, and Fathers Dunn
and oherist, Of Plains,
Before leaving his cell Hangman At
kinson, OF New York, adjusted the short
moose about RiSzelo's neck and placed
the black cap upon his head. On being
led under the hanging rope, from which
dangled the hook, q few prayers were
offered by the priests. Atkinson then
stepped quickly In front Of the murderer
and unbuttoned his loose coat, lifted the
loop Rt the end Of the moose and passed
II over the hook over his head, Asignal
withuplifted hand was given to the hang
mans assistant, who brought q sharp axe
down upon the slender rope supporting
the 400 pound weight, and at 1910 a, m,
he,was swinging TO and fro In the air,
Several conyulsive movements were the
only signs Of LIE, though he died very
hard, At II o'clock he was pronounced
dead by the prison physicians, There.
mains were then cut down and placed
In o coffin. Examination by the ply
slcians showed that the neck was not
broken and death resulted from sttangp.
latlon. His body was then taken by the
undertaken and removed to the Catholic
cemetery for burial.
RIzELIo's CRIME,
The crime for which Michael Rizello,
alias 'Red.nosed Mike, y to-day paid the
death penalty was committed in the
forenoon Of October 10, 1883.
j. Brainard Mcclure, paymaster for
Contractor Charles McFadden, was &C.
by Hugh Flanagan, the stable
boss, and was driving from Wilkesbarre
10 the railroad camp above miners mills
with $4,000 intended To pay of the
workmen on the completed Job.
Michael RizelIo, Guiseppi BeYireno and
Yincenso Vellali lay In wait on the
lonely mountain road expecting the
arrival OF Mcclure and Flanagan. On
their approach, Rizello stepped out and
fred three shots into Flanagan, either
shot doing deadly work, The frightened
horse started 70 run away and proceeded
some little distance. When Bevireno,
with a rifle, shot Mcclure in the back
twice, killing him instantly. The horse
continued It's flight until Yellali, who
was ambushed further up the road, step
ped out and shot 1t. The other Italians
then arrived on the spot, cut loose the
yalise containing the money and fed
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
and soon after left the city,
going TO Poughkeepsie, taking with
them their plumber, $4,000. A few
weeks later Mikes companions took
passage on q steamer for italy, Pinker.
TOMS detectives permitting them TO leave
with the money unmolested, though
Mike was still kept under surveillance.
Later evidence was procured by the de-
tectiyes, which frightened Mike into o
full confession on January 5, 1850. On
February Mike was brought to trial,
and after four days Of dramatic excite.
ment in court he was found guilty.
Though entirely without money or
friends, he was ably defended by lead.
ing members of the Luzerne bar.